Decorate-Redecorate.Com - Pioneers Since 1983

Questions You Should Ask

The first thing I want to do is answer the questions you should be asking yourself as you read this. This section is very important if you want "straight talk" answers about your options:

Questions You Should Be Asking Yourself!

Can people learn interior redesign/staging from an online course or a book? Absolutely, unequivocally YES!!! Why do you think so many colleges and universities are now offering online courses to students like never before in a wide variety of subjects? Why is the book publishing business a multi-billion dollar industry?

Every year there are more and more classes going online. The students benefit in a multitude of ways, such as lower fees, total flexibility, total convenience, the ability to work at their own pace, the ability to get a 1:1 student/teacher ratio. My daughter took 3 online courses in college and they were excellent classes, which she enjoyed very much and learned a tremendous amount.

Interior Redesign and Home Staging is being taught very effectively online as our many students will attest to, so don't let anyone try to convince you that it isn't effective. It most certainly is effective - and best of all it's the most affordable way to learn too.

Are people really making money in these fields? Yes, some are extremely successful (like myself) and others are making fantastic supplemental income. There are millions and millions of households with a dire need for these types of services. Someone's got to help them - why not you? Why not now - while they are still ground floor opportunities?

Each person brings their own uniqueness to the equation. We all know different people, come from different backgrounds, have had different levels of training in a wide variety of areas, have different goals and desires, different work ethics, different personalities and living in different areas. That's one of the reasons that makes redesign/staging so intriguing, so easy to learn, so profitable.

Examples

Here's a recent testimonial I received from one of my clients: "I am extremely happy with the redecoration of my living room. Due to it's odd set-up, it was very difficult to arrange the furniture to make the room look appealing and put together. Now, not only is it appealing and put together, it is perfect to entertain as well as make the most of the features of the room. Barbara and her assistant were wonderful to work with and they worked with my style rather than try to make me conform. Thank you. - Desiree K., Laguna Niguel, CA"

Three days later I did another redesign for a lady in Riverside which included a complete rearrangement of her family room and living room. She was from Egypt and it was a wonderful experience working with her huge array of Egyptian figurines and objects d'art in her lovely home. She was thrilled with the end result and wants me to come back soon to work on her bedrooms. I love this business!

Here's another client said two days later about a redesign I did for her: "Barbara had redone my family room and living room. Incredible work . . . what a talent . . . Room look more spacious with an artistic taste to fine design. Great personality and works with home owners in a friendly fashion. I love her and I love her work and I'll recommend her work anyone to who wants great taste. - Nardine I. , Riverside, CA"

I get regular inquiries by phone and from email from people looking for a stager. One gentleman had a 100-year old boat he needed staged. Another lady had a 4500 square foot home and needed staging help. She is an investor and needs help on a frequent basis. I get calls from realtors looking for stagers all over the country. I pass the referrals on to my Gold or Diamond level trainees only, because they are the most highly trained and have invested the most in getting properly trained and I figure they deserve it more than those that just buy a basic tutorial. Something to think about. And these are just a few examples. I could go on and on. Many students know people in the real estate business and many have agents just waiting for them to get trained. If there's one thing I've learned, it's that the opportunities are definitely out there and I'll teach you how to capitalize on them.

Is it fair to compare redesign/staging training with becoming a full service interior designer, a surgeon or a minister? Of course not. The interior "redesign" business is very easy. That's why no degree is needed, not even a 2-year degree. You move the sofa from Point A to Point B. You move the coffee table from Point C to Point D. You just have to know why Point B and Point D are better than Point A or Point C.

Yes, you need to know some important interior design concepts so that you do a beautiful rearrangement for your client, but it's not the same as doing surgery on someone's gall bladder, so don't be fooled into believing it's a difficult process that can only be learned in a face-to-face classroom. I wasn't trained that way. When you become an adult you develop many different capacities of learning and no one should make you feel you can only learn their way.

How do you compare your course with your competitors? We were the first to ever offer a home training program in home staging and interior redesign. We have spent the last 6 years developing our programs instead of just a few months. We offer you 3 ebooks and 7 manuals totaling in excess of 1500 pages for your design and business training alone. No one even comes close to that kind of thorough, high impact, detailed guidance. While these are relatively simple businesses, you owe it to yourself to learn as much as you can and no one covers the subjects as comprehensively as we do.

