The Collateral Effect of Interior Design Regulation on Real Estate Stagers
Patti Morrow, IDPC, June 1, 2009
Recently, we became aware of positions and statements originating from the staging profession purporting that regulation of interior designers does not affect real estate/home stagers and they should not become pro-active in protecting their freedoms.
This is not only far from true, but is a dangerous position that could potentially place real estate stagers at great risk. Practice laws in states like Florida and Alabama have been a detriment to real estate stagers, and if similar practice acts are allowed to be enacted, stagers will continue be impacted. Sadly, the advice which has been given to stagers recommending that they do not look into this issue lacks a clear understanding of the nuances of regulation, and it appears that the objective lies in self-promotion rather than member protection, and serves only to encourage stagers to withdraw back into complacency instead of continuing to actively engage in this important issue that has and will continue to impact staging professionals if left unchecked.
Click on this link to read entire paper (downloadable and printable): http://www.idpcinfo.org/IDPC_Stager_Statement_060109.pdf
ABSOLUTELY AGREE. REALORERS ARE NOT QUALIFIED TO ‘STAGE’!!!!! AND CAN CAUSE $$$$$$ TO THEIR BUYERS AND SELLERS!! LET ME KNOW HOW I CAN HELP!!!
Comment by ABSOLUTELY AGREE. REALORERS ARE NOT QUALIFIED TO 'STAGE'!!!!! AND CAN CAUSE $$$$$$ TO THEIR BUYERS AND SELLERS!! LET ME KNOW HOW I CAN HELP!!! — June 6, 2009 @ 2:43 am |
Wow. I didn’t realize all this was going on. I am in Florida and am acertified redesigner and stager through IRIS organization. Upon completion of my classes, the only thing that I was told was to not call myself an “interior designer” but “interior redesigner”‘ which I have done. I agree that ASID is pushing for this; as the saying goes….. Always follow the money!
Comment by tenley coulter — June 7, 2009 @ 8:04 pm |
Home stagers are in the position of re-decorating houses. Some home stagers do offer advice to sellers in regard to the lay out of the home and what they can do to make the home sell quickly. Others simply offer paint and window covewring advice. If you are giving advice to the public and presaenting yourself as an expert in the field, my advice to you is the same. It takes years of experience combined with education and professional affliations certainly do not hurt. There are a lot of folks calling themselves designers out there who took an internet course. If you want to fight for your right to call yourself an Interior Designer then get the education and experience behind you that is required. This is true in any field. I did not wake up one day and decide to call myself a Cosmtolagist or a realtor. I continue to educate myself in my chosen field of 25 years+. Education is key.
Comment by cj. Knapp — June 9, 2009 @ 10:34 pm |
Ho-hum – excuse my yawn, CJ, but your rhetoric is same old, same old. What you gave is you opinion – no one is interested in that. What we’d like to hear from those who support regulation of interior designers are FACTS. In 30 years, not a single piece of evidence which would warrant a conclusion that interior designers need to be regulated has ever been presented.
Since you freely admit that SOME stagers offer consultations and/or drawings about “lay out” (aka “space planning”), it would appear you are in effect saying that it’s okay for SOME stagers to be prosecuted or disciplined.
Certainly education, experience and affiliations are all positive things, and by all means should be used to gain a marketing/competitive edge. But absent any threat to public health, safety and welfare, it is not a legitimate function of the legislature to regulate a profession for the sole purpose of advancing respect for that profession. Your dignity comes from within and respect for your profession is earned on the merit of work produced.
Interior design is a dynamic, creative and innovative profession with many pathways to entry, as is evidenced by the multitude of designers without ASID’s “minimum qualifications of education, experience and examination” whose extraordinary work is featured in design publications. The “requirements” to use the title Interior Designer you refer to come from consumers, who are fully able to determine what level of interior designer meets their needs. The public determines who is a “professional” and they do not need a nanny state to make that decision for them.
We do intend to continue to fight for our right to call ourselves interior designers, and to protect our ability to work in our chosen field. What are you so afraid of? Perhaps if you were more confident in your own competence to produce quality work, you would not be so quick to legislate your competition out of business? Just asking.
Oh, and by the way, if you woke up and decided to call yourself a cosmetologist or realtor, you’d be breaking the law. With the exception of Florida and Connecticut (which are under legal challenge and soon to be repealed), the same does not hold true for calling yourself an “interior designer.” Take the time to do your research and get the facts straight. Facts are key.
Comment by idpcinfo — June 10, 2009 @ 3:15 pm |
Dr.’s, Lawyers, even building contractors have to be licensed. Ok I go to the doctor for a medical condition. The receptionist(homestager) has worked their for several years and has learned a thing or two over the years and gives advise from time to time. The Nurse (decorator)has been educated and has many years of experience and certaintly can give some good advise and probably can diagnose some things. However, most people still want to see the doctor (Interior Designer) and certaintly want the doctor to do the surgery, not the nurse or the receptionist….So I ask you – would you rather have a professionally trained Interior Designer with a 4 year degree from a reputable unversity or a stay at home house wife who thinks she has taste and can pick a paint color? There are too many people calling themselves “Interior Designers” with no education…they should not be allowed this is very misleading to the public. Why do they have a problem calling themselves decorators? (of course providing that they have at least a 2 year degree). The public should be educated to the difference and let them decide would they would trust with their money. It is frustrating that I paid tens of thousands of dollars to get an education in a profession that the un-educated people go around as posers. The truth of the matter is that the posers are probably not smart enough to get accepted to a University or pass the NCIDQ or ASID test. So, the self proclaimed “Interior Designer” ruins it for all of us who are educated and professional!
Comment by Suzanne — June 12, 2009 @ 3:47 am |
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Britney
Comment by Britney Kate — June 30, 2009 @ 3:56 am |
Not all Real Estate Stagers are un-educated stay at home moms…I absolutely take offense to that comment made by Suzanne. I am not an Interior Designer, I don’t claim to be either. I make it very clear to all of my clients that I am here to help them sell their property, not to design their home. Often times I do get hired to “redesign” their new place which is nothing more than helping them with furniture placement, paint colors–which I am trained to do–and accessorizing. My clients can not afford an Interior Designer and would not hire anyone if it were not for the lowly stager who fits their budget, or lack of budget. I seek as much education as possible to make myself an effective Home Stager so get off your high horse and realize that we are not here to push you out of your kingdom of Interior Design, we are here to meet a need and for as busy as I have been, that need seems to be huge!
Sincerely
Koddi
Comment by Koddi — December 28, 2009 @ 3:48 pm |