home staging

The quick and simple Q&A on home staging, and why everyone should stage

  

Does staging actually work?

Do staged homes sell faster, and for a higher price? The short answer is yes and yes. According to the Real Estate Staging Association, staged homes spend 73% less time on the market and sell for 5% to 25% more than un-staged homes. In fact there is so much irrefutable data and personal experience that I don't quite understand why all homes aren't staged. If it increases home value by even 1% it's absolutely worth it.

I Already Have Furniture, Do You Take It Away?

Ultimately, we can take furniture away and bring new items in. However this is very rare as it's very expensive. If you have old or bulky furniture that you weren't planning on keeping anyways - get rid of it prior to staging, we can bring in modern and photogenic items to fill that empty space.

Take away personalized photos like wedding photos or baby photos. Not just for privacy but so that buyers can envision themselves in the property without feeling like they are in someone else's space. These can be replaced with tasteful, neutral and modern decor that enhances the space.

When I come to some people's homes, they had a recent renovation, refresh and already have modern pieces that are similar to what my stager brings in. In these circumstances we will still do a 'Fluff' which basically dials in the last few items to really make the photos pop. This will be things like throw pillows, color changes and lighting adjustments that really put the final touches on the space.

In short, every space needs staging, to various degrees. A professional consultation is always complimentary when listing with me.

Does staging cost me more?

No, all staging services are included in my commission and paid for by me upon an agreed upon listing agreement. You aren't required to lift a finger or pay a single dime to stage your property.

Can I stage the property myself?

Based on my experience, people decorate and adorn their homes based on functionality more than form. When staging a home, we focus more on form.


When staging a property, we throw away functionality for the most part. Things like small couches that are terrible for movie nights, but make the living space look much larger and better in photos.


This means we are essentially staging to purely highlight the qualities of the room. Small desks that don't make sense for a full time job office - hotel room art that doesn't display personality but works for everybody. Colors that are neutral rather than fun or expressive.


Think of an Ikea show room. It's not somewhere you'd necessarily want to live, but it helps make things more attractive for selling.


Ultimately, professional stagers have one goal, to maximize the sale of the property using tested and proven methods. Which is why although some people have a great eye for interior design, I still highly recommend leaving it to the experts.