What exactly does 'Certified' Mean?

I saw a local stager on our local news tonite. I thought she did a BRILLIANT job of explaining what home staging is all about. According to the story, professionally staged homes sell on average in 1/2 the time as unstaged homes.

The news piece didn't really say much about WHY sellers shouldn't attempt to stage their own homes, or stress that different stagers charge different rates for home staging services. Rates do vary. Quality costs just as it does with any other service industry. Potential service buyers should shop around and choose the best service they can afford.

It was disappointing in the conclusion to the story that the news broadcasters concluded that potential home sellers should 'seek' out certified home stagers, when in fact, NO such national standard exists for home staging. In fact, for an appropriate 'fee' one can buy every single existing certification, regardless of any actual experience or achieved results.

The bottom line is that RESULTS speak for themselves. What a stager can deliver matters more than what cerfications they have bothered to buy....or, earn, depending on the circumstances. Just as anyone can buy a degree online, but it doesn't mean that that you know your market, your trade, or what it takes to get the job done.

What you know and what you can deliever are very different things.

When shopping for any service, be it an electrician, a plumber, a realtor or a stager. SHOP AROUND. Lots of people will claim to be the 'best'. But utltimately, what you're willing to pay, and what you get for your dollars matters. There is a provider for nearly any service. Are you paying for a certificate, or are you paying for the best service available. Only you can decide.