Staging a House - What is Home Staging

Dressing a House for Success

Home staging is about illusions. It's how David Copperfield would sell a house. It's beyond decorating and cleaning. It's about perfecting the art of creating a mood and showing a home in its optimum light.  Staging makes your house look bigger, brighter, cleaner, warmer, more loving and, best of all; it makes homebuyers want to buy it.

Contrary to what most people think, Staging is about more than preparing a Home for Sale.  Staging is what comes after you've cleaned, decluttered, painted and made minor repairs. It’s all about dressing the house for sale.   It is how we try to create a memorable eye catching first impression for the buyer so they can visualize themselves living in YOUR home.    It is the vital process of glamorizing the look of any home by presenting it in its optimal light to maximize the selling price.  It's about adding the small details: the lipstick, mascara and, for simplicity, a stunning, single strand of pearls.

What is a Professional Home Stager?

Professional stagers are skilled professionals having completed the recommended requirements for accreditation.  They are not automatically Interior Decorators.  That is another world of professionals. 

Stagers can take a blank canvas and paint an extraordinary portrait without ever lifting a paint brush. Stagers possess the skills of a top-level designer.  The scope of services range from simple to entire home renovation.  Here are some secrets:

• Arrange sparse pieces of furniture in an appealing grouping known as a vignette
• Showcase the positives of a home to allow rooms to show themselves
• Create a memorable eye catching first impression with color coordination.
• Decorate to invite the buyer to “live in”.

What Accessories Does a Stager Use?

Stagers may suggest a vast array of items to spruce up the house. Here is a small sampling of items professional stagers often use to dress each room. How they are utilized is limited only by the creativity and vision of the stager.

• Mirrors
• Plants
• Silk Flowers
• Floor & Table Lamps,
• Area and Throw Rugs
• Afghans
• Pillows
• Baskets
• Plastic Tables & Chairs

Practical advice for making space sparkle:

• Apply orange oil to cabinets that appear dry, which will renew their original luster
• Put out large bowls of fruit such as polished apples, bright oranges, luscious grapes
• In the Kitchen – arrange colorful and fun cook books on the counter

My Personal Thought

I have worked hard for the Accredited Home Staging Specialist designation.  As a listing agent, my clients depend on me to sell their homes in the shortest amount of time, and at the best price the market will bear.  This course will allow me do just that.  My Staging services are free to my seller clients.  I am also available for personal consultation for a small fee.

I like to bring the outdoors inside through the use of greenery and plants; to create clean, crisp spaces and arranging furniture with plenty of room to walk around  Bathrooms and Kitchens are essential to a well dressed home. Bathrooms should be super clean with an accent on relaxation as we now treat them more like spas.  The kitchen just has to sparkle. It is the heart of the home and generally the focal point!  I try to use what my homeowners already have.  My intent is to keep costs to a minimum.  My goal is to create scenery that appeals to all five senses. Should you require the services of a professional decorator, I can make recommendations that will surely please as we do work hand in hand.