Staging is NOT decorating; it is showcasing “the product”. Yes, your home becomes a “product”…and it will have competition, too, including new construction model homes. These homes are set up to display an ideal image of home life. When selling, you also want to sell a lifestyle, but not your lifestyle. Buyers need to be able to imagine themselves living in your house. Remember: The way you live in your home and the way we market your house are two very different things. 

Staging is all about first impressions! When you’re selling yourself for a job interview, don’t you put on your sharpest clothing and make sure your look your very best? And when you sell a car, don’t you make sure it has been detailed? Staging is simply detailing your home for resale. For the best impression, Stage your home before it is even listed on the market.

Before Staging
 

After Staging
 

HomeGain surveyed 2,000 real estate agents nationwide and found that moderately priced home improvements, ranging from $80 to $2,800, made in preparation for sale actually yield the highest returns when a house is sold.

Q.  When should I Stage my home?

Ideally, a home should be Staged before it is listed on the market. Realtors will verify that the most critical time for home selling is the first two weeks on the market. This is when you have the most amount of interest in your home. This is also when the Agent Tours or Broker’s Open House takes place, which is when Realtors in your area gather together and tour your home. You want to make sure your home looks its very best from the start so that buyers and their Realtors can SEE- not just imagine- your home’s potential.


Q. My home was professionally decorated, so why should I have it Staged?

The goal in decorating a home is to make it conducive to your lifestyle, and a specific reflection of the homeowner’s personality. The goal in Staging a home is the opposite… we want to create a neutral environment that appears spacious, thereby appealing to the broadest market. While your home may be beautifully decorated, it would still be beneficial to have an expert come in to make recommendations on how you could de-personalize the home and appear to a larger pool of potential buyers.


Q. When should I Stage my home?

Ideally, a home should be Staged before it is listed on the market. Realtors will verify that the most critical time for home selling is the first two weeks on the market. This is when you have the most amount of interest in your home. This is also when the Agent Tours or Broker’s Open House takes place, which is when Realtors in your area gather together and tour your home. You want to make sure your home looks its very best from the start so that buyers and their Realtors can SEE- not just imagine- your home’s potential.


Q. My house is already on the market, isn’t it too late to Stage it?

Absolutely not! It’s not unusual for homes to be Staged after sitting on the market for a while. We may ask you to take your home off the market for a day or two, so that we can professionally Stage the home and then you can re-enter the market, possibly with another Agent Tour or Open House.


Q. I know my house has a few things that need to be repaired, should I fix them or sell "AS IS"?

As part of our Home Evaluation, we will work with you to target the items that will make a substantial difference in the sale of your home. Remember, you won’t always have to paint and begin a lot of home improvement projects to make your house more attractive. In many circumstances, we are able to create the right look by simply editing the furnishings and/or bringing in some greenery and accessories.


Q. How long does it take to Stage a home?

Depending on the size of your home and how many rooms we will be Staging, the process can take as little as 1 to 3 days.


Q. Can you use my existing furnishings?

Yes. As Staging professionals, we will use your existing furnishings in ways you may have never imagined. If additional items are required to complete the staging process, these will be mentioned in the completed evaluation.


Q. Why should I invest money in a home I plan to sell?

Staging your home reduces the home’s time on the market. Homes for sale will be viewed most during the first two to four weeks. Making a great first impression during this critical time will help you sell quickly, thereby saving you mortgage payments, utility payments, association fees, etc…


Q.  I have a real estate agent, will you work with him/her?

We would love to work with your Agent as part of your selling team! Your Agent’s job is to market your home to potential buyers and our job is to get it ready for that process. In many cases, we are introduced through Real Estate Agents because they know that Staging works.


Q. When is payment due?

We generally ask for payment up front, but we will look at each circumstance individually.


Q. Can I do some of the Staging myself?

Yes, we encourage your help when it comes to packing any collectibles, valuables, and other items of extreme importance. These are items you don't want to leave out anyway when your home is on the market for sale. There may be certain repairs that might need to be done, so we encourage that you either hire those tasks out or possibly repair them yourselves. Any critical repairs will be addressed in your Home Evaluation report.


Q. My home is vacant, does it need Staging?

Definitely. It’s a proven fact that homes that are furnished sell faster! Buyers need visual cues to envision the potential of a space. We have our own rental inventory of furniture and accessories, and we also have arrangements with local vendors that allow us to provide you with furnishings on a rental basis.