take care

Now comes the reality check, and please don’t take any offense in my point: While I offer a few products myself, I prefer to have a chunk as big as I can of the budget allocated to promote the house. Especially in this market, advertising budgets are shrinking like George Constanza’s problem (in cold water) I wont push toward a staging unless I have a personal relation with that stager, wife, sister or very good friend. Because that eats out of that share that would be normally mine. The picture and the content… ahh, that’s a long story again…

http://www.1stoppostershop.com/products/McGaw/celebrities/mg_GeorgeTheTimelessArtOfS.jpg

See?

So when it’s to chose to have +$250 on another service, let’s say a postcard campaign, I’d rather do that than suggest a stager. While on the same side photographers and stagers compete towards shrinking marketing budgets.

Realtors generally not need education towards staging. they know…

Good Luck!

I’m not trying to demote any idea. My point is that teaming with a stager is not really a plus from the Photographer’s point of view. I’d prefer my client to arrange with his stager/stylist and not being involved in that arrangement. There are alot of reasons why and I wont insist…

“Some photographers WILL take a picture of whatever they are being paid to do”
Yes, it’s called a pro, doesn’t matter if it’s working at JC Penny or not. They do the best image in given conditions.

I agree- Stager’s often (as I am currently doing) hire photographers to shoot my listings. I just feel if the partnership can’t work both ways- you are both missing out.

My job is to make the “image” more appealing (and marketable) to buyers. If I wanted to “please” the seller, I would tell them their house was great, even when it was awful.
You said the “Realtors” are interested in the staging- not the sellers. Why do you think that is? I’ll tell you why- everyone thinks their house looks great. Realtor’s know otherwise.

The bottom line in this- you can set up your photography business as a company where you come and take these great photos of peoples homes, regardless of how they look- because in the short term, you will save the seller some pennies. OR- you can become a bit more into the business of “educating your sellers”, and have your photos look great and sell quicker. (The before and after shots you market will speak for themselves as they do for stagers.

If I were in your business (which I am not and take my opinion for what it is worth)- I would rather market myself in this way- “X amount of the listing I photographed sold in X amount of days after being on the market prior for X amount of months. If you work with me, I have the unique partnership with a Accredited Staging Professional who will come and stage your home prior to me taking photos so your home will appeal to the broadest range of buyers to sell your home quicker and for more money etc etc.”
Of course- there is always the option to NOT educate and just take photos. The choice is yours.

Debbie, you are right… But I’m not into education

maybe this sounds cynical… but most of the time, the owners are less interested about staging. The agents are, but they are not eager to pay extra for the service. I like to shoot better looking homes than ugly ones, as you could expect, but teaming up with the stager wont work for me… especially if I have to include staging costs onto my invoice.

Coordinating the whole process can be a pain … I’d prefer not to do it… I have nothing against stagers!!!! Au contrary… But if you are a stager, we are practically in the same boat. Would you do the arrangements for me and call me when it’s done and pay me? See?

I always listen my customers opinions and happily do it as ugly as they want. Sounds familiar? hahahaha

Hmmm, maybe if I hire a stager and send him to the location, prior to my arival to declutter and thighten up things a bit… of course for a huge fee. That could work…

Affording a stager would be great, but shooting RE with a stylist would bring prices way to high in order to have a viable business. To work with a stylist, once in while, is something else, but can’t be done on a day by day basis.