January 31, 2012

Home stager Patty Bonnell

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Patty Bonnell of SetTheStageWA.com uses colorful accessories to stage a dining room that appeals to buyers. (Conrad Chavez / Special to NWjobs)

What do you do? I am a home-staging professional [at SetTheStageWA.com]. I make houses beautiful so people can sell them faster and for more money. I work with real estate agents, builders and home sellers to create clutter-free, dramatic rooms that grab the attention of the broadest range of home buyers.

What's a typical day like? Lots of pre-planning and packing happens first. On staging day, we begin by loading the truck with pre-selected accessories and furniture from my warehouses. Next, we travel to the property and work our magic on all major rooms. Following a walk-through with clients, we’re back to the warehouse to unpack and finish up. A whole house in one day. Whew!

How does someone get a job like yours? I got ASP (Accredited Staging Professional) certified and used my staging training plus an effective website to attract clients. Many new stagers apprentice with more experienced stagers to learn the ropes. Local ASP Chapter membership also helped me launch my business.

What's the best part of the job? Two things: helping people and solving problems. It’s easy to “sell” staging because statistics prove that staged homes garner higher offers faster. So, I’m truly helping my clients. I love figuring out what to do with each new space. Every home is a fresh challenge!

What surprises people about your job? How unglamorous it is. People think I stand around in designer clothes and point my finger while moving men do all the work. Hardly! I’ve spent thousands of hours in rental trucks, drafty warehouses and empty homes. Still, I love the transformation at the end of the day. It makes learning to back up a U-Haul worth it.

-- NWjobs staff

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