The IAHSP®EU interviews Paloma Harrington-Griffin
Our community is filled with amazing professionals. We love to discover more about them and also about their work – whether it is Staging itself or how they make our industry richer.
A great example of a professional that works tirelessly for the industry and to help other professionals is Paloma Harrington-Griffin, Founder of the Home Staging Association UK & Ireland and the Vice President of the IAHSP®Europe, with whom we spoke recently.
Please tell us a bit about yourself.
My name is Paloma Harrington-Griffin and I am a Brazilian, London-based Staging professional who is passionate about driving the industry forward!
I wear many hats within the Home Staging world: I am the Founder of the Home Staging Association UK & Ireland, the Vice President of the IAHSP®EU, the IAHSP® Chapter President for Brazil and Co-Founder of the first Home Staging School of Brazil, Núcleo de Home Staging.
I am an entrepreneur at heart, having started businesses since the early 2000’s, and I believe in empowering people through knowledge, education, and support. I am passionate about educating people and has organised several Home Staging events, in the UK and abroad, focusing on helping professionals with their businesses.
How long have you been leading your Association and what accomplishments are you most proud of so far?
I have been leading the HSA since early 2018. I am particularly proud of all the events we have organised so far, which have contributed to spreading the word about Home Staging and educating people.
Apart from that, we are also launching our Accreditation programmes which will push the industry forward and take its professionalism to the next level. It has been a lot of work and I can’t wait to see the benefits it will bring to all Stagers in the UK & Ireland.
For you, what does it take to be a good Home Staging professional?
Before anything, let’s talk about what a Staging professional does: a Home Stager is the professional that prepares a property for sale, making use of furniture, accessories and potential improvements that will enhance the property’s best features and keeping the end goal in mind: a faster, better sale.
Definitions aside, Home Staging professionals need to be passionate about what they do and can’t be afraid of being hands-on. Organisational skills and a good eye for detail are key to succeed in this dynamic profession.
They also need to have a good understanding of interior trends and, most importantly, the property market, as Home Staging is very powerful property marketing tool.
In your opinion, why is it important to be part of an Association?
Professional bodies such as the HSA and the IAHSP®EU promote our activity and work to raise awareness on its benefits. We work towards educating the wider public about Home Staging and how it helps to sell properties.
Not only that, but these Associations also bring credibility to our activity by representing the Home Staging Industry, and give Home Staging professionals a voice and a place to turn to for information, resources and support.
Being part of a Home Staging Association is key for the recognition of our profession and its development, and being a part of it is highly beneficial for those professionals looking to achieve more with their businesses.