Topic: How to Turn Your Passion for Interior Design Into a Real Estate Career

Many interior designers have what it takes to transform a beat-up room into a dreamy space, but only a few realize that such talent can lead to a thriving real estate career. If you’re skilled at creating beautiful interiors but not in real estate, you’re sitting on a goldmine of opportunity.

Real estate and interior design share common ground, and successfully combining both can enhance your marketability and add more value to clients.

This article guides interior designers on channeling their talent into the lucrative real estate business. It outlines practical ways to help make the transition smoothly.

How Interior Design Increases Real Estate Success

Let’s take a look at the numbers. Data from the National Association of Realtors (NAR) reveals that 82% of buyers' agents believe that staging a home significantly helps potential buyers picture the property as their future home.

Furthermore, 48% of sellers' agents observed that staging a home reduces its time on the market. On the financial side, 20% of agents noted that staged homes sell for 1% to 5% more than their non-staged counterparts.

This statistic highlights the significant role that design plays in real estate success. Thoughtfully designed and well-presented homes are more appealing to buyers, making it easier for them to envision themselves living in the space. This is where your expertise as an interior designer becomes invaluable.

When you understand both design and real estate, you can help buyers see a property's true potential. Many homebuyers struggle to look beyond outdated fixtures or a poor layout, and your design skills can show them how those issues can be fixed and turned into a dream space.

Understanding renovation costs and the financial side of property improvements lets you realistically guide clients, ensuring they don’t walk into a money pit based on unrealistic expectations.

Learn and Get Certified

If you're ready to branch out into real estate, your first step is taking real estate courses online. These courses are designed to give you the core knowledge of the property market, covering everything from contracts to property laws. You already know how to make spaces beautiful, but understanding the business side of real estate will help you confidently navigate the buying and selling process.

Once you're comfortable with that knowledge, the next step is to get your real estate license. Having that license means you’ll be able to offer clients a full range of services - designing beautiful spaces and helping them buy or sell the perfect property.

Gaining Experience: Applying Your Skills to Real Estate

Getting educated is important, but hands-on experience is the best teacher. While you're working on your real estate license, consider using your design skills in ways that give you real estate experience, too.

One way to do this is by offering staging services for properties going up for sale. You don't need a real estate license to stage homes - this falls under your design expertise. By staging, you’ll gain valuable insights into what makes a home appealing to buyers while also showcasing your design skills.

Additionally, working closely with real estate agents or partnering with them on projects gives you a better understanding of the market and client needs. This hands-on experience will prepare you to transition smoothly into real estate once you’re licensed while also building relationships in the industry that could lead to future business opportunities.

Building a Strong Network and Monetizing Your Skills

Once you have your real estate license, it's crucial to start putting those new skills to work. Networking should be your first step; get involved with local real estate and design groups.

This isn't just about meeting people - it's about connecting with industry professionals and potential clients who can truly appreciate your blend of real estate savvy and design flair. These connections can lead to exciting projects and valuable collaborations.

Don’t overlook the power of social media in building your business. Set up a professional profile to display your portfolio, including any homes you’ve successfully staged or sold and your standout interior design projects.

You can earn commissions as a real estate agent and charge for your interior design or staging services to monetize your skills. Some professionals also offer home-staging consultations or sell custom decor to create additional income streams.

Conclusion

Turning a passion for interior design into a real estate career can be incredibly fulfilling. When you merge your creative talents with solid real estate knowledge, you offer a specialized service that stands out in the market.

Whether it's staging homes, managing renovation projects, or navigating the sales process, your dual expertise will make you stand out in a crowded market. Embarking on this career path involves gaining the proper education, accumulating practical experience, and networking effectively.

By dedicating yourself to continuous learning, connecting with the right people, and leveraging your dual expertise, you’ll increase your professional value and a path to a prosperous career.

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Jenny Kakoudakis likes to blog about interiors. She launched award-winning Seasons in Colour in 2014 and the luxury interior design blog All The Pretty Homes in 2024. When she is not chasing criminals out of the financial system (her day job), she gets creative by redecorating her own home.