Would You Hire a Generalist When You Need a Specialist?
Have you ever hired a generalist to do a
specialist’s job? If so, what was the outcome? If your experience
was anything like mine when I hired the wrong contractor, you probably did not
fair too well.
It’s easy to fall into this trap because many
of us are looking to save money and may not fully appreciate the value a
specialist brings. We may think a generalist can pull off the job, but
quickly learn that it comes at a price. Also, indecision as a result of
over-thinking or over-analyzing whether to hire a specialist can cost us far
more time and money in the long run.
As a professional home stager, I see this
quite often. Based on my experience, the key is to educate prospective
clients on the home staging process and the amount of prep work required to get
the home in sell-ready condition before it is listed. Once homeowners and
realtors see the value of home staging and understand the statistics around why
it works then, they’re better able to buy into the initial staging investment.
At this point, they hire a staging specialist. The return to the
homeowner can be significant – as much as 6-20% of the listing price, which is
far greater than the initial home staging investment.
So, when deciding whether to hire a specialist
or a generalist, remember that while a generalist might deliver, a specialist
will have the exact skills and strengths to deliver on your project. This
means you can stay on track, keep overall costs down and stay cool and calm
while the specialist tackles the specific task at hand.
Here are a few tips you may find helpful as
you navigate whether to hire a generalist or a specialist for your next
project:
1. Determine
the complexity of your project
2. Consider
the outcome you want and who will do a better job for your specific project
3. Consider
the providers past projects or body of work
4. Look at
testimonials and recommendations
Remember, bring in specialists for tasks you
can not handle. This is a huge time saver because now you’re delegating
tasks to the right people. Keep in mind, if the return outweighs the
initial investment, go for it!
As with any project, put your goals in
writing; break them down into measurable and achievable bites; set time frames
to complete each block of work or task; and stick to your schedule, but make
adjustments for any changes, risks or constraints.
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Four Square Staging
foursquarestaging@gmail.com
(908) 280-4505
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