Ask the expert – the yard aspect.

Posted by Christine Rae acreage, Ask Christine, Staging Information

Hi Christine,

I am a real estate agent in South Dakota. Staging isn’t really done here yet. If there are any stagers, I don’t know of them. What I want to know about is the yard aspect of the property. We usually have pretty big pieces of frontage and acres in the back. I have read talks about curb appeal – what about the rest of it?

– Peggy in South Dakota

Hi Peggy,

Well, you are right on the nail, and I would imagine in March there really isn’t much “drive by” with all the snow. It’s true; anything you read will have a focus on staging from a town or suburban perspective because it is the most prevalent and most widely practiced there; however, I am sure staging principles adapt to anywhere in the world. A CSP will target the staging recommendations to the person who is most likely to purchase the property. That’s where you start, Peggy. Knowing is one thing; application is another. If the acreage is large with pasture, then it has to look like the best pasture in the world. If the property has a stream, then a tour with your prospect will include the stream – perhaps on horseback to enjoy the acreage. A working ranch will need a whole different “feeling” requirement. Get the picture? Feel free to send me pictures if you need any particular help.

Photo by Edward Paterson on Unsplash

About Christine Rae

Christine Rae influenced the staging industry from the beginning of her career, through the innovative development of a business training and certification program.

In a non-regulated industry where “anything goes” she established value for education, maintaining a steady, clear message that ethics, professionalism, systems, training, actionable knowledge and continuing education count, especially when dealing with the largest investment most people make. An industry pioneer, bestselling author, multiple award-winning entrepreneur she is most proud of the thousands of Academy’s graduates’ success and the quality of the certified trainers who travel North America and Australia teaching the CSP process, systems and proctoring the “in-field” examination.

When Christine was named as one of the top 100 Elite women who are shaping the real estate industry, she said, “staging is a serious business, not one to be treated lightly. Stagers are charged with the responsibility of not only securing the equity of the property but also visually supporting the value of it. Real certification for stagers is as important to a real estate transaction, as a license is for real estate agents. Within the next three years there will be a tsunami of need for this work and tremendous change will take place regarding how stagers work in this field”

Is Staging Certification Necessary?

The home staging industry is unregulated and there is no “governing and regulating association”. Don’t let this alarm or dissuade you from pursing your dream. The Home Inspection industry is non- regulated also, in fact many industries are rooted in non-regulation. What it means is simply anyone can say they are a stager and anyone can provide a training course, online or in person………….. without ever having staged a home! Shocking isn’t it? We believe as a new business starting out you need as much ammunition and information as possible to position you as an expert instead of a newbie. Certification for a stager is as vital as a license is to a real estate agent.

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HIGH PRAISE

The first house I staged sold over asking last night!! Put on the market at $339K and sold 9 days later for 400K! The happiness I feel is so indescribable!! I just want to thank you so much for BEING CHRISTINE RAE! I don’t think I could ever have done this without your guidance and amazing program! CAN’T WAIT FOR MORE PROJECTS! The real estate agent wants to work with me too !! WOOHOO!

Yzabelle Sanico
CCSP
“I wanted the best training possible. Which I believe is the CSP® Home Staging Certification Program. And I did a lot of research”.

Cathy Hobbs, CSP Instructor, Emmy Award Winning TV Personality
“Having gone through my first CSP training class years ago, and then taking a refresher class recently, I still feel that you cannot get a better staging education than CSP.”

Robin LeVine

Ask the expert – the yard aspect.