With the perfect blend of rural and urban, Missouri has much to offer the budding home stager. One day you could be staging a contemporary apartment in the heart of Kansas City, the next, a tranquil, sprawling bungalow in picturesque Ozark.
Property staging is big business, and Missouri realtors are looking to hire professional home stagers to make each property on their books appeal to the greatest number of potential buyers and command the highest selling prices. This win-win situation gets a great price for the seller, the best commission for the real estate agent, and of course, you will take your fee. A good home stager is worth their weight in gold, and realtors in Missouri know this.
With so many properties coming to market, now is the perfect time to start up a home staging business. But perhaps first you’d benefit from taking home staging training in Missouri, to hone your skills and acquire new ones, learning everything you need to run your own home staging business successfully.
A fantastic new career awaits you. Discover more…
So, how do you become a home stager in Missouri?
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.
Do you work in a dull job that just doesn’t inspire you? Are you eager to allow your creative side to shine? Becoming a home stager in Missouri needn’t be just a dream. It can certainly become your reality and it could be easier than you think. For example, did you know you could take home staging training in Missouri and be certified in as little as a month?
So, what do you need to become a home stager? Passion, an eye for detail, excellent interior design skills, a keen interest in the local markets and trends, and some solid business acumen. Add to this reputable home staging certification in Missouri, and you’ve got the perfect recipe for a home staging business that should go from strength to strength.
Steps to becoming a home stager in Missouri
It’s time to grab the bull by the horns, to stop procrastinating and thinking ‘What if?’ This is your opportunity to seriously pursue your dreams, to follow a career that’s truly worthwhile, in an industry that inspires and excites you.
Step 1: Take a home staging certification course in Missouri
Training is so important. When you take a home staging course, you’ll benefit from a wealth of practical knowledge that you’ll be able to put to good use from day one. Not only will you learn some of the best home staging techniques, but you’ll also be taught how to run your own home staging business. Even the most talented home stagers can be caught out by a lack of accounting or marketing skills.
One thing to note when you’re looking into which home staging course to take is that not all courses result in certification. This is fine if you’re just pursuing this for a hobby, for a bit of fun, but if you’re serious about your goal to become a professional home stager, having a certificate as proof of your credentials can be a big help, so this is definitely something to look out for because not all courses will offer this.
Step 2: Understand the local Missouri market
The best home stagers have their finger on the pulse. They take the time to keep abreast of all the latest trends and developments within the world of interior design and the property market. As a home stager in Missouri, you will need an in-depth understanding of all the areas where you could be asked to showcase your skills, all the different property types in the state, and know how best to stage them to get the ultimate results.
Step 3: Learn from other home stagers in Missouri
You’ll learn a lot by browsing real estate listings online or in your local newspaper. Carefully scrutinize the images, and think about how each room has been staged. What are the key features? How have lighting, décor, and accessories been used to accentuate the best aspects of each property?
Search online for ‘homes stagers in Missouri’ and you’ll be able to pore over the portfolios of your would-be competitors. Pick up tips and ideas and learn all you can. Take a look at any extra services offered. Is there anything else you could add to your repertoire of skills?
Step 4: Start a home staging business in Missouri
Setting up in business can take a little work, but don’t feel overwhelmed. Take things step by step and you’ll soon have everything in hand. Don’t be afraid to ask for help, there are so many great resources out there for new business owners to access.
Some pointers to start you on your way…
- Ensure your business is registered
- Keep good accounts
- Take out liability insurance
- Don’t forget to make accommodations for paying your taxes
- Set up a website and social media pages for your business (Get a 40% discount at StagingWebsites.com by using code HSIDiscount)
- Network with realtors, suppliers and tradespeople
- Gather feedback as you go – photos, testimonials etc.
Step 5: Begin marketing
As a certified home stager in Missouri, it’s now time to build up your client base. Once you’re established, work should flow more readily through word of mouth recommendations, but to begin with, you’ll need to put in some extra work to attract those first time clients. Of course, you’ll want to be active on social media, and so it’s worthwhile gathering together a decent selection of high quality images of your projects to add impact to your posts. If you don’t have enough, consider staging a room in your own home to get those extra pictures you need. You could even take a video or create a virtual tour as an extra stand-out feature.
Don’t forget to reach out to friends, family and even acquaintances, you never know who might be in need of your services. You could offer a discount when you’re first starting out to make your services even more appealing. Once you’ve completed a project, ask if you can take photos for your website and social media feeds, and ask for a testimonial to display. These both add validity to your business and reassure future clients that your skills are legitimate.
Check out free business listings too, you need your home staging business to be featured everywhere it can. The more prolific your listings, the more potential clients you’ll reach.
Other facts about becoming a home stager in Missouri
How much do home stagers make in Missouri?
Our findings indicate that home stagers in Missouri generally earn between $35,000 and $55,000 annually, with hourly rates ranging from $17 to $27. Experienced professionals or those in high-demand areas may earn over $65,000 per year. Earnings can vary depending on factors such as location, client base, and the number of projects completed.
Do I need a license to become a home stager in Missouri?
Home staging is an unlicensed industry in Missouri. As such we recommend getting certified as this is the best way to prove your skills in a profession that has no official licensing or regulation.
Do you need a degree to become a home stager in Missouri?
No, you don’t need a degree to be a home stager in Missouri. While qualifications are recommended, they are not mandatory.
