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STAGING DEFINED…
As the word “staging” has become a commonly used term in the business of home sales, it also seems to have developed a variety of definitions. Most simply stated, it is the art of preparing a home for the market with the goal of presenting it in it’s best light.
Staging is sometimes thought of as creating a rather sterile or “phony” environment, spare and even cold. The opposite can be just as unsatisfactory with too much “decorating” that can overwhelm the rooms with furnishings and accessories to the point of obliterating the space. Of course neither of these extremes are the most effective way to market a home. The object of a good staging job is to help the buyer to place himself LIVING in your home. It is not the stager’s job to show off his or her talents as an interior decorator. Too much or too little and the buyer will not get the help she needs in order to imagine her lifestyle in this home.
So… What should be expected from a stager? How much training is required to be qualified? How can you be expected to pay for a service that is so loosely defined? Why hire a professional stager ? These are all good and fair questions.
FIRST .. Verify the stager’s references. View their portfolio and their website and ascertain that ALL photographs used are that stager’s work! You can even ask to visit a staged home so you can see and understand first hand what that stager’s philosophy is in practice.
NEXT .. Understand what you should expect for your investment. A stager should never promise that your property will sell more quickly or for more money if you hire them. The services provided should be thought of as an aid in the marketing of your home with the goal of increasing it’s appeal.
Hiring the highest priced stager may or may not be a guarantee of quality. By the same token, the least expensive stager may seem like a bargain but may only be a waste of time and money.
IT’S All ABOUT THE “PACKAGING “ !
If you think about what it is that makes you reach for one product over another when you are shopping, you will realize how important packaging is. When you put your home on the market, it becomes a product, and the way it is “packaged” becomes a vital ingredient in it’s appeal. With so many homes with FOR SALE signs out front, your home must be merchandised and packaged better than it’s competition.
WHAT DO THOSE LITTLE LETTERS MEAN ?
Many stagers have taken training that is specific for this profession and they have been awarded a certificate that allows them to put the initials of that award after their names. There are more and more “trainers” all over the country, and thus many more of those little letters that may or may not indicate the quality of the training. There are even computer classes that will qualify you as a stager if you pay a fee and can pass some tests. So, is there any method of training or any accreditation that is superior to another? I cannot say. As with any profession, it is up to the individual to succeed or fail on the merits of the work performed. As mentioned previously, get references !
A WORD ABOUT THE TV SHOWS..
While it is a great thing for staging to be the topic on several of the home improvement channels, it needs to be said that these shows, while offering great insight, do not represent reality. But you may already know that. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we could have our homes completely remodeled in two days and for $2000 !! The real amount of time involved in completing the TV job is compressed, the staff that is required is huge, and the actual cost of the project is never revealed. I bring this up as a reminder that real work takes time and real budgets are , well,, realistic…
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