104
WORKING WITH OCCUPIED
RESIDENCES
There are certainly challenges when you choose to work with
occupied residences. They usually have longer turnover periods, there's
definitely more wear and tear on the inventory, and the owner takes
your critiques more personally. You're basically inviting opportunities
for conflict. You need to be very upfront regarding your expectations
on inventory and insist that the homeowner purchases from you in
advance all soft goods, delicate furnishings, and consumables. This
includes linens, pillows, rugs, paper goods, soaps, candies, and more.
Despite the apparent challenges, occupied residences can be extremely
lucrative in the right situation. I was hired to stage a home for a
celebrity to rent and live in for a month. His family loved the area and
decided to stay in the home for three years, so I collected $10,000 per
month in rental fees plus maintenance fees for three years. Moreover,
the renter became a new interior design client when his dream home
was built, and he referred me to several other wealthy friends. Yes, this
was well worth my time.
