More and more people in Kentucky are considering a career as a home stager, and while many do go on to have successful careers as professional home stagers, many don’t even get past the first hurdle.
But what is that first hurdle?
You see, in Kentucky, there is no special license for home stagers, so for a novice home stager with a small portfolio and no previous clients to bring in word-of-mouth recommendations, proving your credentials as a legitimate home stager can be tough.
This is where many people simply give up on their dreams, but we’re imploring you not to move on without fully exploring your options. If you want to embark on this lucrative and rewarding career, you can give confidence to realtors and gain the trust of vendors, simply by studying and achieving home staging certification in Kentucky.
Cut out the negativity, we know what you’re thinking, home staging training in Kentucky is going to take years, it’s going to cost thousands of dollars and you have neither the time nor the money for that.
You can cast off all those negative thoughts, read on to find out why…
So, how do you become a home stager in Kentucky?
We’ll look at this from the point of view of starting your own home staging business. If you want to start with getting a home staging job, read our articles on resume tips, how to get a home staging job, and our overview of home staging careers.
For all our potential students, we think you should first think about why you’d like to become a home stager, then determine whether you can make it work. If you can answer yes to the following questions, then home staging could be the perfect career for you…
Do you have an artistic streak and creative flair?
Would you love to be your own boss?
Do you have good problem-solving skills?
Are you passionate about interior design trends?
Do you love to help others?
Would you like a career that’s personally, as well as financially rewarding?
Are you determined, motivated and passionate?
Steps to becoming a home stager in Kentucky
You’re still here? Then that’s fantastic, you’ve got what it takes to make a success of your home staging business. But first things first, let’s work through the process step by step…
Step 1: Take a home staging certification course in Kentucky
By taking home staging training in Kentucky you’re fast-tracking your way to your new career. When you take a course with the Home Staging Institute, you can learn in just a few weeks, what other home stagers may not even manage to learn over a whole career. That’s because our experts are here to impart their industry knowledge, spilling the secret tips and tricks that will help to advance your career and ensure you excel with every project you take on.
Our courses represent incredible value for money, and they can be completed in just 4-5 weeks, depending on which course pathway you choose. We’ll not only teach you the nuances of home staging and interior design, but we’ll make sure you’re fully versed in how to start up and run a small business.
Step 2: Understand the local Kentucky market
Understanding your local market is an important part of being a good home stager. You need to read the property and the area, so you promote it to full effect, making it enticing to those who are most likely to be looking for each type of property. Some home stagers will simply churn out the same old room designs over and over again. It worked for them once, so they keep on using it. The problem is, in reality, there is no ‘one size fits all’ solution. What works for an apartment in a state-of-the-art high rise tower block in Louisville, is most likely not going to fit well within a family home in the heart of the Frankfort countryside.
Keep abreast of the local real estate news, find out what the current trends are, and what brings people to particular areas. As they say, knowledge is power!
Step 3: Learn from other home stagers in Kentucky
As a newcomer to the industry, you can learn a great deal from other home stagers in your area. This can take two forms:
You can reach out to home stagers in person, introduce yourself, and hopefully you can build a relationship with other professionals. This offers a great platform for sharing ideas, and also for passing on recommendations. If you can’t accommodate a client, perhaps due to your diary being full, or they’re outside of your catchment area, it reflects very well on you, if instead of letting them down, you can recommend another home stager. Likewise, you could benefit from other home stagers passing on excess work to you during their busier times.
Another smart plan of action is to search Google for other home stagers in Kentucky. You can then take careful note of what others are offering, and how they’re marketing their businesses. You should be able to pick up a wealth of ideas this way.
Step 4: Start a home staging business in Kentucky
We know you’ve got the talent, the passion and the drive, now you need to get practical.
Some tips for starting up your home staging business…
We can’t cover everything in this article, and you’ll learn much more when you sign up for one of our courses, but in the meantime, you can consider the following aspects of setting up a business, and bear them in mind for when you’re ready to go…
You’ll need a catchy company name, perhaps you will add the word ‘Kentucky’ to your business name so you’ll show up in searches for Kentucky home stagers.
You should find out what the requirements are to register your business and ensure you’re all legal and good to go. The official business portal for Kentucky is a good place to start.
Getting some good accounting software, or hiring a professional accountant is a must.
Don’t forget the liability insurance, so you’re covered in the rare event that you should you break anything in a client’s home, or your staging results in an injury.
Set up a website and make sure it’s filled with stylish, high-quality depictions of your work.
Step 5: Begin marketing
Now you should start marketing with gusto. Get the word out there, and make sure that realtors and the public can find you.
Which channels will you pursue? We suggest you embrace as many options as you can, to reach the largest audience.
Here are some avenues to consider…
Social media – images look great on Instagram or perhaps showcase a short video of your best work on TikTok. You can join Facebook groups for local business owners too.
Advertise on Google – Google ads is a paid-for service that can get your business some extra exposure.
Word of mouth – When you’re brimming over with enthusiasm for your new business, it shouldn’t be hard to remember to tell everyone you meet exactly what you do. Be armed with some business cards, so they’ll always have your number to hand when they need your services.
Other facts about becoming a home stager in Kentucky
How much do home stagers make in Kentucky?
Based on our research, home stagers in Kentucky generally earn between $33,000 and $53,000 annually, with hourly rates ranging from $16 to $26. Experienced professionals or those in high-demand areas may earn over $63,000 per year. Income levels can vary depending on factors such as location, client base, and the volume of projects completed.
Do I need a license to become a home stager in Kentucky?
Home staging is not an industry that requires a license in Kentucky. When you’re ready, you can start your business whenever you like without having to acquire a license.
Do you need a degree to become a home stager in Kentucky?
While we do recommend home staging certification in Kentucky, there is no need to have a degree to become a home stager.
