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NH Home Staging FAQ - What Can I Do Before My Staging Consult?

By
Home Stager with Sharon Tara Transformations

NH Home Staging FAQ - What Can I Do Before My Staging Consult?

A Home Staging consult is generally two hours.  Obviously, the stager can accomplish more in that time frame if the seller has done some prep work.  

There are several things you can remove ahead of time, and save the stager from having to address them at the consult. 

family photosTrash, donate or prepack:

 all personal photographs

 all religious items 

 all political items

 all trophies and medals

 all weapons

 all taxidermy

 all collections

 all personal documents  (framed diplomas, degrees, awards, certificates) 

 

 Remove:

1. everything from top, front, and sides of your refrigerator

2. all evidence of pets  (Find a concealed place to keep pet food and accessories)

3.  off season clothing from closets

4.  medications and valuables

clutter 

One mistake many sellers make prior to a home staging consult is removing too much furniture and accessories, leaving the stager with nothing to work with.

 Other than the items mentioned above, it is best to wait for the consult before making changes on your own.

Comments (30)

Joanna Cohlan
Fresh Eyes For Your Home - Chappaqua, NY
Designing, Decorating & Staging Westchester Homes

Hi Sharon, I know, I get the "we just painted" response as well-particularly when the walls are purple!!!

May 30, 2012 11:50 PM
Kathy Burke
Sensational Home Staging~~Danville, CA - Danville, CA
S.F. East Bay Home Staging

Sharon....great list and TOTALLY agree with your final point....Do NOT remove all art, accessories and furniture.  This is what a stager can help determine "best" items to use...and edit out!

May 30, 2012 11:54 PM
Janice Ankrett
Burlington, ON
Staging Professional

Good one Sharon! This is something I discuss with clients when we make the appointment. So often they get rid of the wrong items!

May 31, 2012 01:23 AM
Maureen Bray Portland OR Home Stager ~ Room Solutions Staging
Room Solutions Staging, Portland OR - Portland, OR
"Staging Consultations that Sell Portland Homes"

Sharon ~ just last week at the beginning of my consultation, the seller said "our agent told us to take EVERYTHING off our kitchen counters!"  I then gently explained that the kitchen needed some "life" and I'd help find just the right props in their cupboards so that it wasn't so sterile looking.  I find totally empty kitchen counters very boring looking and there IS a happy medium!

May 31, 2012 02:58 AM
Joni Bailey
101 Main St. Realty - Huntsville, TX
Your Huntsville / Lake Livingston Area REALTOR®

In our particular area (Lake Livingston), I have found that family photos of the kids tubing or fishing with grandpa actually help. Just not TOO many pictures. GREAT post. Suggested!!

May 31, 2012 10:02 AM
Sharon Tara
Sharon Tara Transformations - Portsmouth, NH
Retired New Hampshire Home Stager

Joanna:  You want so badly to shake them and say "why didn't you wait until after the consult to paint?"  

Kathy:  I've used some items that the seller was going to throw away before and she was shocked at how great it looked.  You never know!

Janice:  I had a woman tell me once that she would schedule the consult right after the painter came.  Once I explained that the consult could include paint color choices, she changed her mind.  She had no idea!

Maureen:  I had a client completely EMPTY her kitchen cabinets....every single one, bare empty!  I asked her how they were living in that condition...."where is your food and all your dishes?"  I asked.  Her husband said "in the garage, and it's a royal pain!"  The poor thing....she thought she was improving the appearance!  The husband was so happy to hear they could bring the dishes and food back into the house!

May 31, 2012 10:34 AM
Sharon Tara
Sharon Tara Transformations - Portsmouth, NH
Retired New Hampshire Home Stager

Joni:  Absolutely!  Adds to the emotional attachment and "Norman Rockwell" lifestyle dream! 

May 31, 2012 10:35 AM
Rebecca McArdle
Stunning Staging & Redesign, LLC - Fort Wayne, IN

Great "starter" tips for Staging a home! 

