There is an increasing demand for real estate staging services as homeowners become more aware of the benefits they can reap from the process. These well-informed sellers are attracted to home staging because of the potential to maximize their home's selling price and to shorten their stint on the market.

Various types of professionals are now offering home staging to sell services in response to this booming trend to entice potential buyers. Along with traditional interior designers and decorators, there are also real estate agents and professional organizers who follow home staging tips to perk up houses as well as those who focus exclusively on the business of home staging.

Learning Home Staging

For those who want to start their own home staging company, the first place to start is by researching the industry and learning the trade. You can gain knowledge about home staging training in numerous ways such as workshops, study-at-home programs, and books.

Home staging courses or workshops are offered by many organizations, so it is important to closely evaluate each program. When comparing programs, there is a mixture of variables that you may feel are important and want to consider. Will there be one-on-one time with a professional instructor? Will the class offer real-life practice in home staging to sell a property? Does the organization provide support in the form of advertising and business guidance? What do graduates of the home staging course think?

Most of the courses have a multi-day format which includes time with an instructor and interactive home staging projects. This type of home staging course usually requires that students travel to the workshop in a designated city and can cost a few hundred to a few thousand dollars.

For more information on starting your own business or career in home staging, see our FAQ on Careers in Home Staging.

Home Staging Workshops

One of the top home staging courses currently offered is the Certified Staging Professional^TM training course, which is a thirty-hour program over three days. This course helps stagers prepare for the industry and immediately find projects after their training. The standard program is currently offered at $1999.99 and the Fast Track is at $2650.00. Learn more about their top-notch staging programs and affordable staging courses with Certified Staging Professional . This is one of the most comprehensive programs available.

Another possible option is the Accredited Staging Professional^TM program hosted by StagedHomes.com certified instructors. Their three day training workshop has been designed by Barb Schwarz who is commonly recognized as the originator of the business of home staging. The present cost of the Accredited Staging Professional^TM class is $2,195 or $2,795.

Other popular home staging courses include the Realty Enhancements International^TM three day seminar for $2200 and the thirty-hour program over three-days for $1650. Compare with this home staging workshop.

Study-at-Home Programs

If traveling to a workshop is not an option, then you should consider home staging training that allows you to study from the comfort of home. The Home Staging Expert^TM Home Study Course consists of two parts which covers home staging to sell real estate and tactics for marketing these services to homeowners and real estate agents. This accommodating program costs $299 with included shipping.

Become a graduate of the Staging Diva® training program through a series of five convenient telephone conference classes taught live by Debra Gould, the Staging Diva herself. Students can also order full course notes and recordings of the live telecourses which allow them to get started immediately with instant download links. This innovative home staging course costs $219 per class or $995 for all five classes.

Books

You can also learn the fundamentals of launching a successful home staging company through self-directed study and reading. As the demand for home staging training grows, so does the number of books which discuss the tricks of the trade. With a few books in-hand about the business of home staging, you will have an inexpensive and flexible way to learn at your own pace.

Home Staging For Dummies, by Christine Rae & Janice Saunders Maresh. Learn how to make your home stand out. Sell your home faster and for more money with these no-nonsense tips! 20% of all proceeds from the sale of this book go to help "Habitat for Humanity".

The FabJob Guide to Become a Home Stager or Redesigner provides readers with detailed steps on launching a career in home staging or interior redesign. Every section is packed with essential information, supportive guidance, and practical expert-provided tips. Get the e-book version instantly for $29.97 or pay $5 more for the paperback and CD-ROM set.

Home Staging for Profit: How to Start and Grow a Profitable Home-Based Staging Business emphasizes the most efficient ways to set up, nurture, and earn income from home staging services. This thorough manual sells for $29.95 and includes marketing strategies along with numerous examples of home staging in practice.

Podcast on Home Staging:

Learn the who, what, where and whys with free online audio training of real estate home staging from Diva in the House.