~ Hi there! On HGTV's Hit Reality TV Show DESIGN STAR, I sewed, painted & sawed my way through some pretty tough challenges, but design doesn't have to be hard! I believe in combining simple, timeless design ingredients to create what I call "Design Recipes". I hope you find this to be a truly awesome resource. www.design-recipes.com contains design tips, articles, podcasts, how-to videos and of course design recipes galore! I invented Design Recipes simply because I love sharing my ideas! For years I collected design magazines, tagged and clipped pages with inspirational images & did nothing! That's because I didn't have the resource information so I could purchase the beautiful furniture I was seeing on the pages of the magazines! With Design Recipes, I SHARE how the room was executed, giving you the basic design tools needed for you to recreate the same look on your own and best of all I give you all of the resource information! Enjoy!
≈ Comments Off on HOME STAGING COURSES: CELEBRITY INTERIOR DESIGNER & HOME STAGER CATHY HOBBS OF HGTV DESIGN STAR ANNOUNCES HER REMAINING HOME STAGING COURSES FOR 2011!
As we wind down 2011 and look to the future and 2012, there are only a few opportunities left to take one of my Home Staging Courses taught through CERTIFIED STAGING PROFESSIONALS (CSP).
What better way to kick off the New Year than to be certified as a home stager and begin your business as a Certified Staging Professional!
By Cathy Hobbs, ASID Created: Sep 21, 2011 Last Updated: Sep 21, 2011
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Related articles: Business > Real Estate
Certified Staging Professional Cathy Hobbs in action, staging one of her many projects. (Courtesy of Cathy Hobbs)
Starting and building a home staging business is ideal for design enthusiasts, professional organizers, do-it-yourselfers, real estate brokers, and virtually anyone who has a desire to have their own business and has an interest in real estate, interior design, or decorating.
In 2005, when I became interested in adding home staging services to my existing interior design business, there was really only one course that stood out above the rest: the three-day Home Staging Certification Course offered by Certified Staging Professionals.
Similar three-day courses and online courses are currently being marketed, but the Certified Staging Professional Course (CSP) is the only course I discovered that provides home staging training plus the in-depth business knowledge that a new home stager needs to succeed in the competitive world of home staging. Their three-day intensive course consists of two days of in-class instruction, followed by a third day on-site where students actually stage a property.
Earning Money as a Home Stager
Home stagers can charge anywhere from $75 to $300 an hour, so for an avid marketer as well as someone with lots of contacts, the income potential can be tremendous. Just like with any other entrepreneurial endeavor, what one gets out of it is linked to what one puts into it.
The first step in launching a home staging business is letting everyone you possibly know that you are a home stager and are available to help them sell their properties. Most people at some point in their lives will need to sell a property and that is where you will come in!
What is wonderful about starting a home staging business is that there are minimal startup costs. In order to start a home staging business, one will need to have the following:
1. A computer
2. Business checking account
3. Professional liability insurance
4. A digital camera
5. A professional email address
6. A website
7. Business cards
8. A dedicated business phone line
9. A fax machine
What Does Home Staging Entail?
Staging can mean a number of things as it relates to selling a property. It can mean anything from painting and minor repairs to obtaining rental furniture and furniture arrangement. As a stager you will want to build a team to help you execute these tasks.
As a stager, you can expect to provide the following services:
1. Remove clutter
2. Pack away any and all unnecessary items and furnishings
3. Apply a fresh coat of paint or make paint color recommendations
4. Clean and steam carpets
5. Hire a professional cleaning crew
6. Recommend minor repairs
7. Rent furniture
8. Incorporate furniture and accessories to show function
Are Courses Required?
Unlike interior design, there are no education requirements for becoming a home stager. In fact, home staging is actually an unregulated industry. The question I would simply ask someone who is considering starting a home staging business is why would you not seek training?
It is hard enough starting an entrepreneurial venture, let alone setting out on one’s own without the necessary tools and basic foundation. Taking a professional business course such as the Home Staging Certification Course offered through Certified Staging Professionals is the key to having the foundation and resources in order to set you on the proper path.
