You've staged a couple of homes, you have some before & afters you're proud of, and now you need someone to actually pay you. This is the step where a lot of new stagers stall. Not because they're not good, but because they wait for clients to find them.
Here's how I'd go out and get the first ones.
Know who your clients are
There are two main groups, and they buy for different reasons:
- Realtors want listings that sell quickly and sellers who are happy. One good realtor can send you work every month.
- Homeowners who are selling want the best possible price with the least possible stress. They usually hire you once.
Both matter, but if you want steady work, realtors are where I'd put most of my energy.
How to get a realtor to call you back
1. Speak their language
Realtors don't buy "beautiful interiors." They buy days on market, better listing photos and sellers who sign with them again. Every message you send should be about that.
2. Lead with before & afters
Skip the long introduction. Show two or three strong before & afters, a clear idea of your price range and how fast you can get a home ready for photos. That's it.
3. Look for listings that aren't moving
Browse your local listings and find homes that have been sitting for a while, with dark, empty or cluttered photos. Those realtors already have a problem, and you're offering a solution. Be kind and specific: what you'd change, how long it would take and what it would look like.
4. Make it easy to say yes
A short, clear proposal. A simple price. Dates. Photos ready for the listing. The less work you create for a busy realtor, the more likely they'll hire you.
5. Follow up (more than once)
Realtors are busy, and a lack of reply rarely means "no." Follow up a week later with a new project or a useful tip. Plenty of great clients don't say yes to the first message.
Turn every project into marketing
Each job you finish is content and proof at the same time:
- Post the before & after on social media, with a short story about what you changed and why.
- Share the process: the walkthrough, the setup day, the final photos.
- Ask the realtor or owner for a short testimonial when the home sells.
- Send the final photos to the realtor so they can share them too.
Over time, people start coming to you instead of the other way around. That's a big part of how I built my own business.
Don't forget homeowners
Some homeowners look for a stager on their own, especially when they're selling without much help. A simple website with your before & afters, a clear way to contact you and a paid consultation option is often enough to start getting inquiries.
A tip: offer a paid walkthrough consultation as your entry point. It's low risk for the client, it gets you into homes and it often turns into a full staging project.
Be patient, but be consistent
Your first clients won't come all at once. But if you contact a few realtors every week, post every project and follow up, the work starts to build on itself.
Before you reach out, make sure your portfolio is ready and you know how to price your work. And if you want my exact messages, templates and steps to find clients, they're inside my home staging course.