You'll quickly see that we're not trying to make it seem more than it is and everything, I mean everything, we include is hard core training and exclusive tools that we developed ourselves or that we've found in the marketplace, long before the imitators came along. There's no fluff in our stuff! When a trainer's actual training is lightweight, they make up for it with filler. Buyer beware.

How much stock should I put into celebrity endorsements? Having a TV or radio celebrity endorse a program sounds really great on the surface, but celebrities are usually paid for those endorsements, either in the form of a check or a percentage of the profits. No one will admit paying a celebrity, so it might be best to put little, if any, stock in such endorsements.

What do you think of the mini websites created by other websites and yours too? Having an online presence of some kind can be very helpful because many people search online these days. But we've found out that our trainees are getting contacted right and left from our directory with no more than a phone number and an email address. The fact that they are listed in our directory seems to be all the "credibility" they need. That's why it's super important to get listed.

However, at the Diamond Deluxe Level we'll give you a brochure website, in a domain name of your choosing (so long as it is available). Here are examples of what you can get: (Examples). We'll host it for a year and then you can renew it with us or not for a nominal charge, your choice. At the Diamond Standard and Gold Level, we'll give you a custom webpage.

But bear in mind that you should not rely totally on a website to build your business. That's why we have plenty of offline marketing and promotional strategies in the manuals that will help you garner business in very effective, time proven ways.

What about websites that claim to have super high traffic to their directories? There's traffic - and then there's traffic. It doesn't mean anything unless it is the right kind of traffic. If a website's traffic is mostly students coming for training (such as in a membership site), that isn't going to do anyone any good. Student traffic is NOT the kind of traffic that will make YOU any money because the traffic is NOT coming from consumers looking to hire a stager.

In addition, no webmaster can know the full extent of another site's traffic for comparison because other companies may (and of course, we do) have multiple sites and multiple sub-domains, all drawing traffic. So it can be misleading (and probably untruthful) to boast that you have the most traffic.

What about websites that appear to be universities, institutes or entities of higher learning? Beware of websites that use academic terms for their domain name and business name, like the following: university, institute, institution, accredited, school, college, graduates, and so forth. They are merely individuals trying to posture themselves as something far more than what they are usually exaggerating their prominence. They claim to have "graduates" without even knowing or caring whether their students finish the training or not.

They want you to assume they are institutions of higher learning to get you to buy their programs. Many of them took training from us and are illegally violating our copyrights and terms of use and are under investigation as a result. They'll likely be here today but gone tomorrow. Some are so new and raw they have no credentials of any kind and are using their domain name to "sound" official. They remind me of all of the modeling and acting so-called "schools" you see advertised everywhere promising aspiring models and entertainers to train them and claiming to be licensed agencies. Buyer beware.

We sometimes use the word "course" to separate our all-inclusive programs from our "a la carte" items (for clarity reasons only), but that's as close to a "collegiate-type" term as we get. If a website owner uses academic terms with regard to describing their company, buyer beware. If they pretend to be something they are not just with the choice of their domain name, ask yourself, what else are they doing that is pretentious and deceiving?

Do I need a degree in interior design? No, you don't need a degree. You're only going to be rearranging the furniture and accessories that your clients have already purchased. You're not going to be knocking down walls, doing a retro fit, tearing things or building things that you need a license and permit to do. You'll be giving them a one day redesign of a room in their home or giving them advice or organizing and depersonalizing the home to be sold. That's going to consist mainly of moving their furniture around and rearranging their art and accessories and giving them some basic advice. You won't be doing anything that you need a license to do, much less a college degree, unless you enter more complicated areas, and I don't suggest you do that. Redesign and staging are simple concepts. Don't let anyone make you believe it's tough and you have to have a college degree.

