Product Description
Are you planning to become part of this redesign or real estate staging network? During this time of phenomenal growth, these businesses may be worth your investigation. If you can answer yes to the following questions, then the redesign or home staging business may be just right for you. Do you love decorating your home? Are you addicted to home decorating shows and magazines? Do you know exactly what someone should do to sell their home fast? Are you constantly mo… More >>
How to Open & Operate a Financially Successful Redesign, Redecorating, & Home Staging Business
Tags: Business, Financially, Home, home decorating, home staging business, magazines, Open, Operate, phenomenal growth, real estate, Redecorating, Redesign, Staging, Successful
#1 by Laure Gill on May 18, 2010 - 5:23 pm
Mary Larsen has done a thorough job explaining the actual steps it takes to launch a successful (financially successful!) business in Interior Redesign and Staging. As a Nationally Certified Trainer in this area , I look forward to adding this book to my recommended reads for students, new & experienced. Worth the time to read it!
Rating: 5 / 5
#2 by Cynthia J. Burks on May 18, 2010 - 5:55 pm
I really enjoyed this book! I found it well written and chock full of useful information and specific strategies that could be applied to any new business either in or out of the design field.
Rating: 5 / 5
#3 by Myra Turner on May 18, 2010 - 8:44 pm
Larsen’s book starts right off by defining the differences between redesign (for living) and staging (for selling) so there’s no misunderstanding of what these potentially lucrative businesses are all about.
The popularity of HGTV-DYI-type shows have spawned an interest in people wanting to redecorate their own homes Fortunately for anyone wishing to operate this type of business there will be more than enough work for you to do. Many home decorators get all excited about redecorating their homes but then find that once they get started (or are in the planning phase) they don’t have the skills or the time to follow through.
The book offers a lot of solid advice. For instance, Larsen reminds readers that it is vitally important to continuously educate themselves as trends change constantly- what’s hip today will be out tomorrow.
Mary’s Trade Tips are sprinkled throughout the book making you feel like you’re getting insider information. Larsen offers advice on ways to market your business including getting testimonials from current customers, giving presentations including a list of possible topics and an outline detailing how to present the topic. Details important things you need to know to stage a home for a real estate sale, offers before and after pictures showing great design work that you can easily do and gives basic design tips that offer suggestions on room elements such as color, shape, and spacing. You’ll also find a list of tools you will most likely need and an appendix with more than enough resources to get you started including easily modifiable forms, sample contracts, a list of tools you will need and sample sales letters.
For some reason I found myself getting kind of bored toward the end of the book but overall a good resource for anyone wishing to start this type of business. Could also be a good basic guide for anyone wanting to simply redesign or stage their own home.
Rating: 5 / 5
#4 by Mike Mcvay on May 18, 2010 - 9:58 pm
This book gives detailed information on how to go about starting a business doing interior design and decorating. The authors discuss the types of decorators as well as what it takes to be an entrepreneur. They dispel commonly held myths about entrepreneurship and give practical advice for the reader to determine if they have what it takes to start their own business.
The authors give step by step instructions on what it takes to start your own design business such as deciding what skills you have and how to charge for services. The next sections of the book deal with the legal and financial concepts of structuring a business. The authors do a good job of explaining the intimidating ideas of business planning, finance, and operation in terms that non business savvy people can understand. Anyone considering a career in design or decoration would benefit greatly from reading this book
Rating: 4 / 5
#5 by Investor on May 18, 2010 - 10:44 pm
Mary Larsen has written an extremely useful book on starting a design business. She understands that those in this business already have a designer’s eye but may not have business acumen. Though the book does touch on some design topics, its focus is on the business/marketing side of getting started. Her tips are right on the money and are useful to anyone staring a small business of their own. Not only does she tell you what works, but she helps readers understand what does not work! I will recommend this book to all new designers, current designers wishing to grow their business, and all new start-up small business owners. Thank you, Mary, for using your knowledge and skills to help others succeed.
Rating: 5 / 5