The Certified Staging Professionals website as well as their expert staff and instructors provide a wealth of resources and knowledge as well as ongoing support to help make your home staging business successful.
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* Introducing Columnist Cathy Hobbs
Certified Staging Professionals offers classes in Long Island, N.Y., Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Boston, Philadelphia, Nashville, San Francisco, Baltimore, Washington, D.C., Miami, Detroit, and Fargo, N.D., just to name a few. If you’re interested in becoming a real estate stager, contact Certified Staging Professionals directly at (www.stagingtraining.com) or (1.888.STAGING). Good luck. And Happy Staging!
Five-time Emmy award-winning television personality Cathy Hobbs (ASID) is the founder of Cathy Hobbs Design Recipes™, specializing in interior design, home staging, and model residences for luxury new developments. A nationally known design expert, Cathy has appeared on such programs as The Nate Berkus Show and HGTV’s Top Ten. Cathy was also a finalist on Season 6 of HGTV’s Hit Reality Series Design Star. Cathy Hobbs is an ASID, LEED AP (BD+C), CSP.
VIDEO CLIP: HOW TO START A HOME STAGING BUSINESS
≈ Comments Off on THANKSGIVING ENTERTAINING IDEAS: NYC Celebrity Interior Designer 5-time Emmy award winner Cathy Hobbs of HGTV Design Star Shares Thanksgiving Entertaining Ideas
Thanksgiving is a time for family and of course GRAND ENTERTAINING! 5-time Emmy award winning tv personality and HGTV Design Star Season 6 finalist Cathy Hobbs shares some family friendly Thanksgiving entertaining ideas!
≈ Comments Off on WASHINGTON, D.C. HOME STAGING COURSES: BECOME A REAL ESTATE STAGER: (CERTIFIED STAGING PROFESSIONALS) CLASS NOVEMBER 30 – DECEMBER 2 IN ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA!
≈ Comments Off on Washington Home & Garden Magazine Features Upcoming Certified Staging Professionals Course In Arlington, VA With Cathy Hobbs Of HGTV Design Star
HGTV Design Star Finalist Cathy Hobbs is bringing her home staging course to the DC-area this month!
The Certified Staging Professional™ workshop is an intensive, comprehensive program taught through hands-on interaction, group exercises, role-play and in depth practical application of work samples geared to prepare the participants to enter the staging industry with the confidence and experience necessary to succeed. WHERE: Holiday Inn Rosslyn at Key Bridge
1900 North Fort Myer Drive, Arlington, VA 22209 703-807-2000. Meeting Room: Potomac
WHEN:
November 30th – December 2nd HOW: To sign up for a staging class with Cathy Hobbs please visit www.stagingtraining.com or call 888-STAGING.
I was able to get an exclusive interview with the designer to learn more about her background. Read more after the photo!
Cathy Hobbs ASID/LEED AP
HGTV Design Star Finalist Cathy Hobbsis bringing her home staging course to the DC-area this month!The Certified Staging Professional™ workshop is an intensive, comprehensive program taught through hands-on interaction, group exercises, role-play and in depth practical application of work samples geared to prepare the participants to enter the staging industry with the confidence and experience necessary to succeed. WHERE: Holiday Inn Rosslyn at Key Bridge
1900 North Fort Myer Drive, Arlington, VA 22209 703-807-2000. Meeting Room: Potomac
WHEN:
November 30th – December 2nd HOW: To sign up for a staging class with Cathy Hobbs please visit www.stagingtraining.com or call 888-STAGING.
I was able to get an exclusive interview with the designer to learn more about her background. Read more after the photo!
Q: How has your experience in broadcast news influenced your experience in interior design?
I was in broadcast news for 19 years, and in television especially, it’s all about the visuals.. telling a story with pictures. Having this background as really helped me tremendously with my interior design. First, it always allows me to be able to step back and truly visualize a space and focus not only on the big picture, but the fine details as well. Interior design is at it’s core, visual, so my background in television has truly helped a lot. Q: You are the first Green Home Stager in New York City. How important is sustainable design in NYC, compared to other cities?
