Frequently Asked Questions

With over 15 years experience and a leader in the Home Staging Industry, Melanie Serra brings her success, experience and knowledge to the home staging training circuit. Her curriculum is unique and unlike any other in the industry. This training program incorporates all segments of the business to include; decorating fundamentals, business theory, interactive classroom study, along with on-site staging where students learn to work in “real” homes. Her interactive group studies provide hands on training to promote, stimulate and enhance creativity…and are just plain fun! The “HSG” training program provides each student with the knowledge and tools to own and operate a successful staging business and hit the ground running upon completion.

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This is a 4 day workshop. The cost of the training is $2500. This fee does not include the cost of travel or hotel expenses. The curriculum is very extensive and consists of 4 full 9-hour days.

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No, you don’t have to have previous experience in a design field but you should have an “eye” and a flair for decorating and be passionate about interior design, decorative style and home furnishings.

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Yes, upon graduation each student will receive a certificate of completion and will become a member of “The Home Stager’s Guild™.” They will also be eligible to receive one year of free advertising on the “HSG” website.

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No, you do not have to have previous experience in business or marketing practices. You will be taught and guided in “start up” practices and principals in: naming your business, business licensing, bookkeeping, office practices, marketing strategies, establishing service fees, and shown how to implement systems to handle growth.

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Home Staging is a new facet of decorating that is becoming more and more popular thanks to television shows’ like “Sell this House” and “Design to Sell.” For the established interior decorator or designer this is an additional service that could increase their bottom line. Staging requires not only the talent to transform spaces on limited budgets, but the ability to understand the psychology of the selling process. Most conventional designers are both product and project driven. But, by learning how to “use what the homeowner already has” the conventional designer will experience a quicker turn around time from conception to completion on each staging project. The benefits are instant gratification along with instant income. No more waiting for weeks or months to receive payment and commissions on lengthy projects.

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Yes, this career can be VERY lucrative. It just depends on how talented you are, how hard you are willing to work and how much passion and energy you put into it. We will touch on other decorating services such as interior redesign, model home merchandising, color consultations. These additional services will help to supplement and increase income.

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You are your own boss and can work as much as little as you would like. However, keep in mind that the more you market yourself, the more appointments you will book and the more money you will make. Success depends on your vision and the professional goals you set in place.

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Dress is business casual. It’s important to maintain a professional image when working in client homes (no jeans on those days please).

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Please bring a writing pad a pen and a camera. You will want to begin to build a portfolio by taking pictures of the jobs that you stage during your training.

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The training is in Atlanta Georgia at the Staybridge Suites hotel. Located at the new Ashford Chase Walk shopping district offering walking distance to great shopping, restaurants, movie theaters and across the street from the Perimeter Mall *Each student will receive a copy of the course itinerary along with conference room name, times and other info upon registering for the course.

HOTEL: Staybridge Suites
ATLANTA PERIMETER CTR EAST 4601 RIDGEVIEW ROAD
ATLANTA, GA 30346 UNITED STATES
Hotel Front Desk: 1-678-320-0111 • Hotel Fax: 1-678-320-0250
www.staybridge.com/atlanta-pr
Staybridge Flyer.pdf

The Staybridge Suites offers The Home Stager’s Guild Students a special group room rate. Be sure to let the reservationists know that you are with the Home Stager's Guild to take advantage of the special room rate.

Traveling by air you will arrive at Hartsfield Jackson Int’l Airport. Take MARTA to Sandy Springs Station. The cost for MARTA one way is $1.75. This is an easy train ride and will take you very close to the hotel. A complimentary Staybridge Hotel Shuttle will pick you up from the Sandy Springs Station and take you to the hotel which is right behind the station. There is no need to rent a car. If you have concerns about transportation to and from the airport please contact us.

The Staybridge Suites Atlanta Perimeter Center East is conveniently located in the heart of the business and shopping district of the Atlanta Perimeter just off I-285 and East of GA 400. Also accessible from I-75, I-85, and MARTA - public transit system. Perimeter Mall is just blocks away with several restaurants, a movie theater, and entertainment within walking distance. Easy access to local offices and area attractions.

Staybridge Shuttle Schedule:
M-F 7:15am to 10:00 pm
S and S 8:00am - to 10:00pm
The shuttle offers a pick up and delivery service to malls shops and restaurants within for a 3 mile radius.

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Melanie Serra is principal of Interior Revivals Inc™ a Home Staging and Interior Redesign company and founder of The Home Stagers Guild™, an association that supports and trains other staging professionals in the industry. She is one of the early pioneers in the business and has staged and redesigned hundreds of homes. She is recognized as a leader in the industry, has won various awards for her “before and after” work and is frequently featured in local and national media. Melanie’s background in both design and marketing puts her on the map as one of the most sought after instructors in this exciting new field. Prior to operating her own business she learned the art of display and the power of placement as a former photo stylist for Omega Studios of Dallas Texas, where she supervised set design and production for the JC Penney Home Furnishing Catalog. She has also received national and regional recognition for her sales and marketing experience as a design and product consultant for many major manufacturers in the interior surfacing industry, such as Duron Paints & Wallcoverings, Nevamar Decorative Laminates and Prince Street Carpets.

Her company Interior Revivals Inc™ began over 12 years ago as a “grassroots” idea that turned into a successful enterprise. As an instructor she provides her students with the “know how” to operate a successful home staging business and guides them around pitfalls and barriers to help them succeed.

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Over the past 6 years Melanie Serra was often approached about training and mentoring others. After all, there were many other stagers and redesigners jumping at the opportunity to teach…why wasn’t she? For Melanie it was simple….it was about timing and about integrity. Before she would call herself an instructor or consider mentoring others, it was imperative that she experienced ALL aspects of running a successful home staging business. In order to teach, she understood that she had to take her business full circle from the early stages of start up, to learning how to market and grow her business, to establishing systems to avoid the “crash and burn” when business peaks. Today, the combination of hard work, commitment and drive is her proven track record to success. As an instructor and mentor, her goal is to help each student realize their full potential and help them succeed in their business.

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