What is a Home Stager and How Do I Shop For One? A Toronto Home Staging Perspective

You may find yourself reading this blog because someone, either a real estate agent, or a friend has suggested you should stage your home.

The question is who should stage my home, a home stager? What is a Home Stager?

Good question and what distinguishes one home stager from another?  In fact with the popularity of the buzz words “home staging” it would appear everyone is staging homes today, home owners, real estate agents, etc.

In a nutshell, a home stager specialized in preparing residences for sale in the real estate market in such a way that your home appeals to the largest number of potential buyers which results in selling your home more quickly and for more money.

So how do you shop for a home stager?

1.       The first thing you should ask to see is a portfolio.  This will include a number of different pictures, including both before and after of different types of homes they have staged and their different successes.

2.       References or referrals are also a good sign and so are testimonials.  If someone suggests a particular home stager that is a good sign they have experienced a particular level of success with this individual.

3.       You should ask a potential home stager to discuss what home staging is and what to expect. It is important if someone is going to stage your home you should understand what they’re doing and why without going into too much detail.  A home stager will be able to give you an idea of how this transformation will impact you and your family if any and what the cost will be.

4.  It is important at this time to let a home stager know if you have any budget restrictions.  Home stagers will make recommendations from adding a few pillows and pictures to painting, changing door hardware, changing your floor, etc.  The average home stager cannot quote and should not quote on behalf of a contract professional but the home stager needs to know if there are budget limitations.  In Toronto the average price a home owner is prepared to spend when getting their home ready for market is 1% of their list price.

5.       Time restrictions are also an important need to know.    If you are looking to have your home ready for pictures tomorrow you should let your home stager know that.  This will dictate what can be done with your home.

6.       Since the home staging industry is a fairly unregulated business, there are organizations that some home stagers will align themselves with such as RESA (Real Estate Staging Association).    This organization acts as a governing body of ethics among the home staging community.  It is not mandatory and on that note, I know home stagers who are excellent and not members of RESA, but if this is something that is important to you, this may be a question to ask.

7.       An important question to ask is if the home stager has any design knowledge, such as education or previous experience.    There are courses that individuals can take to get certification and often decorators and interior designers will get certification. They are private and independently operated. Ideally if you are looking to hire a home stager and having certification would be beneficial, but not a must.

8.  "The person who quotes the cheapest price is the home stager I'm going to hire." Buyer beware, you get what you pay for.  Remember the saying, "If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is."

I hope this was helpful and best wishes with the sale of your home, I hope it’s profitable.