May 31, 2012 12:34 PM
Kim Gaston
RE/MAX Advantage Realty - Colorado Springs, CO
Colorado Springs REALTOR®, CNE (719)661-6987

Wow, I've never seen shelves crammed with sooo many family photos! Great reminders, Sharon. We really do need a few things to work with, but can't tell them exactly what until we're physically there. The repurpose concept we use is hard for homeowners to grasp. "You want to use that? I was about to throw it out."

May 31, 2012 01:27 PM
Sharon Tara
Sharon Tara Transformations - Portsmouth, NH
Retired New Hampshire Home Stager

Rebecca:  Thank you!

Kim:  Some of my favorite staging consults have been where I've used things that the sellers were planning to toss.  You just never know!

Jun 01, 2012 11:43 AM
Lloyd Binen
Certified Realty Services - Saratoga, CA
Silicon Valley Realtor since 1976; 408-373-4411

Sharon,  that's a very straight forward and helpful list for homeowners.  Most commonly out here I'm dealing with a completely vacant house that needs staging, and that's how I prefer it.

But in the past 5 years, or so, I've handled homes for 70, 80 and 90-year olders who have lived in their home 40+ years.  I think a few good old photos of the homeowner can tell a story and give a history that adds humanity and value(?) to the house.  It causes the prospective buyer to feel an affinity and a warmth for the old homeowner.  But I'm interested in your professional opinion.  I think you know I'm a fan of staging and stagers cause I've seen it work.  And I know personal pictures are normally a no-no for stagers.

Jun 03, 2012 05:06 AM
Sharon Tara
Sharon Tara Transformations - Portsmouth, NH
Retired New Hampshire Home Stager

Lloyd:  Personal photos are a "no-no" in most situations.  However, nothing is absolute!  In small doses, applied for the right reasons, photos can be used as a staging tool.  I agree with you that certain photos of the elderly owner....or vintage photos of them...can appeal to potential buyers.  Keep them to a minimum so they don't become a distraction.

Jun 03, 2012 12:24 PM
Patricia Feager, MBA, CRS, GRI,MRP
DFW FINE PROPERTIES - Flower Mound, TX
Selling Homes Changing Lives

Sharon, great list that's easy to do. I include jewelry and kid's personal valuables to my list.

Wish you lived closer!

Jun 03, 2012 10:05 PM
Sharon Tara
Sharon Tara Transformations - Portsmouth, NH
Retired New Hampshire Home Stager

Patricia:  Thanks for the reminder.  I've edited to include valuables, anything with a child's name on it, and medications.

Jun 03, 2012 10:16 PM
Stephanie & John Webb
Latte Stone Realty LLC - Albuquerque, NM
Stephanie Webb Co-Owner, Latte Stone Realty, LLC

Great information. When I do my listing walk through I am very specific on what needs to be packed, thrown out or donated which helps the seller.  I take the time to help remove the items before I take listing photos. By doing this I know that the property will show well and the seller won't need to worry about that aspect of listing the property to sell.

Jan 31, 2016 10:46 PM
Sharon Tara
Sharon Tara Transformations - Portsmouth, NH
Retired New Hampshire Home Stager

stephanie and John webb  Sounds like you take that extra step that many agents miss. Based on mls pics there aren't enough agents helping to remove things prior to pictures!

Jan 31, 2016 11:16 PM
Praful Thakkar
LAER Realty Partners - Andover, MA
Andover, MA: Andover Luxury Homes For Sale

Sharon Tara although this is post about 4 years old, it still is a great advice...

Feb 01, 2016 01:33 PM
Sharon Tara
Sharon Tara Transformations - Portsmouth, NH
Retired New Hampshire Home Stager

Praful Thakkar  Thank you!  I like to give my clients a head start on their "homework" before I even get there.

Feb 01, 2016 10:56 PM
Peter Mohylsky, Beach Expert
PMI. Destin - Miramar Beach, FL
Call me at 850-517-7098

I introduce scrapbooking as a way of dealing with photos. 

Feb 22, 2016 07:33 PM
Sharon Tara
Sharon Tara Transformations - Portsmouth, NH
Retired New Hampshire Home Stager

Peter Mohylsky  that's a great idea!  I'm sure its a way of staying in your clients' minds too. Every time they look at their photos organized in the book they think of you!

Feb 22, 2016 09:05 PM