Home Staging Institute Code of Conduct

Purpose
The Home Staging Institute is committed to advancing the home staging profession through rigorous education, ethical standards, and professional accountability. This Code of Conduct establishes the expectations we hold for all students, graduates, and certified professionals who represent our institution and credentials.

We maintain these standards to:

• Uphold the integrity and public trust of the home staging profession
• Ensure ethical, client-centred practice across all professional engagements
• Protect the credibility and recognised value of Home Staging Institute certifications
• Foster a culture of excellence, respect, and continuous professional development

Scope

This Code applies to all individuals enrolled in Home Staging Institute programs, holders of Institute certifications, and those who represent themselves as affiliated with the Institute in any professional capacity.

Compliance with this Code is a binding condition of enrolment, certification, and the ongoing use of Home Staging Institute credentials.

Professional Standards

Conduct and Integrity

Certified professionals and students are expected to demonstrate the highest standards of professionalism in all interactions and business dealings.

This includes:

• Operating with honesty, transparency, and accountability
• Communicating clearly, promptly, and respectfully with clients, real estate professionals, and industry colleagues
• Representing qualifications, experience, and capabilities accurately
• Refraining from misleading claims regarding services, projected outcomes, or professional background

Conduct that undermines the reputation of the profession or the Institute will be addressed through formal disciplinary processes.

Ethical Practice

Ethical conduct is foundational to professional credibility and client trust. All members are expected to uphold the following principles:

• Prioritise client interests in all recommendations and decisions
• Identify and disclose any actual or perceived conflicts of interest
• Decline undisclosed incentives, commissions, or referral arrangements that may compromise professional objectivity
• Recommend products, services, or contractors based on suitability and value—not personal benefit

Failure to maintain ethical standards may result in review and disciplinary action.

Client Relations

Confidentiality and Privacy

All client information obtained during a professional engagement must be treated as strictly confidential unless disclosure is required by law or expressly authorised in writing by the client.
Protected information includes:

• Personal, financial, and contact details
• Property information not publicly available
• Project documentation, including before-and-after imagery not approved for external use

Confidentiality obligations remain in effect beyond the conclusion of any client engagement.

Professional Boundaries

Home Staging Institute members are expected to maintain appropriate boundaries in all professional relationships.

This includes:

• Engaging respectfully with clients, agents, tenants, trades, and other stakeholders
• Respecting cultural, personal, and property-related sensitivities
• Refraining from any form of discriminatory, harassing, or inappropriate conduct

The Institute maintains a zero-tolerance position on harassment, discrimination, and abusive behaviour of any kind.

Representation and Marketing

Honest Representation of Work

Certified professionals must present their work, results, and experience with complete accuracy.

This includes:

• Using only authentic images of personally completed staging projects, unless otherwise clearly disclosed
• Representing credentials, certifications, and professional history truthfully
• Avoiding exaggerated or unsubstantiated claims regarding sale outcomes, timelines, or return on investment

All marketing and promotional materials must be accurate, verifiable, and free of misleading content.

Use of Certification and Institute Branding

Home Staging Institute certifications and trademarks are valuable professional assets and must be used responsibly.

Certified professionals may:

• Use their certification title exactly as issued by the Institute
• Reference affiliation with the Home Staging Institute accurately and in good faith

Certified professionals must not:

• Modify, abbreviate, or embellish certification titles
• Imply institutional endorsement of personal business activities
• Continue to display or claim certification credentials following suspension or revocation

Misuse of Institute branding or certification may result in immediate corrective action.

Academic Standards

Academic Integrity

The Home Staging Institute upholds rigorous academic standards. All students and graduates are expected to engage honestly throughout the learning and assessment process.

This includes:

• Submitting original work that reflects individual effort and understanding
• Acknowledging external sources appropriately where required
• Adhering to all assessment guidelines, including any approved use of AI-assisted tools

Plagiarism, falsification of work, or any form of academic dishonesty may result in assessment failure, programme suspension, or permanent revocation of certification.

Regulatory Compliance

Legal and Regulatory Obligations

All members are required to operate in full compliance with applicable laws and regulations within their jurisdiction.

This includes adherence to:

• Consumer protection legislation
• Advertising, marketing, and trade practice standards
• Privacy and data protection requirements

The Home Staging Institute does not condone unlawful conduct. Breaches of legal or regulatory obligations may be treated as breaches of this Code.

Reporting and Accountability

Reporting Breaches

The Institute encourages the reporting of conduct that may breach this Code. Concerns may be submitted directly to the Home Staging Institute for formal review.

All reports are handled:

• Confidentially and impartially
• Without retaliation toward the reporting party
• In accordance with established review and disciplinary procedures

Disciplinary Process

The Home Staging Institute reserves the right to investigate any alleged breach of this Code. Following investigation, appropriate action will be determined based on the nature and severity of the conduct.

Possible outcomes include:

• Formal written warning
• Mandatory remedial education or conditions
• Temporary suspension of certification
• Permanent revocation of certification and disassociation from the Institute

All decisions are made in accordance with principles of procedural fairness.

Acknowledgement

By enrolling in any Home Staging Institute programme or utilising Institute certification credentials, individuals confirm that they have read, understood, and agree to be bound by this Code of Conduct.
The Home Staging Institute reserves the right to amend this Code periodically to reflect evolving industry standards, regulatory developments, and best practices in professional education.