Sending kids off to college can be tough...I know as I will be doing that next year and am already completely dreading it!  It's even tougher on the child and moving into ugly, boring and sterile dorm rooms does not make it any easier.   That's why I love this story about DORM ROOM STAGING  that I wrote for the National Association of Realtors staging blog which featured yet another way for stagers to do amazing things in unique locations!

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Penn State wisely contacted HSR Certified Carolyn Plummer of Carolyn Plummer Designs and home staging based in Harrisburg, PA for a solution to boring dorm spaces and you won't believe the transformation...

I absolutely love how Carolyn softens up the space with an on-trend color palette that pleases both boys and girls along with a TON of textures and cozy rug, pillows and throws.  Imagine previewing colleges with your child to find this staged dorm space as an option vs. the typical un-staged space above it?

The builder was ecstatic with her work and these staged spaces put Penn State on top of their college recruiting game!

Here's some more photos but to read the WHOLE story, CLICK HERE.

The builder also used these photos in their marketing materials...in fact, the developers of this housing unit were so impressed with the job Carolyn did, they kept the furnishings for the model unit.

They’ve since rented out all of the units through the next three years—wow!

As a contributor to the National Association of Realtors staging blog, my favorite thing to do is to brag about the incredible talent of my HSR certified home staging members.  I also find it so interesting to watch the MANY different directions home stagers take their business because there are so many niches available to them.  

I will share Carolyn's behind the scenes Member Success story soon but here's what she had to finish with when she shared her dorm room project with me...

Remember that book by the incomparable Dr. Seuss?   When someone decides to "choose themselves" and steps into the staging and design industry through the HSR Certification Training it's AMAZING where their business can take them!  I was reminded of that Dr. Seuss book when I read about the story below.

Here's a recent member success story about staging Airbnbs...

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It was vacant and I completely designed and staged the entire space. Now I am partnering with him to manage the space and will receive a cut of the profits each month. This will be an Airbnb. 

But it gets better...there are 2 other units just as stunning in the same "home" and I'll be doing the same with those. Residual income!!

And will you succeed?  Yes!  You will, indeed! (98 and 3/4 percent guaranteed.)

Kid, you'll move mountains!  Today is your day!  Your mountain is waiting.  So...get on your way!

These days I've got more Member Success Stories than I can count which is AWESOME!  What makes this post a bit more unusual is that I'm sharing two husband and wife staging teams that have had enormous success (along with a lot of fun) along the way.  Here's their stories and staging work...

Jody and Her Husband's Story...

Dave and Jody Conley (pictured above) took the HSR home staging certification training and launched their business, Conley Homes and Design staging Snohomish, WA county in March, 2017.

After only a year in business, this is what Jody had to say about her business...​

Audra, we just hit our one year mark in business and I thought I would share with you our success...

​Year one we staged 40 homes, representing $20M in real estate sales! 90% of our clients homes sold on average in 5 days, and one in as little as 6 hours. Many of our clients homes sold significantly over asking price, with the highest sold $90,000 over asking price.

I am so thankful I found your program, and continue to use it as a resource daily. I appreciate all the great information you share, and know it has made a difference in our success! Thank you!

Since Jody sent me that email, her team has grown!

Hiram and Lisa's Story...

Hiram and Lisa started their staging business, Dream Decor in Hawaii as a "side business" originally.  I had the pleasure of getting to meet both of these beautiful people at the last RESA Convention and needless to say...their side business is EXPLODING:)!

Chatting with them at RESA, I was so fascinated by the fact that they have to tackle so many different styles of homes from high rise condos, to beach front bungalows to country estates.  

​Here's what Hiram had to say about their journey...

See, my wife and I have always had a great passion for decorating and a few years back when we had our house for sale, everyone kept asking “Who did your staging?” To everyone’s surprise, we just told them, “no one, this is just how we always keep it”. Pretty much every realtor that walked through the home suggested we should look going into staging, so we did. My background is in engineering and business, but I always had a passion for art and the staging business just comes natural to me. 

The first 6 months were slow but Audra, with your HSR training and great marketing pointers... all of the sudden we began to get more and more business. Now, the past eight months have been crazy! The phone does not stop ringing and I am happy to say that I have now moved on to do this full time.

Teaming up with my wife is great as we complement each other as we go in this business together.

Audra, once again thank you very much for what you do.