27
KNOW YOUR WORTH
Staging may be your passion—it should be your passion—
but first and foremost it is your business! In our culture,
the discussion of money is often taboo, but it shouldn't be,
especially when you are talking about money in order to
help people maximize their return on investment. When
you set the stage for someone to earn a 10-to-1 return
on investment, you deserve to be well compensated. As
creative types, we often have difficulty monetizing things
that come naturally to us. We can still share out talents with
love and passion while being fairly compensated for our
creative services. When you're deciding whether or not to
accept a project, it's critical to ensure that you're able to
earn the money you deserve. There are many costs to take
into consideration—materials, repairs, installation, rentals,
maintenance, and more—and be sure to put yourself first,
because in business you're the only person who will. When
you charge a premium for your services, people treat you
like you're worth the premium. Naturally the fair market
value varies by region and economy, but seasoned stagers
should expect to net a minimum of $2,500 per staged
property plus rental and maintenance fees.
