Welcome to my 1st blog! I hope you will enjoy reading my personal take on how I grew up under a time period where there was no name for the word “Staging” as we know it today.

As a young girl growing up in Sumter, South Carolina, I have reflections of what we know as the word “Staging” today, really occurred during my era as society calls it the “baby boomer” period (1960s) and even before. According to one definition of the word “Evolution” its the gradual development of something, especially from a simple to more complex form.  In the south, homeowners including my late grandmother, family members, and their friends really took special pride in the up keeping of their homes. When the old couch would wear out especially on the arms, it was replaced with a draping of whatever they had whether it was a spotless white ironed starched cotton sheet (there were not many colored sheets back then) tucked over, or material that was sown on a Saturday afternoon in time for guests to come over after church for Sunday dinner. All of the furnishings were always polished, and the clean smell of the various types of cleaning products that the traveling salesman would come door to door selling products to those who could not make it to the stores. Vinegar, and baking soda was very popular, along with hand made soaps (this could classify as a form of “greening”) Each room of the homes were always neat and clean (beds were made up, clothes were hung) no unpleasant odor and everything was in its rightful place.  Walls in the homes were only one basic color which was “white”. Now today, there are so many paint colors in the homes which stagers offer as one of their services to clients known as a “color consultation”.

Home chores on Saturdays were given to the children to do before going out to play.  I can recall that what we know as “curb appeal” today also occurred many, many years ago. The man of the household would cut grass, trim bushes, and watered their grass on a weekly basis. Everyone on the whole street homes were simply beautiful and they even had special prizes given to the home that displayed the best pictured yard with flowers, and was displayed on the front cover of the town newspaper.  My, my, my we have come a long way, and now in today’s society it is known as “staging”.  So, our work as home stagers is cut out for us in helping today’s homeowners to bring their homes up to par and getting it market ready for selling.  Its fitting to say as described earlier in this blog, that this process has evolved from what was known as a gradual development over the centuries to more complex form. We now have statistics attached to what potential buyers are looking for in a staged home versus un-staged, we now have an array of articles and definitions of what staging means, to replacing furnishings, and advising the homeowners to make repairs and upgrades which should have been up kept from day 1 when they moved into their home. WOW! where has the pride in the home gone?

Well, based on my experience, and upbringing I am so proud to have achieved my Certified Staging Professionals (CSP) training under our very own Christine Rae. This classy lady, is the Founder and President of the Certified Staging Professionals (CSP) International Business Training Academy, and is highly known throughout North America, Canada and beyond as the world’s leading authority on staging from her global experience, as well as through her work in developing standards, examinations, professionalism and trend forecasting.

Lastly, you want to know how the homes are viewed today in my hometown, well I am happy to say that after all these years, the homes are still well kept and lawns are well manicured. Therefore, I shall now take what my personal evolution of today’s “staging” and help as many homeowners and buyers to take pride in their homes for years to come. Thank You, and Happy Staging!

About Yolanda

Hello and Welcome! My name is Yolanda Tillman, and I am a proud Certified Staging Professional servicing the Washington, D.C. metro area, and my hometown of Sumter, S.C. and CEO of Tiera Interiors, LLC a Washington, DC home based interior decorating and real estate staging company. Years ago, I started out with a college career majoring in Interior Design, and truly have a passion for great design/décor when it comes to assisting my clients. I furthered my educational achievements with a Master in Business Administration, which enabled me to understand how to operate a successful business and learned management and people skills which landed me in my new found passion in real estate staging. I work with homeowners and their families through the staging and showcasing process. In addition to getting the staged home sold, Tiera Interiors, LLC is there to assist clients with the interior decoration of their new home. I am also a member of the Real Estate Staging Association, and affiliate member of Women's Council of Realtors. My team and I will be happy to assist you in the staging of your property, so you no longer have to spend stressful time in not knowing if your home will be sold. Contact me today to discuss how I can help you maximize your property's equity while selling one of your greatest assets. "We go the extra mile with a smile".