In the first installment of this series of posts about home staging client types that can make you wish you didn’t charge a flat rate, we discussed “The Distracted Client”. Today I’m going to talk about another common time-sucking client type that can help bankrupt a business based on a flat rate pricing structure; “The Chatty Client”.
Some clients just love to talk! It’s great to build a rapport with the people you will be doing business with, but consider this scenario…
You’ve quoted a flat rate for your home staging consultation and when you meet with your new clients everything seems to be going great.
They tell you a bit of the history about the house and why they’re selling. They tell you what they like and don’t like about each and every room. They pick up photos and trinkets telling you about the memories they have associated with them. Then they proceed to talk about the history of every single piece of furniture they own and why they feel things should stay or go into storage before the house sells.
Before you know it, you’ve been there for two hours and though you intimately know the house and its owners, you haven’t gotten anywhere with the actual consultation.
This client type can be an absolutely delightful, refreshing person to work with! But, if you are charging a flat rate, The Chatty Client can cost you dearly!
In the next installment in this series, I will cover an important one; “The Pack Rat Client”.
Don’t miss it!
Debra Gould, The Staging Diva®
President, Six Elements Inc. Home Staging
Entrepreneur and Home Staging expert Debra Gould, The Staging Diva, knows how to make money as a home stager. She has helped many long time Interior Designers make the switch into a more profitable house staging business. Discover her secrets to business success in the Staging Diva Home Staging Business Training Program.
More about Staging Diva Home Staging Business Training
Technorati Tags: home staging, home stager, home stagers, house staging, house stagers, house stager, Debra Gould, Staging Diva, home staging business, home staging pricing structure, charging a flat rate, home staging time suckers, the chatty client
Related posts:
- Home Staging Time Suckers – The Distracted Client
- Home staging is not a minimum wage job
- Stage yourself to sell: Image is everything Part 1
- Stage yourself to sell: Image is everything (Part 2)
- Military Spouse: Home Staging Business Moves With You
Home Staging Resources |
|
|---|---|
|
More about Twitter Guide |
More on Design Guide |
{ 1 comment… read it below or add one }
Amen!! This is so true and such a recurring problem. I have worked in residential as well as commercial interior design and this one topic applies to both, as well as the staging clients. Big companies I have worked for lost tens of thousands of dollars because of “time suckers”.
Deborah, that’s one (of many) invaluable teachings I have gotten from your course – hourly is THE way to go! “That’s ok Mrs. Smith, I’m here for you as long as you need.”
We are in ‘business’ after all.
Jessica
{ 1 trackback }