Special offer

The Home Staging Difference - HOW???

By
Home Stager with Sharon Tara Transformations

 

Home Staging in New Hampshire - Knowing HOW is What Makes The Difference

Today's sellers are very familiar with the terms declutter and depersonalize.  They know what needs to be done to prepare their house for sale.   What most sellers don't know is HOW to actually do what needs to be done. 

Years of accumulation can seem impossible to manage.

  • What is considered "clutter" and what is decorative?
  • What exactly is "personal" and should be removed?
  • What colors are neutral and what colors are too vanilla?
  • What furniture works best to showcase each room?
  • What is "dated" and how do you update?
When confronted with the generalized tasks of "decluttering, updating, and cleaning" an entire house, many sellers become overwhelmed. 

how

 

This is where a Home Staging consult makes all the difference.  A Home Stager doesn't just tell sellers "WHAT" - A home stager tells "HOW" and knowledge is power.

When given an itemized to-do list of improvements, specific tasks to perform, home sellers become inspired, energized, and engaged. They are empowered with a sense of control over their situation. 

A Home Staging consult takes what was once overwhelming and makes it totally manageable, reducing a great part of the stress of selling your house.  

 

Anyone can tell you what needs to be done to prepare a house for sale.   Don't ask just anyone.   Ask a professional Home Stager.

   A professional will tell you HOW and that will save you money, time, and so much frustration.

 

Comments(34)

Lloyd Binen
Certified Realty Services - Saratoga, CA
Silicon Valley Realtor since 1976; 408-373-4411

Hi Sharon,  Truer words have never been spoken.  That's exactly what most sellers need otherwise the task is overwhelming.  I suggested this also.

Jun 06, 2011 05:00 AM
Anna Dovger
Add Value Home Staging LLC, 281-704-6607 - The Woodlands, TX
Home Staging -The Woodlands, TX

Sharon, so many sellers say that they "already de cluttered" and there are so much more to pack. Professional home stager will not only explain but also show HOW some areas need to look like. Excellent explanation of what  Staging consultation is all about. I also suggested.

Jun 06, 2011 07:57 AM
Sharon Tara
Sharon Tara Transformations - Portsmouth, NH
Retired New Hampshire Home Stager

Sally:  It's true, sometimes we don't have anything to work with because they have gotten rid of everything, LOL!  

Kathy:  Thanks for suggesting!  Being told to declutter is such a generalization and it really leaves people confused.  Sellers really don't know what to remove or even where to begin.

Ellen:  Good point...every seller has their own personal issues to add to the basic stress of selling.  Even more reason to seek professional assistance.

Julia:  And without your meeting, who knows what would have been done for that open house.  Being told specifically what steps need to be taken is so much easier than running around in circles without a clue, LOL!

Jun 06, 2011 08:48 AM
Sharon Tara
Sharon Tara Transformations - Portsmouth, NH
Retired New Hampshire Home Stager

Lloyd:  I appreciate the "suggest" and the kind words, thanks!

Anna:  I can't tell you how many times I've been told "you wouldn't believe what I've already removed" or "I thought I was ready to list until I heard your suggestions!"  

Jun 06, 2011 09:03 AM
Ginger Foust
Certified Staging Professional - Oakhurst, CA
Home Stager Oakhurst CA, Dream Interior Redesign & Staging

Very well put Sharon, as always!  Suggested.  We just wanna HELP!! 

Jun 06, 2011 09:17 AM
Pamela Smith
Ventura County Home Staging - Thousand Oaks, CA

Sharon - WHAT a great blog about HOW we can help the most. I agree that most homeowners are savvy enough to be able to anticipate the need to de-clutter, de-personalize, and update. But what that actually looks like (and HOW to do it) comes from us, the professional stager.

Jun 06, 2011 09:31 AM
Kathy Burke
Sensational Home Staging~~Danville, CA - Danville, CA
S.F. East Bay Home Staging

Such sound advice for all sellers!!!  Great blog post with great points!!

Jun 06, 2011 10:42 AM
Lou Ludwig
Ludwig & Associates - Boca Raton, FL
Designations Earned CRB, CRS, CIPS, GRI, SRES, TRC

Sharon

A professional home stagger can successfully get home ready for sale.

Good luck and success.

