In the early days, Baer negotiated deals to live rent-free in the homes she was staging. This clever arrangement solved her personal housing crisis and eliminated overhead, allowing her to bootstrap her business and build a client base with zero capital.
Despite a successful screenwriting career, Baer felt creatively unfulfilled by her late 40s. She abandoned the perceived glamour of Hollywood for the hands-on, instantly gratifying work of home staging, proving it’s never too late for a radical career pivot.
Instead of a cost-plus model, Baer justified her high fees by framing them as a bargain against a client's ongoing monthly mortgage. This value-based pricing positioned her service as an investment that saved clients money by selling their homes faster.
To access high-end inventory without capital, Baer convinced a rug dealer to use her staged homes as showrooms for his products. This consignment model provided her with free, premium inventory and generated direct sales for her partner, creating a win-win.
Faced with a choice between a prestigious screenwriting job for Barbra Streisand's company and her fledgling staging side-hustle, Baer chose the latter. This decision shows the conviction required to pursue a new path, even when a more established opportunity is available.
Baer accidentally started her staging company using her personal furniture to decorate a friend's house for sale. This barter-like arrangement solved her immediate need for storage and a place to live, kickstarting an entirely new business model.
Baer's non-linear career—actress, writer, model, screenwriter—culminated in her founding a major company at age 50. Her story is a powerful counter-narrative to the idea of a single career path, demonstrating that profound professional reinvention can happen at any life stage.