For 17 years, Charisse Lain embraced the role of a dedicated stay-at-home mom, cherishing the precious moments of family life. Little did she know that her journey was destined for a creative transformation as she embarked on a new path as a home stager. Before becoming the founder of Prestige Home Staging Designs, her life was filled with diverse experiences that unknowingly shaped her passion for design and creativity.Her early years were spent managing her father’s flower shop, applying her artistic expression in the world of events; everything from weddings to corporate parties. She even found herself pursuing a dream as a recording artist in the bustling city of Manila, Philippines.
While my career in music was fulfilling, my love for design and creating beautiful spaces never waned. I continued to read about architecture and interior design, watched anything that had to do with interior design, architecture, and home make-overs. After staging my own home for sale and achieving great success, I decided to pursue my certification as a Staging Design Professional.
Charisse jumped right in and embraced the her new world of home staging with open arms. Completing core training from RESA® Accredited Training Provider, Staging Studio, then spending months shadowing professionals in the field to gain hands-on experience gave her the skills and confidence to create her own successful space in the industry.
Starting a new business can be daunting, but I am excited for the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead. I am committed to building long-lasting relationships with my clients, and to earning their trust and satisfaction through every stage of the home staging process. Whether you need a full-home staging or just a few key pieces to enhance your space, I am here to help you achieve your goals and exceed your expectations.
The Home Stager’s Perspective: A Conversation with Charisse Lain
Q: How does your commitment to RESA®, the exclusive nonprofit trade association for stagers, align with your professional goals and values?
Charisse: First of all, I am so grateful that there is RESA®! I had the privilege to join the recent RESACON 2023 in Las Vegas and that in itself opened my eyes to many possibilities. All of what RESA® is all about really aligns with my professional goals, because there is a myriad of resource within the community! The conference was filled with valuable information and tools that helped me improve on what I need to do as a new home stager!
It was also through RESA® that I found and chose the course I wanted to take in home staging. It was through Staging Studio that I learned the why’s and how’s of becoming a home stager! I get to network with different stagers all around North America, and within the membership portal, there is so much valuable information and help to keep growing myself and my business. I also like the fact that I am not alone, and that we are all creating spaces in our own unique way and are willing to help each other out when it’s needed.
Q: What inspired the beginning of your staging journey?
Charisse: It was mid-summer of 2022 that my husband and I decided to sell our townhome and move into a detached home with a backyard. While working with a real estate agent friend, she suggested that I hire a home stager to fix up my home before it gets sold. I asked her “oh, what does a home stager do?” and she explained. All of a sudden, I had a light-bulb moment and with excitement, asked her if I could also work on decluttering and staging our home. I put together a list of what I was going to do for each room (a google spreadsheet) from boxing things, to what needs to be donated, decluttering everything, but leaving the furnitures we had and just decorating the spaces neutrally.
By the time the home stager came to take a look at the property, she mentioned that I do not need her help because it looked like I already did a good job! It was a compliment. And so my agent friend who also knows home staging got to work and once it was listed and up for showing one weekend, we narrowed it down to 3 people who sent a bid, and for the winning bid we got 72K over listing price! As a home owner I was ecstatic, and it was then that I started my journey in home staging!
After we sold our home, I reached out to the local RESA® chapter president and asked questions and was able to learn from her, and while I was learning, I took a course from Staging Studio to help me understand this profession more. It wasn’t just a light-bulb moment to home stage, it was a full circle on what I have always wanted to do since I was a teenager, to decorate homes and to become an interior designer. I didn’t pursue that in college, but it was always in the back of my mind. I was always into the arts, drawing, painting, singing, and even floral arranging, but now I get to express all my artistic creativity with home staging!
Q: Take us back to your very first day on the job as a home stager. What were your feelings, expectations, and the most memorable moments from that day?
Charisse: I was excited to learn and nervous at the same time. I was helping out another stager and her assistant and we staged a 3 bedroom, 2 bath, detached home. I made sure I was on time. I didn’t know what to expect, so I came with an open mind of being teachable. I was excited and happy to be there. I was ready to work!
As I worked with the assistant, she gave me directions on what to do, what to work on and how to do it. I just went with the flow and pretty soon, it was all coming together. I didn’t expect that there was a lot of manual labor involved, the packing and moving of the bins back and forth, from the warehouse to the house, unloading and unpacking, and sometimes moving some furnitures around. I was also asking questions along the way. Being able to get some hands on that day was memorable. Although I was not the main stager, I saw and learned a lot just by helping. And it was special because it was my first day!
Q: How has your perception of the staging industry evolved since you started?
Charisse: My perception of the staging industry has really grown a lot since I started in 2022! Especially after staging a lot of homes already, I was starting to understand some concepts when it comes to staging different kinds of homes, and whether it was vacant or occupied. I realized also that there are other things you can do as a home stager, you can also do re-design, style Air BnB properties, short term rentals, long term rentals, stage events, and so much more! There are many ways to diversify your income and it’s a really lucrative business if handled well.