I am not sure New York City residents are more interested in sustainable design, but it is definitely a trend here. Beginning in about 2006 as new development condominium buildings were being built, many developers were looking for sustainable options, such as using recycled materials, having green roods, even down to the selection of fixtures for the bathrooms and kitchens. Much of my business is focused on new developments in New York City, designing common spaces such as lobbies, children’s rooms and gyms as well as model residences. So when my clients were looking for green alternatives, I was the company selected because of my LEED credential. Q: What do you see as the biggest mistake that homeowners make when decorating their homes?
Mistake #1 Problem: Hanging artwork too high Solution: Eye level is at 5 feet. The center point of a piece of artwork should be hung at 5 feet above the finished floor. Adjustments up or down a couple inches may be needed but I consider this to be my general rule of thumb.
Mistake #2 Problem: Painted Ceilings Solution: I tend to always leave my ceilings white, in order to help visually raise the height of a room. While I am not completely opposed to painting a ceiling a color, people often fail to realize that a painted ceiling automatically visually reduces the height of a room. I recommend painted ceilings only if one if looking to create a certain mood or sense of coziness.
Mistake #3 Problem: Decorating with too many colors Solution: I love color! And love using color, but as a general rule of thumb I tend to encourage people to design with (1) neutral color to be used a general wall or fabric color for upholstered pieces and then to use (2-3) accent colors that can be incorporated into accessories such as pillows, area rugs, artwork, pottery and vessels. I also remind clients that is o.k. to create a design scheme, using shades and tones of the same color.
Mistake #4 Problem: Purchasing furniture that is too big or too small for a particular space Solution: As basic as this may sound, so many people fail to measure and even loosely create a floor plan before purchasing furniture. I can not tell you how many times I have walked into rooms overstuffed with furniture..or pieces that are just to large or too small for a particular space. I suggest that before shopping always create some sort of floor plan even roughly on graph paper ..counting the squares in order to create your own scale, so that you know in advance whether or not a particular piece of furniture will fit.
Mistake #5 Problem: Purchasing “sets” of furniture Solution: I find that purchasing the “5-piece” set, seldom results in a successful interior design solution. Purchasing sets tends to make a space look like a showroom instead of a home. I believe beyond bedroom sets, in which I tend to suggest clients purchase only lets say a bed, nightstands and perhaps (1) case good such as a dresser, purchasing “sets” are a no no. I believe it is a far better option to purchase one main primary, solid quality, well designed piece of furniture, and create a design scheme around it.
Q: How essential is quality home staging when putting a house on the market?
A staged home has great appeal, enticing buyers inside, where they will see the best view of each room and the best traffic pattern throughout the home. Further, a staged home is also in its best showcase, mint condition, so that it sells at the best possible price in the shortest possible time, an un-staged home does not.
Staging before placing the house on the market, even before the “broker tour,” is ideal because realtors, as much as potential buyers, want to be “wowed”, and will be! A staged house will stand out from the competition. Realtors will want to show it to their clients, increasing traffic to your listing and speeding its sale.
Q: We love your Design Recipes! What inspired the idea?
Thank you! I invented Design Recipes based on my overwhelming desire to make my designs approachable and affordable. I was inspired to become an interior designer based on the fact that when I was a young reporter coming up I was virtually making no money. I shopped in thrift stores and at flea markets and would go on wonderful treasure hunts for furniture and accessories! I would have loved to be able to have the advice or tips from a professional designer without the big price tag. That’s what design recipes is all about providing practical, affordable tips that any design enthusiast can apply to their own home. Design Recipes feature a room on the front with the “ingredients” of how the room came together, similar to recipe instructions and on the back is all of the resource information! Design Recipes the website www.design-recipes.com has also expanded to include free recipes, a blog, design tips, videos and will soon feature podcasts. More than 300 recipes are available on the website.
Cathy Hobbs show host and executive producer of “Metro Residential TV” and owner of Apherea Inc.
by Chris Valdez New York House
Cathy Hobbs, show host and executive producer of Metro Residential TV.
