This week, I sit down with Helen Bartlett, a national award-winning home stager and home stylist, founder of Refined Interior Staging Solutions, and co-author of Home Staging: The Power That Sells Real Estate, about the process of staging model homes.

In this conversation, we discuss the difference between a model and a regular residential home, how to pivot to meet expectations, and Helen illustrates the process of collaborating with builders (including its challenges!) to personalize the design experience and build trust. Lastly, Helen shares some amazing advice for future model home stagers — tune in to the full episode to hear her advice in detail!

Topics Covered:

• How Helen unexpectedly began staging model homes 

• How a model home differs from a residential home 

• The collaborative process of working with builders throughout the design process 

• The risk model staging homes run into around damaged, dirty, or stolen items 

• The importance of quality, elevated items in a model home 

• Helen’s approach to trend forecasting and how she incorporates the target demographic into the staging process 

• The power of sharing leads and strengthening trust with everyone involved 

• Advice for future model home stagers