fbpx
  • Home
  • /
  • Blog
  • /
  • Heartbreak to Hope: A Stagers Amazing Success Story
Staging Mckinney TX Success Story

Heartbreak to Hope:  A Success Story You Won't Forget

Life has a way of throwing unexpected challenges our way, often pushing us to the brink and forcing us to reinvent ourselves (remember Covid?). Today, I want to share an inspiring story of resilience, transformation, and triumph. After a successful corporate career and years dedicated to raising her family, one woman faced a series of life-altering events that left her at a crossroads. Navigating the upheaval of becoming a single mother and the devastating loss of her daughter, she found the strength to carve out a new path.

Whitney Heemeyer, a stager from Still House Style out of McKinney, TX shares her words and photos that I know will inspire you as they did me!

staging mckinney TX - HSR (1)

After a long corporate career in media sales, I had a family and became a stay-at-home mom. Well life went in another direction in my marriage and after 7 years of being at home, I needed to go back to work and support myself as a single mom.

I took a low paying hourly job as an operations consultant/assistant to a successful luxury real estate group.

I thought that I could possibly become a real estate agent - well that changed quickly after seeing the other side of it! I learned the ins and outs of the business and quickly learned that our go-to stager was making great money (I processed her invoices) and she was always booked.

Her one-day consultations paid more money than I earned in 5 days working hourly!

staging mckinney TX - HSR (2)

When she wasn't available, I stepped in as our "in-house" stager. I LOVED meeting sellers, helping them understand the listing process (I designed and wrote our teams listing presentation) and putting them at ease that making a quick transformation in their home was doable and I was there to help them. After some time, I decided that THIS is what I wanted to do!

I searched and found various certification programs but after reading all the wonderful reviews about HSR I took the leap of faith and signed up!

staging mckinney TX - HSR (7)

I was excited and nervous all at the same time. I had already been in seller's homes, been through an occupied staging process of my own on the fly but didn't have the foundation I needed to really dial in and fine tune my brand, services, and pricing structure.

Audra's course is EXCELLENT, and the marketing strategies are so relevant.

staging mckinney TX - HSR (10)

I thought I knew a lot about networking and prospecting but Audra dives so deep into relationship building beyond what you could ever learn on your own. I really connected with so many of the building blocks of her business model.

There are so many questions I had about how to price my services, my time, the inventory I was building up and I was so scared about doing a vacant staging and I've done FOUR now!

staging mckinney TX - HSR (9)

There is so much support from Audra and the Stagers Connect community on FB and it's all about getting out there and just doing it... 

There is no perfect time to start, just start now and know that in 6 month or a year from now you will be so much better and amazed at what you've accomplished!

staging mckinney TX - HSR (11)

On a personal note to Audra - I had sent her an email letting her know our daughter had suddenly passed away and the grief just took all the wind out of me for a good 8 months... I cannot tell you how much I appreciate her response and allowing me to have an extension on this course so I could finally finish it up.

staging mckinney TX - HSR (5)

I have a whole new outlook on life and a humbled heart.  I know that this choice for me as a career is going to help me still be there for my youngest daughter, have the flexibility to be present at all the fun life activities as she grows, continue to help people and make a difference in their lives and give me the financial support I need so that I don't have to worry day to day "what am I going to do..".

staging mckinney TX - HSR (3)

Thank you again, your training has been a huge milestone for me in a time in life when I didn't know who I was anymore and now I'm a self-employed business owner!!

I never get tired of sharing the inspiring emails and stories that come my way about people who had the courage to pursue their passion and change their life!  This story was particularly poignant for me and humbled me greatly.  Thanks so much Whitney for your vulnerability and strength in sharing!

If you're reading this and thinking about becoming a home stager and creating your own story...then watch my free video about how to become a home stager below...



Holiday Design Success Stories Do you struggle with a slower staging business during the holidays? In the video below I share a

Read More


Texas Stager Hits Stride at SixtyAnother HSR Success Story with PhotosI really love this particular staging success story because Tamra was already

Read More


Heartbreak to Hope:  A Success Story You Won't ForgetLife has a way of throwing unexpected challenges our way, often pushing us to

Read More


6 Steps to Overcome Imposter Syndrome as a StagerAre you struggling with not feeling confident enough to become a stager?I get it

Read More


Winning Staging Photos You Will LoveWho doesn't love looking at award winning staging photos?As the body of work for stager's and designer's

Read More


7-Figure Stager Success Story You all know that I never get tired of sharing my student's success stories which are always so

Read More


Incredible Airbnb Interior Design, Staging and Design "Best of the Best" As you’ll see from our next round of "Best of the

Read More


40 Award Winning Design Photos You Will Love We are rolling out more "Best of the Best" award winning design photos and

Read More


"Best of the Best" Summer Staging EditionThe Home Staging Resource Best of the Best winners for September’s Best of Summer Edition were

Read More


Is staging is worth it in a low-priced home that is occupied and very cluttered? Or maybe you're an agent and you have

Read More


5 Ways to Simplify Design Services Are you struggling with how to add a simplified design service to your home staging business?

Read More


Vacation Rental Staging and Design Award Winning Photos for March "Best-of -Best" I love to see all the ways my students are

Read More
>