Q: Would you share some insights into your creative process? Where do you typically find inspiration for your staging designs, and how do you translate that into your work?
Charisse: My inspiration comes from many of the designs I see from different places that I love and know. I look at popular furniture websites and get ideas there. Websites like Houzz, Studio Mcgee, Arhaus, RH, HGTV, home make over shows, interior design shows, etc. I like luxury pieces, that may or may not be expensive, but I also like modern farmhouse looks. I also want to see all the choices of decor I have and then imagine and design a room with those pieces. I can imagine what a space should look like, and see how I can make it a reality using accessories or the furniture that will go well with it.
Q: Prior to entering the staging industry, did you have a different career path or profession? If so, please share some details about it. How have the skills and experiences from your previous career uniquely equipped you for success in the world of staging?
Charisse: I was a stay at home mom for 17 years until I decided to become a home stager. Prior to that, I ran my father’s flower shop and also worked on events, like weddings, corporate parties, and artist management. I was also a recording artist in Manila before I took over the flower shop for 6-8 years. I believe that “designing” and being creative was always in my blood ever since. Even as a stay at home mom, I was hired to do someone’s floral wedding arrangements (or sing! lol!) So decorating was always before me, yet I never realized that I could even start a business in home staging until now. So all those skills I have acquired over the years are useful, and home staging releases my creativity a lot. I know that when I home stage I consider adding some floral arrangements here and there and making sure there is a touch of nature in a home – this will be my signature touch.
Q: Can you recall a particularly challenging staging project? What obstacles did you face, and how did you overcome them? What did you learn from that experience?
Charisse: Okay I remember the first time I staged a home in downtown San Francisco. It was a 1 bedroom condo on the 6th floor. Well first of all, I had to make sure I had everything I needed with me in my SUV (old Land Cruiser) because downtown SF is an hour and a half away from where I am coming from. When I arrived, there was no parking allowed around the building. They allowed delivery trucks by the loading dock and so we opted to use that entrance and get all our accessories in the building. Because we had a lot of stuff, I thought perhaps we were going to take more than an hour to take all our stuff upstairs, but someone helped us and it went faster. It was the furniture movers lending us their big bin with wheels to haul things upstairs without the problem of having me and my daughter bringing everything one bin at a time. One artwork at a time… but thank God, we got help!
Once all our accessories were there, I had to park the SUV somewhere nearby and there was nowhere to park, because all of the spots were taken. I drove around, and found a spot somewhere (about a 15min walk) so that was a challenge! But it’s all good, I had to keep my cool. After finishing the staging job, I got back to my suv again, only to find out that I didn’t pay for the meter (I was parked there for more than 2 hours). Yikes! I saw the meter man checking people’s cars, and so I speed walked and made sure I got my car out of there before the meter man got me!
All in a day’s work, but yeah, that was a bit challenging with the parking and bringing stuff up the service elevator. I learned that every staging job will have its own challenges so planning will be the key so you don’t get stressed out.
Q: Staging often involves collaboration with real estate agents. Could you share some insights into how effective communication and partnership between stagers and agents can lead to successful property sales?
Charisse: Yes it is important to have good communication with the real estate agents you’re working with so that you share the same vision: in getting the home sold for top dollars!
Q: Staging can transform a property, but it’s not just about aesthetics. How do you balance design principles with the practical aspects of making a home more marketable?
Charisse: I learned from the Staging Studio’s course module in Design Principles, that I always need to be informed with the times and trends all the time because style keeps evolving and many people will also change preferences when it comes to style. I can then apply what Ive learned in home staging.
Q: Could you share a memorable success story where your staging made a significant impact on a property’s sale price or time on the market? What were the key elements that contributed to that success?
Charisse: The condo I staged in SF, had one open house that weekend and then it got sold right away. . So it was a quick sell for more dollars! I believe staging helped a ton, the design and colors that were used, were also a huge factor. Lots of natural sunlight, It looks luxurious yet homey. We used elements like silver/ glass/ with pops of dark blues and teal/ and patterns that compliment the neutral gray couch, It was simple, yet elegant.
Q: The staging industry often requires adaptability and flexibility. How do you stay current with market demands and changing client preferences? What strategies do you use to continuously improve your skills and stay competitive?
Charisse: When I went to the Las Vegas Market this year and got to see the different furniture and accessories vendors, I took a ton of photos and videos for me to remember what I see. I turn what I learn and share it with others to provide some value to what I post on my social media page and to also educate. I get inspiration from what I see and implement it in staging. I see a lot stagers using the power of social media to also market themselves or have another place besides having a website. I believe learning some skills to create content that brings value to people, educate or even entertain is a great way in showing who you are. I do post on my IG account often, so this is a part of also growing my business to showcase my work and my humble beginnings. I observe and follow people who are also interior designers, home stagers, or the influencers who create beautiful spaces with their homes or people who decorate or DIY’s.
