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Do you wait until the home is vacant before calling in a home stager?

Most of the staging inquiries I get from my website and Active Rain are for vacant homes. Yet, when viewing Realtor.com, I see many, many occupied homes that could benefit from staging. Will these sellers eventually have to move out and into their new homes and then be faced with staging a vacant?

Even though it can be inconvenient to live in a staged home, isn't it the most cost-effective and timely solution since the stager can usually work wonders with the owner's furnishings instead of the sellers having to pay to rent furniture for at least a couple of months?

If you are a Realtor who recommends home staging to their clients, when do you usually do it....while the house is occupied or after the clients have moved out?

Posted by Judy Kincaid, Tampa Home Stager on 08/22/2007 01:00 PM

Comments (9)

staging, home staging, vacant, occupied

9 Comments on Do you wait until the home is vacant before calling in a home stager?

AUG

2007

Judy - I can't tell you how many open houses I have visited lately that have been vacant because the owners have moved on to their new home - often in the same town. Calling in a stager sooner may have helped them understand the need to stage their home - perhaps leaving some of their furniture behind temporarily. The second mortgage payment ends up killing them financially - and a buyer knows this and they end up with low ball offers. If only......

Stephanie

Judy: I just recommended to a client that they leave some pieces behind for the stage so they can avoid the cost of rental. They have to move on but staging will be so much easier for everyone-more cost effective too!

Ah, both Stephanie & Cheri have made great points! Judy, thanks for pointing out this issue!

AUG

2007

Hi Judy - I too wonder when Realtors tell their clients to stage. Thanks for posting this question. 90% of my staging jobs are for vacant properties. I wish more Realtors would take me along on listing appointments for occupied homes. Everyone could use a helping "staging" hand. :)

AUG

2007

Stephanie and Cheri -- I am in total agreement with you both. In fact, I am in the process of revamping my marketing materials to stress the importance of staging BEFORE the house becomes vacant. Leaving some furniture behind and even borrowing some from friends and family definitely lessens the expense and hastens the process.

Cindy -- They certainly did make great points. Thanks for your comments.

Janice -- You are right on the money. We need to get the word out that staging is less expensive when done before the house becomes an empty shell. Leaving some furniture pieces behind is a very cost-effective solution. Thanks for the insightful comment.

OCT

2007

Judi this is an excellent post since I do believe that people are under the misconception that staging is ONLY for vacant homes. Too many don't stage their homes while occupied and therefore lose time and money. We say Stage Before you LIST, now we need to say STAGE WHILE OCCUPIED

Phylllis Pafumi

OCT

2007

Judy,

I am experiencing the same thing here in my market - Nashville, TN. I seem to be becoming the vacant specialist. No complaints - I'm glad I have jobs. :)

OCT

2007

I want to stage before the listing photos are taken - lets get in and make it fabulous right from the start. Even with a move if the larger items were left behind it would be less costly, but they need to know that early on.

Most of the Realtors I encounter think staging is only for the really horrible cluttered houses. I get my calls mostly from homeowners. Does that mean they are getting the concept better than those in this business?

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