// Cathy Hobbs
Owner/Founder of Apherea and host of METRO Residential
Cathy Hobbs is a LEED AP with a residential and commercial interior design firm that specializes in sustainable design. Hobbs said she always encourages her clients to “seek green and sustainable solutions for their interiors” that are “highly functional and aesthetically beautiful.”
Hobbs has recently completed a 75-unit condominium building (see slideshow) in Harlem in which she did all of the common areas, the gym, lobby, children’s playroom as well as the model residence.
“Our commitment is to functional interiors that are not only visually stimulating and successful but are real livable creative solutions,” Hobbs said. “Our designs are approachable and innovative.”
Hobbs believes interior designing will continue to push towards a green industry with designs that make sense for the consumer and the environment.
“Clients are looking not only for a solid value but for design solutions that enhance their lives and those around them,” Hobbs said.
Hobbs is also a five-time Emmy winning television host for METRO Residential which airs on Sunday at 11 a.m. on PIX 11. Hobbs also specializes in real estate staging which has done well even in the down economy, she says.
Heading to Beantown! Looks like we will have a nice group for my 3-Day Certified Staging Professionals Course in Boston! Interested? Contact 888-STAGING or http://www.stagingtraining.com for free info!
HERE IS JUST SOME OF THE PRESS COVERAGE WE RECEIVED FROM A RECENT CLASS HELD NEAR BALTIMORE, MARYLAND!!
It’s almost time! I am so excited to be returning to the Washington, D.C. area where I was a reporter for NBC WRC-TV from 1994-1997. I am thrilled to be teaching the prestigious Certified Staging Professionals course, training aspiring stagers on the skills necessary to start, build and grow their businesses. Here are the details for the upcoming Arlington, Virginia course (just over the bridge from Georgetown), it’s not too late to sign up .. you can learn more by calling 888-STAGING.
Home Staging Event with Cathy Hobbs and Tui Lifestyle New York, NY – Nearly 150 people poured into 20 Pine The Collection for a one-of-a-kind home staging event last week. The Financial District’s (FiDi) premier condominium, now nearing 95 percent sold, collaborated with Season 6 finalist of HGTV’s reality show ‘Design Star’ Cathy Hobbs and Miami-based designer and retailer Tui Lifestyle for this unique event. Guests enjoyed delicious treats from La Maison du Chocolat and fare by Mexicue – the popular Mexican barbecue food truck that was a finalist in the 2010 Rookie Vendy Awards – as they toured two new beautifully designed model homes created by Tui Lifestyle. “We were thrilled to team up with Cathy Hobbs and Tui Lifestyle, two of the most influential names in the design world,” said Lori Ordover, managing member of The Ordover Group, sales and marketing consultant for Africa-Israel USA, developers of 20 Pine The Collection. “The event was fantastic, with guests taking in valuable tips and being the first to see our new models.” Guests were wowed by Tui Lifestyle’s luxury turnkey packages featured in home 1912 – a 666-square-foot studio comprising 219 square feet of outdoor space listed at $855,000 – and residence 1913 – an 817-square-foot studio with 268 square feet of outdoor space, on the market for $899,000. The first model was outfitted with Tui Lifestyle’s Innovative 2011 with Thai Outdoor (in white) collections, while the second featured the Luxe (in grey) with Thai Outdoor (in brown) collections. Following the tours, during a highly anticipated presentation, Hobbs provided tips on the use of color (“Don’t be afraid to use the color white, it’s a great backdrop and you can choose any accent color,” she said) as well as different methods and benefits of staging a home to give a potential buyer an idea of what rooms can be used for. Owners should stage homes to portray a lifestyle image, she noted; it’s not enough to just furnish it nicely. At the end of the night, attendees walked away satiated – both in knowledge and food – and loaded with $50 gift certificates that encouraged further feasting at the upscale FiDi steak and seafood eatery, Capital Grille. Warburg Marketing Group, a leader in luxury, residential condominium sales is the exclusive sales and marketing agent for the property. Offering by Prospectus only. File NO CD05-0163. Equal housing opportunity.