Q: Beyond aesthetics, what do you believe are the most important qualities or skills that a successful home stager should possess? How have these qualities shaped your own career?
Charisse: Here are some of the things I am learning:
1) Patience – patience for myself and others or even in when you are staging. I am my worst critic so I can change how I arrange a coffee table like 5 times and be unsatisfied at times. Quality over rushing things is also important.
2) Educating myself to take a home staging course was the best decision I made. The skills I have acquired are priceless and is giving me the confidence to get out there and do it.
Q: If you have a team of home stagers, could you share some insights into your approach to team management? What strategies do you use to ensure cohesion and consistent quality across your projects?
Charisse: This “if” would be a future dream for me because I would love to have a team someday! If I did have a team, I would make sure we have an understanding of the job at hand and to already have a plan in place. We need to have the order of things to execute so we all do our jobs properly without overlaping on responsibilities and ensure good communication. I would implement a timeline of the project, and a break down of the process to complete it, have a meeting about it and make the necessary assignments before working on it. Everything will be documented whether it is online or paperwork. This project data is very important for reference later on to see if it was a job well done or have room for improvement.
Q: If you could stage a home for any celebrity, living or historical, who would it be, and what kind of design theme would you choose for their home?
Charisse: Ooooh, tough one! I would like to stage Zendaya’’s home coz I love how fun and adventurous she is and so I would design is something contemporary modern with a flair of who she is around the house. It will have playful tones here and there, She will have the room of her dreams with all of her favorite things, and her library will display many of her Awards and collectibles. Each room will have a “Sassy” yet luxe feel.
Q: In the world of home staging, sometimes surprises happen. Could you share a funny or unexpected moment that occurred during one of your staging projects? How did you handle it?
Charisse: True story, I bent down to grab something from a tub and the back of my slacks ripped apart! Like from the back of the waist to down to the bottom of my bum! Good thing I was staging alone! I remember going to a nearby mall and buying a pair of pants, I held the ripped part together with my hands and walked on aisles that were empty so no one would see me from behind! Ahhh so embarrassing!
Q: If you could collaborate with any famous interior designer or decorator, living or deceased, on a staging project, who would it be and why? What do you think you could learn from them?
Charisse: Cheryl Eisen! CEO of Interior Marketing Group in NYC. Mostly I want to learn from her design ideas and how she grew her luxury staging business the way it is now. She owns a 60,000 ft warehouse and has everything every stager’s dream warehouse could possibly have – her own upholstery and furniture division, she has a team dedicated to printing artwork in massive scales on demand, a design team, etc. When I was starting I followed her work and Youtube videos. She is totally inspiring!
Q: Home staging is a competitive field. What advice do you have for other staging professionals looking to stand out in the market and build a strong client base?
Charisse: I believe anyone can stand out as long as they are true to themselves and what they stand for. Everyone is uniquely gifted in this space to create beautiful spaces on their own. We all can learn from each other, sure. But everyone can put their own “touch” in their staging projects. It helps to keep up with the times of course and not just get stuck with a certain type of design or furniture. We have to adapt to the demands of the times and from there work our own magic! Stagers are creators, and designers so I believe this profession will be around for a very long time.
Q: Balancing creativity with the demands of running a business can be challenging. What tools or systems do you use to manage your staging projects efficiently and stay organized in your daily operations?
Charisse: I am a one woman show right now because Im just starting, I have all the paperwork I need from Staging Studio to get me going as far as check lists, agreements, proposals. I Record all my projects on a spreadsheet for now. I use square, for invoices and transactions, docusign for digital agreements and proposals. Nothing too complicated for now.
Q: What are some common misconceptions or objections you’ve encountered about home staging, and how do you educate potential clients or naysayers about the benefits it brings to the selling process?
Charisse: One common misconception I have encountered is that people will try to sell the property empty in hopes of someone buying it because the sellers dont see the need to stage it. Eventhough the broker wanted to hire me to stage the property, her clients refused to stage because of the price. They had already reduced the price by a 100K because it has been sitting in the Market for 92 days! I had to educate the broker a little to let her know about the importance of staging, but the sellers refused. Finally after 2 weeks, the sellers found a stager (who was more inexpensive than me) and had their home staged. Okay that was discouraging but the fact that they reverted to getting their home staged proved a point that they could have saved thousands of dollars and their home didn’t have to sit that long in the market empty.
You can find out more about Charisse and Prestige Home Staging Designs at https://www.prestigehomestagingdesigns.com/
Marketing Assistant at Real Estate Staging Association
Joanna creates marketing, advertising, and social media messaging for the purpose of conveying the organization's mission, vision and value, educating consumers, attracting new members, highlighting member accomplishments, providing content for real estate agents, and promoting strategic partners.
Latest posts by Joanna Fraley (see all)
- Samrihat Dhaliwal: The Journey Behind D Designs - October 4, 2024
- Impressive Home Staging – Feature Friday - September 13, 2024
- Home Staging Trends for 2024 - September 5, 2024
