Are you planning to explore home staging as your next career move? Or are you curious about how much do stagers make in California? If you’re wondering about these questions, then you’re on the right post!
Here, we’ll discuss real estate staging salary, how much stagers charge, and why it can be a lucrative venture for you. Keep reading to see why many interior design professionals strut their way into home staging!
How much does a stager make?
So, you’re wondering, “How much do home stagers make?”. Well, there’s no cookie-cutter rate for home stagers since it varies depending on several factors, which we discussed below.
However, according to Glassdoor, an average home stager in Los Angeles can take home about $76,800 per year. That is, considering the home stager gets prime projects on a regular basis.
Also, a senior home stager can make roughly about $15.54 to $31.08 per hour or more, which is the national average, according to ZipRecruiter. Meanwhile, they estimate that stagers in Los Angeles can make about $20.33 an hour on average.
Take note that these hourly rates vary based on where the home stager works. For example, big companies can pay their stagers as much as $56 per hour – which makes this a very lucrative career if you put in the work.
On the other hand, consultation rates for house staging can be much higher, with some ranging at about $100 to $400 per hour. This doesn’t include report preparation and logistics, on which some home stagers also charge an extra.
Factors affecting a house stager's salary
Take note that the numbers we gave above are just ballpark based on local and national averages. After all, a home stager’s salary remains on a sliding scale based on several factors, including the following:
1. Experience level
A beginner home stager will understandably earn less than someone who has been staging properties for 10+ years. In this field, experience and skill level are the name of the game if you want to make bank.
Also, it will help boost your real estate stager salary if you’ll secure related certifications and training. This will let you negotiate better rates with your clients since it gives you enhanced credibility than your competitors.
2. Portfolio and reputation
Your portfolio largely impacts your staging houses salary. Clients are more willing to hire and pay more if you can show them proof of your previous work. This is much so if the property was sold fast after you staged it for your client. Again, this will give you better credibility, especially if you’re starting to explore high-value projects in LA.
Overall, your home staging portfolio should include professional photos of the staged properties, market value of the property, time it took to sell, and other numbers that will help impress your target clients.
3. Employment terms
Stagers who run their own business usually make more money than those who are working as an employee. They can easily set the rates to maximize their income in every staging project.
If you’re employed as a home stager, your salary will also vary, depending if you’re doing it part-time or full-time. Most agencies offer better rates to full-time employees, not to mention that they also enjoy additional benefits as part of their compensation package.
4. Choice of clientele
How much does a house stager make? They can make a lot if they are specializing in high-end clients and luxury properties, especially in affluent Los Angeles neighborhoods. Even though they don’t get frequent projects, a few clients are enough to give them a sizeable annual income.
On the other hand, those who stage lower-budget homes will obviously earn less. The upside is that they tend to get more home staging jobs than luxury stagers, which gives them the opportunity to bag a decent income at the end of the year.
5. Type of services
Staging companies like HolmeStage offer multiple services aside from staging itself. For example, we also provide our clients with luxury furniture rental, consultation, painting/wallpaper service, and basic home repair, among others. This gives us additional income streams even if the client doesn’t hire us for the entire home staging project.
Overall, developing your list of services will help you grow your income as a home stager. Still, there’s nothing about sticking to home staging alone if you’re yet to have the resources to expand your offerings.
6. Location
Are you a homeowner or realtor wondering, “how much do home stagers charge?”. First of all, you have to consider the location of the property as this will be a huge defining factor.
Properties located in major cities like Los Angeles often cost more to stage. It’s because of the tight real estate market, where sellers are exhausting all means to make their listings stand out. And with the high demand comes an equally high cost.
For home stagers, choosing a prime location for your business can be a good way to increase your income. Los Angeles, for one, is a haven for stagers who want to bring their career to the next level.
7. Project size
It should go without saying that bigger projects also translate to higher income for home stagers. Properties that require extensive staging can lead to higher fees and labor costs, which will be very profitable for stagers.
Aside from that, you have to factor in the complexity of the staging project as well as the potential to upsell your services. For example, aside from your staging service, you can also offer luxury furniture rental to your client, where you can earn additional income.
8. Seasonal demand
Lastly, some months are more profitable for home stagers while other times are slow. In Los Angeles, spring and summer are the peak seasons for home selling, which are also the most profitable periods for stagers as the demand for their service kicks in.
So, the next time you ask, “How much does a home stager make?” you also have to consider the time of the year. Because unlike other jobs, home stagers are often project-based and highly dependent on local market trends.
Additional income opportunities for home stagers
If you’re running a house staging company, there are many ways to supplement your income aside from what you earn from staging services alone. Here are additional ways where you can boost your cash flow:
- Offer furniture and décor rental. Home staging and furniture rental go hand in hand. And if you can provide both to your client, you’re going to earn more for each project that you handle. You can also rent out the items for a specific period, which allows you to keep earning money for as long as the house is on the market.
- Provide consultation services. Property owners and realtors don’t have to hire you for staging just for you to make money. You can also offer walk-through consultations for color schemes, interior design advice, and layout suggestions. You can also provide them with a professional written report at the end of the engagement.
- Offer online courses. During slow months, you can also offer home staging workshops online. You can charge a course fee to teach aspiring home stagers the tricks of the trade, which is also a good way to set yourself as an industry leader in your area.
- Consider virtual staging. Many home staging companies are also adding virtual staging to their roster of services. It basically involves editing all the furniture and décor in the photos of the property, which clients can use for their online listings.
Tips to boost your home staging income
Home staging can be a profitable career for you with the right planning and strategy. Aside from all the opportunities we discussed above, you can also boost your income in the long run through the following tips:
- Network with real estate agents. Establishing relationships with realtors, real estate agents, and flippers can give you a steady stream of projects all year round. These people are constantly selling homes, which means they always need staging services.
- Keep up with the trends. The real estate landscape is ever-changing, and if you want to earn a lot as a stager, you should keep up. You should attend workshops and seminars to see the latest trends in staging, which you can offer to your future clients.
- Be active online. Home staging is a very visual industry, so you have to put your business out there by posting the best photos and details of your project. This way, you can build your brand and attract more clients in the long run.
- Invest in marketing. Your potential clients are searching online, so you should consider building a business website where they can see your projects, photos, and contact details. You can also run digital advertising to boost your brand visibility and get more clients for your home staging business.
Are you looking to hire home stagers instead?
Are you selling a property and want to give it the ultimate facelift? Simply call us at HolmeStage and we’ll give you the best home staging Los Angeles has to offer! We also serve Ventura, Orange, and San Bernardino Counties, so feel free to reach out to us for a free estimate!
Here at HolmeStage, we’ve been transforming properties for 11+ years. Many of our staged homes were sold fast, some in just 11, 10, and even 5 days! And if you want the same for your property, contact us today and let’s make buyers fall in love with your home!