Lou Ludwig

Jun 06, 2011 11:26 AM
Sharon Tara
Sharon Tara Transformations - Portsmouth, NH
Retired New Hampshire Home Stager

Ginger:  I appreciate that, thank you!

Pamela:  I think they have become almost immune to the word "declutter" because it is so over used.

Kathy:  Thank you!

Lou:  We can't help ourselves, LOL!

Jun 06, 2011 11:44 AM
Ron and Alexandra Seigel
Napa Consultants - Carpinteria, CA
Luxury Real Estate Branding, Marketing & Strategy

Sharon,

I thought of you last night.  We were at a friends house who are clutter lovers, and I thought of what you would have to do to clean it up...However, they are not selling...This is an excellent post, clear and concise. A

Jun 06, 2011 11:46 AM
Shar Sitter
Rooms With Style - Minneapolis, MN
Home Staging and Redesign Minneapolis/ St. Paul, M

You either get a person that thinks they have de-cluttered and it is still chuck full or they de-clutter before you get there and there isn't anything left to work with. You said it best, get your advice from a trained professional.

Jun 06, 2011 03:31 PM
Cathy Lee
CL Design Services Home Staging - Danville, CA
ASP, IAHSP, RESA Danville, CA

You have always been one of my favorite blog writers and this one is another winner!!!! Each point is excellent!

Jun 06, 2011 04:42 PM
Janet Jones
Just Your Style Interiors, LLC - Kihei, HI
Home Staging, Interior Redesign Kihei, Maui, Hawaii

Sharon--what a great post.  I have to agree as stagers we freely use these words and yet the client often times don't understand what is too much.  Too much clutter, too much personalization, too much bland wall coloring.  You have given me a long thinking pause this morning. 

Jun 07, 2011 12:05 AM
Sharon Tara
Sharon Tara Transformations - Portsmouth, NH
Retired New Hampshire Home Stager

Alexandra:  Hearing you thought of me just made my day!  If I had been there, I would have been organizing while the rest of you were visiting, LOL!

Shar:  Exactly!  Murphy's Law!

Cathy:  What a great compliment.  Thank you for that!

Janet:  and that's the beauty of blogs!  Thanks so much!

Jun 07, 2011 12:20 AM
Janice Ankrett
Burlington, ON
Staging Professional

Sharon, you are so right! A staging consult takes the 'I wonder if we should' out of preparing a home. That plan specific to that home works.

Jun 08, 2011 08:55 AM
Heather Cook
Beyond the Stage Homes - Kitchener, ON
Delivering beautifully staged spaces

Sharon - I totally agree! Home owners get hammered with *de-clutter, de-personalize, neutralize* but no one explains *how* to do these things! What is clutter? What can be left out? What could be used as accents? What is an acceptable neutral? 

As home stagers, I like to tell my clients that we give you a customized PLAN to get your home ready for sale. This way there is no question about what can stay, what can go and how things should be laid out. It takes the stress out of the whole situation for sellers and becomes a list of things they can easily tackle.

Jun 08, 2011 08:56 AM
Sharon Tara
Sharon Tara Transformations - Portsmouth, NH
Retired New Hampshire Home Stager

Janice:  Nothing like doubt to make a job more stressful!

Heather:  Well said!  It's so much easier when there is an established plan of action to work from.

Jun 08, 2011 09:53 AM
Cindy Bryant
Redesign Etc. Home Staging - Houston, TX
"Houston Home Staging Pros"

I am finding sellers are painting their homes so neutral, they are too sterile and bland. There is definitely a difference. Neutrals are not just off white. Adding a slight hint of color makes all the difference in the world. It really accentuates architectural features and molding in a home.

I'm also reblogging, this is great info!

Jun 08, 2011 05:53 PM
Sharon Tara
Sharon Tara Transformations - Portsmouth, NH
Retired New Hampshire Home Stager

Cindy:  This is what happens when people think they can do it themselves and save money.  I'm glad you found the post worthy of a reblog, Thanks!

Jun 09, 2011 04:52 AM
Alicia Barrington
THE ORIGINAL HOUSTON HOME STAGING - Katy, TX
Houston Home Staging Presents Alicia Barrington

Howdy Sharon, it's Tom from Houston!

Houston Realtors have done a great job in decluttering their clients homes.   However, we still have an uphill battle in educating our market.   "Stark" is not the same thing as "Staged"......

Happy Staging Y'all!

Jun 10, 2011 07:41 PM