Take real-estate training courses locally or online to obtain a real-estate license. Understanding the current trends in real estate is an important skill for home stagers, and obtaining a real-estate license will add to your credentials. You will help your clients sell their properties in a timely manner by understanding current market conditions and marketing of homes. Real-estate agents use home-staging skills to get top dollar for their listings.
Although there are no set requirements for an education in home staging, an associate's or bachelor's degree in interior design will bring you more confidence and skills to further your career. Interior design courses will teach you design and decorating skills such as color theory, working with fabrics and furnishings, window treatments and lighting. Most courses also train in practical matters such as fire regulations and building codes. All of these skills will help you to stage a home so that it is aesthetically pleasing as well as safe and up to code.
Professional-organization courses teach you how to help your clients to unclutter and organize their lives. In home staging, removing clutter is of top importance, because messy houses with too many personal belongings in sight are harder to sell. Professional organizers have the job of not only organizing clutter, but also using their organizational skills to arrange items in rooms for the sake of efficiency. Creating efficient rooms by organizing items and removing clutter will maximize space. Maximizing space is an important skill for home stagers to bring to their clients to achieve the highest sale price for their home listings.
As a freelance home staging expert, you must know the basics of running a small business. Take a course in small-business management at a local or online business school or community college to learn how to evaluate business potential, create a business plan, use communications tools, obtain licenses and permits, keep track of accounting and cash flow and market your business. Establishing, maintaining and growing your business will flow smoothly when you possess the proper knowledge and skills.