Comments on: What if your home staging clients watch too much HGTV?

By: jayne Steuart

jayne Steuart — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 01:38:10 +0000

I always love reading Jill’s comments!
You know what they say, “Those who can, do. Those who can’t……..believe what they see on reality TV”! I haven’t come across this from a customer yet. When I do, I will try not to laugh ( :

By: Barbara

Barbara — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 16:33:55 +0000

They also have to be reminded that there is NO charge for labor on the HGTV versions of home staging! If they would like to volunteer to do all of the labor (working non-stop until it’s done), costs can be kept down!

By: Pamela Moore

Pamela Moore — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 16:31:18 +0000

I also point out to my clients that none of those shows include labor in their pricing not to mention the time and expertise it takes to “recover” dining room chairs, painting furniture, etc that the host/hostess does and charges only for the materials. I agree with Jill and find it easier to address this problem up front. Also asking your client if they have had painting or other repairs done lately and reminding them of the cost involved helps them accept the costs.

By: Jennifer Heilman

Jennifer Heilman — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 13:59:01 +0000

My husband is a building contractor…our biggest problem with those shows is that they are SO unrealistic. How can you do any of those projects for less than $2,000?? What they always seem to exclude is the cost of labor. Carpenters, electricians, plumbers get paid a minimum of $35.00-$50.00/hour. Even painters make $20-$30/hour. I would explain to my client that they never factor in the cost of labor, which, generally is the biggest expense.

By: jill monczunski

jill monczunski — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 23:56:17 +0000

Oh … that dreaded comment from your client. I’ve gotten it on several occasions. I usually end up addressing the HGTV issue in my initial phone conversation with a client – before I ever walk into their home and quote them a price. When there’s painting, electrical, repairs, furniture leasing, and the whole shebang involved (not to mention tearing out walls or erecting new ones! (which I have never done for a staging) – installation of all new kitchen and bath cabinets! – all new flooring! (are you kidding me???!!!), it’s important to get the client to understand that HGTV offsets the cost the seller pays (after all, they need sellers to get on board so they have a show … right?). So, when Designed To Sell says a total staging costs $2,000 or less, think about the hook-ups they have with their show sponsors! And … wouldn’t it be nice to do an entire home staging in less than 30 minutes!!! As much as the stagers on HGTV’s “The Stagers” annoy me, that show is much more realistic. For me, it’s a pretty realistic representation of how I work with my clients and how I stage a home. I just wish I had a “Dekora Warehouse” in my neighborhood!!!

Staging To Sell
Home Staging For Sellers . Interior reDesign
231.690.0398
Serving the State of Michigan USA

By: Kris O'Neill

Kris O'Neill — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 19:19:44 +0000

My answer would be to the owner something like this: The shows on HGTV show you different ideas for staging any home and give you the “total” cost for items needed to stage the home (ie: $2000) BUT what they don’t tell you is the labor cost. If they added the labor cost along with the material and told this to viewers alot of viewers would hire stagers instead of strong arming us with “Well I saw it on HGTV for such in such amount” What they give you actual budget number for repairs, paint, etc. This is a guideline if YOU are going to do the staging, not hiring a stager. I come across this some much and when I tell them their mouths drop….

By: Kathleen Lordbock

Kathleen Lordbock — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 18:08:04 +0000

This has come up from time to time but I just explain that “as they well know TV and reality are not the same things!” They do get that!