Do I need to be certified? No, you don't need to be certified by me or anyone else. It's not necessary to be certified or a member of any professional association. Anyone can give you a "certification of completion" for perfect attendance at a seminar. Don't mistake that for "certification". As for so-called "accreditation", that's a myth and misuse of the term that belongs only to colleges and universities. Every trainer's certification is their own private endorsement as staging and redesign are unregulated industries and there are no state or federal agencies involved.

Having said that, please note that in our Diamond Combo Training you will receive Double Certification in Redesign and Staging - and it's guaranteed! We also guarantee single certification in our Gold Redesign or Gold Staging programs. You can apply for certification through our a la carte (Bronze) program, but it will not be guaranteed.

Is this a franchise business? No, this is not a franchise. You will be an independent contractor or business owner and free to set up and structure your business any way you choose. And without the hefty price tag of $35,000-$62,100 one decorating franchise is currently charging. This is practically a risk-free opportunity in two ground floor business opportunities being routinely popularized by the cable decorating shows and press coverage.

Your entire training fee can be paid for by your first two clients or less, no kidding. That gives you a profit almost immediately. Sound too good to be true? Well, it is true, so I guess it breaks the rule.

How long does the Silver, Gold or Diamond Program take? Well, that is different for everyone, depending on the time commitment they give to it and their personal sense of urgency. Obviously if you just get a basic tutorial in staging or redesign, and that's all you get, then it will take as long as it would to read a good book. But if you're training at the Silver, Gold or Diamond level, you'll want to invest a bit more time. I suggest you study through all of the design training, much of which you can do before the rest of the course arrives, because some of your training will be on the computer with our ebooks, which you can get immediately upon placing your order.

It is possible to be starting your business within 7 days, but the average trainee takes longer. Again, it's really up to you and how quickly you study. Some people have projects waiting for them right away, so they will naturally want to move through the material at a faster pace.

Will I be able to work in any style, any budget and in any home? Yes! Yes! Yes! You will have full control over the type of client you service and how far from home you are willing to travel.

Can anyone do this? Yes. People from all walks of life, all ages, all sizes, all backgrounds, all resources are doing it. It's a ground floor opportunity with practically no competition. Some parts of the country are more heavily populated with competitors. You will need to do less educating of the public in areas where staging and redesign are more widely known, however you might have more competition. On the other hand, if you have no competition, you're likely going to have to do more educating of the consumer. Obviously, those of you who are creative and have an eye for color and design will feel right at home immediately.

Do I need lots of experience first? No, you don't need experience to begin. Your initial experience will come from rearranging your own home or staging your home and those of your friends. It's a safe environment and very comfortable. You can even service your friends without charge, just for the experience (recommended). After just a few actual projects, you'll be ready to tackle just about any home out there. With our furniture arrangement concepts, you'll easily be able to find an arrangement that will work in most rooms on a redesign appointment. And with our 80-page staging checklist, you'll be able to easily handle staging consultations like a pro.

Do I want to train with a "pioneer" or a "follower"? I am the West Coast pioneer in the concept of one-day decorating or redesign, having begun in 1986 in Southern California with no one to train me at all. I staged my first home in 1975, decades before it became known as "staging". I know my stuff and I share it all thoroughly and willingly. I have owned and managed 4 successful decorating and design businesses since 1972, so I have a wealth of expertise under my belt. Many of my competitors are babes in the woods, comparatively speaking.

This training program is now ranked the #1 Redesign/Staging Combo Program in the world. There's a reason for that. I train more people in a single month than most of my competitors train in a whole year. And not just because I'm so affordable either. I'm #1 because I'm good at explaining the concepts and showing you what to do and how to do it. I've spent untold hours developing my entire one-of-a-kind system for both businesses.

TESTIMONIAL
"Hi Barbara, I have been passionate about home redesign for 4 years and after completing your training I was able to become a sought after home stager in addition to redesign. Miracles Happen! I am now privileged to work with successful real estate agents in my area. I have an ulterior motive. What is it? To lift my clients spirits and help them provide a beautiful environment that is pleasing for personal use or a top dollar sale of their property.

