I recently came across Jonathan Dalton’s Blog entitled “Full-Time or Part-Time: That is the Question“. He addresses the question of entrusting a part-time REALTOR to handle all of the details of one of the largest financial transactions you may ever been involved in.

To add my thoughts, I wonder if home selling America understands the difference between a part-time hobbyist and a full-time business owner dedicated to the practice of professional home staging?

I feel ever so strongly about hiring a part-time stager to do the job of a trained professional who is in the business of being in business. Staging homes is a demanding job – it requires being up to date on current trends, shopping, frugality (which is indeed very difficult to be when you’re in a hurry), marketing, inventory controller, accounting, bill collecting, inside and outside sales, as well as handling the responsibilities of running the office – AND keep in mind that it all must be done in a professional manner. Can it all possibly be done in a few hours a week?

When interviewing a home stager, I would have a list of questions available that looked something like this:

1) How long have you been in business?

2) What kind of training have you had? Do you have any credentials?

3) Can I see your portfolio?

4) Is this a full time venture for you? Do you have a list of references or recommendations?

5) Are you insured?

and the list goes on… I question whether someone who works 8-5 at “their real job” can truly serve the customer well after hours?

Is it convenient for you to reach the part-time stager? What if you’re standing at the paint store at 10am and need to confirm the name of the color that the painters need to begin their work? If the stager doesn’t return your call until 5:30pm, I question, “Does this serve you well?”

Evidence proves that truly “the only party disadvantaged in the process is the consumer” Why would you hire anyone to complete a project on your behalf that does not have your best interest in mind?

Yes, this is a touchy subject that could be discussed or even argued till the cows came home … however, at the end of the day, I, for one, would want to hire someone who has proven themselves to be dedicated to their chosen profession and believe in themselves enough to be dedicated to a full-time business, rather than a part-time hobby.