Special offer

Home Staging = Interior decoration?

Reblogger Vivian Gilbert
Home Stager with Home Staging by Vivian LLC

This is a well organized and succinct message on what Staging is and what it does. The multicolored couch is exactly what we DO NOT use in Staging a property. The goal is to appeal to the broadest range of buyers and help them envision themselves in a property.

Vivian

Original content by Alla Philippova

The concept of Home Staging is still quite new to the Canadian real estate market. Some say they do not know what it is; others may have heard about it but had never done it before.

So, when I say that I do Home Staging, I often hear: “Oh, so you are an interior decorator!”

Yes, sure, to some extent. But do you know the real difference between Home Staging and Interior Decoration?

Interior decoration (not to be confused with Interior design) is the art of decorating a room according to the personal taste of the main user. An interior decorator will take into account the desired theme and style of the person using the space and try to create an individual setting while focusing on the ease of upkeep and the functionalism. The main goal of the Interior Decorator is to create a tailored environment that will contribute to the happiness, well-being, and productivity of one person or family in particular.

Home Staging on the other hand is the act of preparing a private residence for sale in the real estate marketplace. The goal of staging is to make a home appealing to the highest number of potential buyers, thereby selling a property more swiftly and for more money. Staging techniques focus on improving a property's appeal by transforming it into a welcoming, attractive product that anyone might want. 

So here are 5 main differences between Home Staging and Decoration:

Decoration: to decorate according to your personal taste

Home Staging : to use neutral decoration; to appeal to as many as possible

 

Decoration: to add personal touches to your home decor

Home Staging : to eliminate almost everything that speaks about your personality

 

Decoration: to create personal comfort and functionality

Home Staging : to accentuate strong points of the property discounting the comfort of your day-to-day life

 

Decoration: to buy new furniture, accessories and decorative objects

Home Staging : to use the existing to the maximum

 

Decoration: your house is your fortress

Home Staging : anybody can imagine living in your house and call it home

So, actually, while doing some Home Staging I do not decorate, I “undecorate”. I am not creating a house of your dreams I am trying to create a place that anybody would like to call their home.

It takes special knowledge and experience, a good understanding of the buyer and the market. I will decorate the home that you live in and I will stage the house that you sell.

John Ryckeley
The Platinum Group RE/MAX Around Atlanta - Fayetteville, GA

Potential customers need to be able to see their family and their "stuff" in the house and they need to be able to know that the room is big enough to fit a certain size bed or sofa in.  I'm amazed at what the average person can not see in an empty room.

I had a seller who had lime green walls in her kitchen.  I suggested painting it neutral and she almost came unglued, "but it matches my window treatments".  We finally got the window treatments boxed up for her next great place, painted the walls neutral and within weeks SOLD the house.

Too many personal photo's are a problem too.

Feb 02, 2011 02:39 AM
Vivian Gilbert
Home Staging by Vivian LLC - Potomac, MD
ASP, RESA

Sellers are way too attached to items they like. They don't realize the negative impact they have to potential buyers. When I walk into a house I always say tohe client. Three things that need to be removed: 1. personal pictures, 2. political items, 3. religious items. I say this before I even walk through the house so they know I am not influenced by what I see there.

Vivian

Feb 02, 2011 03:55 PM
Tony and Suzanne Marriott, Associate Brokers
Serving the Greater Phoenix and Scottsdale Metropolitan Area - Scottsdale, AZ
Coldwell Banker Realty

The difference as I see it is Staging attempts to minimize clutter and maximize the appearance of space - whereas interior decorating is a free for all! :-)

Feb 05, 2011 01:38 AM