Thank you Barbara for helping craft my talent into a profession that offers service to others in a tangible way. As a side benefit of being trained by the best, I will have an article appearing in a magazine next month and have been listed as the home stager referred and selected by some of the most prominent real estate agents in my area (San Luis Obispo, California). All this is a direct result of your training. - Maria Skelly"

Do I want to be trained by an internationally recognized redesign/staging expert, author and creative mind? I have written the following books and ebooks, Decor Secrets Revealed, Rearrange It, Home Staging for Profit, Home Staging for Yourself, Advanced Redesign, Pro Art Consulting, Great Parties! Great Homes!, The Secret Art of Hanging Art, Staging Luxurious Homes and Where There's a Wall - There's a Way. In addition, I have received media coverage from countless newspapers and numerous magazines and have assisted thousands of home owners to improve their interior arrangements and sell their homes quickly at a higher profit. I am an interior decorator, corporate art consultant, graphic designer and published artist with over 30 year's of combined experience -- and my art images are collected by residential and corporate clients throughout the world.

As an author, I've been told my writing style is personable, easy to read and understand and I have received numerous compliments on my abilities to communicate and teach. If you find reading this report to be easy to understand, you'll find my training materials are too.

Do I want access to the trainer others are trying to copy? When you train with me, you gain the benefit of my most creative, innovative ideas instantly and not watered down by someone trying to illegally copy me. This is one reason I have risen to the top in this field. In addition, I have studied from some of the best marketing gurus in the nation (at a cost of thousands and thousands of dollars) and I pass all of this training to you in easy to understand language. My experience as an entrepreneur extends to 34 years (as of this writing) and no trainer in the biz has that record.

Do I want access to the West Coast Pioneer of Online Redesign/Staging after I complete the training? You will enjoy on-going complimentary access to me by email (even by phone if you want it) so you are never left alone or abandoned regarding your business. Personal responses are sent usually the same day questions are received. You can send me photos to evaluate, call me, write me. I make a point of being easy to reach. So who needs teleconferences? Why get bogged down in "group teleconferencing" when you can have private?

Do I want access to the trainer others are trying to emulate? While others reduce their training programs to cut costs or summarize what they learned from me, I keep making mine better and better, all at the same very affordable price. I will guide you step-by-step in the right direction and my material gets updated regularly.

I just got an email from a gal who took the seminar route and then took my training. Here's what she wrote: "I have found your site and information to be well worth the money and wish I would have found you sooner. I have been trying to get (name of her organization) to come up with a more detailed program. They are content with what they have and I was forced to do more research which is how I found out about your site. (Anonymous)"

Do I want to be associated with other professionals? I will train you in redesign and staging etiquette and give you the standards of professionalism I expect from myself. The rest is up to you.

Do I want to associate with other professionals who believe in educating their clients and respecting their wishes, not promoting their own private style or agenda? I want all clients to learn from their mistakes in a gentle, encouraging manner so that they will feel more confident in their decorating choices long after I am gone. I encourage all students to strive for the same goal.

Will I be truly independent afterwards and totally in charge of my business? You will be completely independent of any outside interference when you train with me. You will never have to worry about any organization or association placing restrictions on how you run your business, manage your business or promote your business nor will you have to pay for ongoing website hosting, changes and so forth. When you consider the long term effects of total independence, this is a very important ingredient to protect at all times. Some students have been kicked out of the associations they paid a fee to join for merely finding different ways to generate business that "weren't approved".

Do I want all of the above benefits without the hefty price tag and time constraints?

My entire training program is tailored to your individual need. If you want just basic training, I have that for you. If you just want advanced training, I have that for you too. You can pick and choose what aspect of the training will best meet your goals based on your personal background and experience. No one else offers such fantastic flexibility. Some trainers s-t-r-e-t-c-h it out and some scrunch it down till you hardly get anything at all. We believe you can't have too much at your fingertips and that's why ours is intensive, but gets you going right away too.

No one else offers the benefits of my Bronze, Silver Combo, Gold Redesign, Gold Staging or Diamond "Combo" Training Programs because no one else has all of the expertise, concepts, strategies, and business tools to offer you at such an affordable investment. You won't find anyone who has a program that is as thorough, as broad, as specific, as helpful AND as affordable and flexible as mine all rolled into one. That's a promise.

Questions You Should Ask

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