How to Become a Home Stager in Pennsylvania

How to Become a Home Stager in Pennsylvania

Have you ever wondered how you could become a home stager in Pennsylvania? As real estate is thriving in major cities like Philadelphia, Harrisburg, and Pittsburgh, home staging has become a massive industry within itself, offering a booming market. Is this something that you’re looking to tap into? Well, with the ever-increasing demand in the real estate market, home stagers are now playing a key role in getting properties swooped up by buyers.

Offering professional advice while utilizing any space as a blank canvas certainly has its benefits, especially for those who want to attract buyers. With so many properties for sale nowadays, sellers need to really make their property outshine others, so hiring a home stager is by far the way to do it! So, the real question is, how do you become a home stager in Pennsylvania? 

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Well, if you’re wanting to get started on this fabulous career and start up your own home staging business, then look no further! While it’s going to take a bit of time as you need the right credentials and experience, as well as digging into the Pennsylvania market, we’ve got all of your answers here.

So let’s dive right in and see everything that’s needed to be a home stager in Pennsylvania!

Steps to Becoming a Home Stager in Pennsylvania

When it comes to working towards being a home stager in Pennsylvania, it’s not exactly as easy as saying, “I’m going to do this now.” This is a legitimate business, and for anyone who wants to start up a successful business, it’s going to take some time. Even if you prefer to work under an employer, these steps will still apply!

Step 1: Take a Home Staging Certification Course

You don’t need to have a license in order to be a home stager in Pennsylvania. While most real estate-oriented professions need licenses, such as real estate agents or even appraisers, it’s not needed for the home staging industry.

However, just because there isn’t any license or home staging certification that’s required doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try to get credentials. At the end of the day, it’s going to be training and the right credentials that get you to earn the trust of prospective clients. 

It’s of huge importance to stand out when starting a home staging business, so fine-tuning your knowledge will definitely help. It’s important not to choose just any random course, but be sure to pick a well-known one. The Home Staging Institute has been praised for offering training to home stagers in Pennsylvania for over 15 years. There’s been plenty of past students who have gone on to create renowned home staging businesses all over Pennsylvania.  

Step 2: Understand the Local Market

One important thing to keep in mind is that the market throughout Pennsylvania isn’t the same. The market in one of the suburbs of Philadelphia isn’t going to be anywhere near the same as in a more rural area like Johnstown. If you think about it, how you’d stage a cottage isn’t going to be the same as how you’d stage an affluent apartment in one of the most desirable neighborhoods of a major city. With that said, you need to keep in mind what’s in demand in each area, as it’s not a “one-size-fits-all.”

Step 3: Learn From Other Home Stagers

One of the best things you can do when it comes to being a home stager in Philadelphia would be to get sound advice from experts and learn from the best. You need experience, and what way than doing research on some of the top home stagers around? You’re going to want to do a quick Google search, such as “home stagers in Philadelphia” or any city really in Pennsylvania really, and just check to see if there are blog posts, portfolios of your soon-to-be-competitors, as well as job posts to get an idea what requirements are for different employers.

You want to make sure you get yourself to stand out from everyone else, so this is not only going to mean that you need the right credentials, such as certifications and courses, but you’ll need experience too. If you can, ask some friends and family if they’re looking into selling their house or see if they know someone who’s in the process. It’s vital to build up that portfolio, so even if you start for free (or low rates), you’re getting the experience you need so you can eventually become a successful home stager!

Step 4: Start a Home Staging Business in Pennsylvania

If you’re looking to start your own home staging business rather than work under an employer, then this paragraph is definitely for you.

When it comes to starting a business, you’re going to need the basics to get yourself off the ground, such as registering your business, setting up contact info for clients (phone number, email, and mailing address), setting up the right home staging insurance, branding, and so on.

With that said, you’re still going to need a portfolio to showcase your experience, ideally, a website (Get 40% off at our partner site, StagingWebsites.com, with voucher code HSIDiscount), some social media profiles such as Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook Business page, and even a Google page so people can leave reviews. 

Some other things you’re going to want to consider are curating your own pieces of furniture and accessories for home staging (so there will really be pizazz in the photos and open house), as well are storage for these additional pieces, moving companies, and maybe even working with furniture rental companies too.

Overall, it’s a lot of work, but it’s important to make these connections as they’ll further your business. 

Step 5: Begin Marketing

You could be the best home stager in the world, but it doesn’t really matter unless you’re known. This is why you need to market yourself as a successful business, and marketing is what separates this from being a passion project. If you really want to get known, then you’re going to have to reach out to real estate agents and agencies around the area you live in or even a bit beyond if you’re willing to make the trip. 

While sometimes you can easily get property sellers to reach out directly to you, especially if you have a website and social media profiles, you can always count on getting more experience when you’re teaming up with real estate agents, as they’re perfect for getting referrals. However, doing some volunteer work at the beginning can help a lot, as this could be a great way to build your portfolio and get your name out there. 

Other Facts About Becoming a Home Stager

How Much Do Home Stagers Make in Pennsylvania?

You can expect that the average for home stagers in Pennsylvania to be $41,800. This is roughly $20.00 an hour, but the income range can vary greatly as it can be as low as $27,400 or as high as $76,000 for the highly skilled and known home stagers within the industry. 

Do I Need a License to Become a Home Stager in Pennsylvania?

No, you don’t need to have a license in order to become a home stager in Pennsylvania. While there isn’t a governing body over this industry, you’re still going to strongly benefit from getting the proper training and credentials for your future home staging business. 

Do You Need a Degree to Become a Home Stager in Pennsylvania?

No, a degree isn’t necessary in order to become a home stager in Pennsylvania, either. While some may opt for an interior design degree to grow credibility, it’s not a requirement. It’s something nice to have; even certifications aren’t required, but these can be nice to have as they’re perfect for building credibility.

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