Entering 2008, the staging industry and professional stagers have fast earned their place in today’s real estate market and an important part of the realtor’s marketing plan. As with any new industry, there are challenges and growing pains.
RESA is uniquely positioned to be that cohesive force in this industry. RESA is a member run trade organization whose members know the challenges and thrills of staging and are looking to RESA to provide support services for the staging industry. And, being member run gives them the opportunity to be part of the solution as well. As their vehicle for industry standards, the staging industry through RESA is committed to providing unbiased industry standards, providing access to continuing education for ALL staging professionals and providing access for sellers and realtors to professional stagers in their area.
RESA Accredited Training
RESA is working on programs that will accredit professional staging training programs. This will raise the bar on what is being taught to the incoming staging professional. We have found that the training providers are more than wiling to work toward this goal because RESA is unaffiliated with any training vendor and serves all. Training providers are taking steps on their own to improve the quality of their programs and implement testing of their students. The RESA accreditation program will create minimum standards of what is taught to students. Training providers seek this third party accreditation as an industry standard shows their commitment to quality education and gives them a benchmark with which to be measured.
The RESA Accreditation Program will have a ripple effect in the industry. Better training creates better stagers out there in the field. Stagers benefit with a shorter learning curve when building their businesses and the client benefits with better service.
RESA Certified Mentors (CSM)
As with any new business startup some new stagers need additional support. RESA is currently writing a program similar to the SCORE Counselors to America’s Small Business Program. RESA will have peer to peer support services in the form of Certified Staging Mentors. The program will pair the experienced stager with a new stager in their own area. The CSM will provide mentorship in actual staging hands on experience in vacant and occupied homes in addition to shopping, pulling inventory, renting furniture and initial consultations. New stagers that need marketing assistance and business building assistance will be able to pair up with a CSM in a different area that may specialize in marketing and business skills. And again, the training providers may have advanced and continuing education courses to stagers in those areas of need as well.
Written Word and Photo Agreement
One of the issues facing today’s’ professional stager is being plagiarized by their competition. In addition stealing of other stagers photos or using stock photos in their portfolio and claiming them as their own is another issue that plagues the industry and RESA is creating an agreement that will set a new standard of ethics regarding this issue.
Continuing Education Designation
In any profession it is important to be able to sharpen your skills, staging is no different. RESA is working with training companies to create a continuing education designation that professional stagers will be able to earn through the various venues. The courses will be targeted and encompass all areas of staging including new trends and business development.
RESA strives to provide support and new services to the professional stager in addition to working with the training companies to improve industry standards. RESA values the training companies as the forerunners in the industry and is proud to give them the support they need to accomplish their goals and add credibility in the industry.
We are very excited about the growth of this industry poised to change the real estate industry in a positive direction. For more information please visit
www.RealEstateStagingAssociation.com