Tell me I'm wrong! It seems to me from conversations with Realtors that the main reason that more agents don't suggest home staging to their clients is they are afraid to offend them. How do you compliment a client's home and at the same time suggest staging? Aren't they opposites?
No. They don't have to be. I teach a class for agents on home staging and this is an issue I discuss on day one. I tell the agents to say something along these lines:
"You have a lovely home and I'm sure you and your family have had many good times here. Now if you want to get top dollar and perhaps sell it faster, you might want to stage it. Are you familiar with home staging?
Whether the answer is yes or no say, "as your Realtor, I can make some suggestions but many of my clients enjoy working with a professional stager. Why don't you take a look at some local stager websites. Then if you are interested in staging services I would be happy to set up an appointment with whichever stager you prefer. Done! Don't say anymore! Let the idea to stage be the clients' idea--then there is no possibility of offending them.
But before you recommend a stager-- do your research. Just because you met a stager at a luncheon or mixer and they seem nice, doesn't mean that they are going to have a professional website. Any experienced stager should have tens and tens of Before and After photos on their website. AND, don't forget to call the stager and ask about insurance. You might not think it's a big deal but I can tell you that there has been many a time when on the day of the staging, the client asks the Realtor for my certificates of insurance and worker's compensation. You don't want to be in the position of NOT being able to supply these important documents to your client!
So let don't be afraid to suggest staging--but be sure to suggest a stager who will be as professional as you are!
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