Interior Redesign Comparison Sheet

QUESTION
Which book do you recommend for getting started for the career minded?

ANSWER
Well, that's difficult to answer because I don't know what you already know and what you don't and I don't know your resources. I'm sure you know it takes some money to get a business off the ground. I don't include anything in my package deals that is fluff like my competitors.

Diamond Redesign is the best overall value because it gives you ALL of the training I offer and ALL of the tools of the trade, plus you save on shipping and get the guaranteed certification. Gold is good too and is popular because it is less money than Diamond. It just doesn't have all of the tools of the trade, but does give you all of the training in business and design, just like Diamond.

Silver gives you strictly all of the training. No tools of the trade. Believe me, you want the tools if you're serious. They make the job soooo much easier and show you to be a true professional too.

I just made a easier comparison page that might be helpful.

Comparison Sheet of Our Programs

Frequently Asked Questions: Interior Redesign Business

QUESTION
You mention that there are three licenses that I would need to obtain. Does this mean additional training and additional cost?

ANSWER
No aditional training, but some minor costs: ie you need a business license. I pay about $85 per year for my license. If you sell products (not just services), you need a resale license. Sometimes there are deposits required by your state.

QUESTION
Do stagers/redesigners need to purchase insurance before working in someone's home?

ANSWER
It is recommended, but I'm sure plenty of people don't have coverage.

QUESTION
Has anyone that you know of been sued?

ANSWER
I know of no one who has been sued.

Which makes more money?

QUESTION
I have been reading your websites for the past couple days (www.decorate-redecorate.com), and love what I've been reading. I was considering signing up for an expensive Staging Program (approx. $4,300 for a 3 day + another 3 day)until last night when I came across your information. Now I will probably order the new GOLD Staging program you offer. However, I am not clear on what interior redecorating is, and would like to understand the difference between that and staging before I choose the training. Do you use any new furniture, window treatments, etc. when redecorating, or do you "redecorate" only with what the client already has? Do you think there is more money in Staging or Re-decorating?

ANSWER
Interior redesign is the process of arranging furniture and accessories that the client already owns who is planning to stay in the home, not move.

Home staging differs because it is for people moving and the focus is quite different.

People are making good money in both types of businesses and I feel you would be smart to do both, not one or the other.

We have tailored the training so that if you buy Gold Staging, all you need to do is also buy "Rearrange It" and you'll have the top training for both businesses (there is some business/marketing overlap, but the actual processes of doing both businesses remains quite different.

You could also buy the Diamond Redesign course, and then just add "Home Staging for Profit" and it will give you virtually the same thing. I hope this makes sense.

Do both businesses. That's my advice.

Home staging might be more your bread and butter, but redesign is more creative. But each person's experience is different so it's impossible to predict what yours will be.

Bedroom Decorating Tips

The bedroom should be more than a resting place. It should also be a place to fulfill your fantasies. That makes it quite personal because that will be different for everyone. You may want your bedroom to resemble the tomb of a pharaoh (I don't, but you might), an Arabian tent, a country retreat, or as austere as an ecclesiastical chamber (again, not for me).

Of all the rooms in your home, the bedroom is the most private. Not many eyes cast their view of it. It is the one room you are entitled to have complete, undisturbed and total privacy. Often the master bedroom is large enough to handle a seating arrangement, and some even host fireplaces and large screen TVs.

But amidst all this originality, there are a few basic elements one will find or generally chose to place in one's bedroom. They are: a bed and bed frame,end tables, chests, a chair and ottoman, a desk (if there is room), a soft, warm floor covering, awindow treatment that coordinates with the style of the room, lamps and, of course, accessories. Of course, the decisions are wide and varied and deeply personal.

More on Bedroom Decorating

Publicity for Your Redesign Business

What are you doing to gain free publicity for your redesign business?

There are 3 basic ingredients you should have.

1) Your one page news story. After you write every sentence, ask yourself this question: "So what?" If you can't answer that question with a meaningful answer, rewrite the sentence, because your sentence will be boring.

2) Create a brief paragraph about you that in some way establishes your credibility in the business. You'll want to include this at the bottom of your news release.

3) Create a list of questions you can give to a reporter so that you can guide the reporter to ask you the things you want to answer. The reporter will appreciate it and will more than likely ask you the questions you want. Be prepared with your answers to those questions.

Sheffield School of Interior Design

QUESTION
I have just completed the Sheffield school of Interior Design program and loved it. How does your program in design compare to theirs. I am really interested in your redesign program and would not need all the design background stuff (ie color theory, etc). Which one of your programs would be best suited for me??


ANSWER
It depends on your goals, actually.

I offer both Redesign and Home Staging in basic training tutorials (ebook or printed versions).
Rearrange It (redesign) covers a little of home staging, but focuses mainly on redesign, setting up business, marketing, promotions, etc.

Home Staging for Profit covers only staging business and parts are very similar to Rearrange It, because some marketing, organization and promotional stuff is the same for every business one earth.

Advanced Redesign covers advanced stuff for both businesses, but maybe more for redesign than staging, hence the name.

Then there are nifty tools of the trade I highly recommend and use myself.

Don't know anything about Sheffield, though they have been around a long time. I have periodically had interior designers tell me they learned more from me on arrangement of furniture, however, than they did in all their formal design training, but I couldn't tell you where they studied. So I cannot help you compare what I teach with what you already know. One gal in Florida said she didn't learn anything new in Decor Secrets Revealed, but was reminded of several things she had forgotten about and she had been a full service designer for many years. So it is different for everyone.

Promotional Stickers

Today I received a nice card from a mortgage broker with a sticker on the envelope flap and again on the inside of the card holding his business card in place. I've substituted mine for his to show you.

The sticker says, "Oh, by the way, I'm never too busy for your referrals."

You could, of course, have your sticker say anything you want.

A quick search on the web will bring up loads of label/sticker companies that will be happy to make a custom stickers or labels for you.

Interior Redesign at It's Best

Saturday I redesigned a large Tuscan home (3 stories) in Long Beach for a couple who had torn down the former home and built the new home. They had hired the designer associated with their architect. However, the designer had an attitude. He wanted to express HIS "statement" and not their personality.

After firing the designer, the home owner sought out someone to come and hang up her art and place her accessories. She contacted a local college with a design department.

The woman who came to look over the project quoted her a $40,000 fee.

Then she found me. I did the entire project in one day for $1000. She will have me back in a month to finish the 2nd and 3rd floor. She is so excited, she has already gotten me another client, with more on the way. That's what redesign is all about!

I'll be posting pictures of the project soon at:

Decorate-Redecorate.Com

Interior Redesign Training

There are many people who offer interior redesign training. But not all trainers are alike.

Some say you can only learn in a seminar or class setting.

If this were true, you wouldn't find so many online classes being developed by major colleges and universities.

For the most comprehensive training, and the most affordable, you owe it to yourself to investigate your options.

I offer many options. Which is right for you? Well, that depends on your goals.

http://www.decorate-redecorate.com