I used this example because the home seller had asked the agent about doing additional fix ups and staging. The agent told them to do a few minor things – no need to do more than that – no need to stage.

The group of agents I was speaking with would have loved it if their clients had asked about staging. Their biggest hurdle is getting sellers to embrace it.

The manager even encouraged all of them to offer a 2-hour consultation, and to either pay up front, or to reimburse at closing. He felt strongly that by selling faster they would easily make back my fee. I was thrilled and encouraged.

I had worked with a pair of agents from this office in the fall. But I did not know that the manager was such a strong proponent of home staging. The home I staged was on the market 3 months and sold 1 week after staging – through another agent in that same office. And all it took was a 3-hour agent paid consultation.

My goal in this workshop was to help these Realtors “sell” their clients on the need to showcase their homes – through education, analogies and examples. Also, to let home sellers know that staging is another one of their marketing tools used to sell homes quickly and for top dollar.

I encouraged them to spoon feed staging to their clients at every meeting. Similarly, I feel that agents will become more and more comfortable with the idea of staging the more we – as home stagers – educate them.

Most have been receiving my newsletter for over a year now and each month I include a short feature written specifically for them. I also include an article written for their sellers. My blog contains this content along with other educational tools.

I’m not surprised at Margaret’s experience with the agent, but wanted to offer these words of encouragement, that the tide may be shifting. Slowly, and in the right direction.