WHAT STAGING IS NOT!

Home staging is not personal interior design. It is a temporary design project and is about making a space appeal to the broadest audience of buyers, while interior decorating, is about personalizing a space to a client's specific taste. In actuality, home staging and decorating are at opposite ends of the design service spectrum. Home staging is a one-step process, installed in one day and does not involve any customization or personalization for the owner.

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WHAT IF I DON'T LIKE THE STAGING OR REPURPOSING WHEN IT IS FINISHED?

This may very well be the case but please trust the process! Staging is done to appeal to buyers and not sellers. The selection and placement of artwork, furniture, and accessories is at the discretion of the stager and it may not be to your personal taste, but this is ok! Feedback is always welcome, but stagers will not change the design scope based on a seller request as they have been hired to stage and not personally design the space.

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WHAT IF MY HOME HAS BEEN PROFESSIONALLY DECORATED - ISN'T THAT STAGING?

Not necessarily. Staging is different because it focuses on what a potential buyer will look for rather than personal taste. Interior decorating for a client focuses on personal taste so the two processes are very different. The end goals of the two are different as well. A home can be gorgeous but still benefit from staging in order to appeal to the widest array of buyers. 

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DOES STAGING REALLY MATTER IN THIS MARKET?

Staging matters in every market! The digital world that we live in has made the presentation of a home more important than ever. HGTV, Chip and Joanna Gaines, Instagram, Pinterest, you name it……buyers are looking at design everywhere. A home that is staged and priced well will typically sell quicker and for more money. There are different levels of staging and different price points to consider so be realistic with the results based on what you have ordered.

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IS HOME STAGING JUST FOR VACANT HOMES?

No, however only select home staging companies will work in occupied homes. We have actually created an in-house staging company to help overcome this and to be able to provide staging to our owners that still live in their homes. Staging an occupied home is a slightly different process but still incredibly effective. 

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WHAT IS REPURPOSING?

Repurposing is what we typically refer to when working to stage an occupied home. It is the process of working with some of the sellers' furnishings, bringing in some staging inventory and repurposing or redesigning spaces in a home. It can involve a lot of packing, editing or moving items in the home. It can be a tricky process for the stager and the owner. Be patient and flexible. The stager wants the best possible outcome. Don’t take any of it personally. The whole goal is to appeal to the most buyers and this can sometimes mean living in your home in a way that does not feel normal to it.

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IS STAGING JUST FOR INTERIORS?

Not at all. Exterior staging or sprucing up is super effective and important. Of course, the first thing a buyer sees when looking at your home is the front of it. Some homes really need and can benefit from an exterior refresh. This can include some landscape cleanup, new mulch, new plants, potted plants, dining areas, lounge furniture and/or garden accessories. Please bear in mind that this is generally an additional cost on top of staging. 

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DOES STAGING INCLUDE CLEANING?

No. Your home will need to be cleaned prior to the staging day. It is generally a good idea to have your home professionally cleaned prior to going on the market so doing it before the staging and photos make the most sense. If carpets need to be professionally cleaned, this should also be done prior to the staging and enough time left so that carpets are dry before the staging inventory arrives. If a home is not clean when the staging delivery arrives, the stager, at their discretion can decide not to complete the job.

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DOES THE COST OF STAGING INCLUDE MOVING MY PERSONAL BELONGINGS OUT?

Not unless this is prearranged which is possible with select stagers however this will normally result in additional charges. Often times, the stager will discuss what needs to be packed and moved during the consultation. You will have the option to do this work on your own or you can pay the staging company to do this if it is a service that they offer. This would likely be billed at an hourly rate.

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HOW LONG DOES HOME STAGING TAKE?

There will be one meeting with the stager and your broker or a direct consultation for you with the stager as a first step. Normally, the actual staging is completed in one visit. It is largely dependent upon the services that you order. Repurposing often takes longer than staging a vacant home. On staging day, stagers ask to have the home free of real estate agents, contractors, and sellers for 7-8 hours. Super important to respect this. The house will not look like much mid-way through the staging.

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DOES HOME STAGING REALLY WORK?

It sure does. Here are a few statistics to consider.
81% of buyers think it is easier to visualize themselves in a home when it has been well staged
46% of buyers stay in a staged home longer than in a home that has not been staged
45% of buyers see a perceived increase in value in a staged home
Staged homes sell for an average of 17% more than a comparable unstaged home
96% of realtors feel that staging a home has a positive impact on buyers but only 36% of real estate professionals stage their listings…go figure!

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HOW DO I KNOW IF I NEED HOME STAGING?

Almost every home can benefit from some home staging. Even beautifully decorated and very organized homes often benefit from some editing prior to going on the market for sale. Vacant homes can really be transformed with staging as it often helps to establish space and makes rooms look larger. 

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HOW MUCH DOES STAGING COST AND WHAT ARE MY PAYMENT OPTIONS?

For our clients.....there is no cost! Staging is generally paid for upfront by the seller. The cost of staging varies from company to company as do the services provided. Our in-house staging offers our clients all staging services as a complimentary part of our of marketing. We so firmly believe in staging that we made the decision to just make it part of what we do for all of our sellers!

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