SHOULD I STAGE THE WHOLE HOUSE? 

Yes,  because the whole house is for sale.   That is not meant to be a glib statement.  As a professional home stager and Realtor since 2006, I have become increasingly aware of how emotionally attached we are to the way we live in our own homes.  What is perfectly comfortable for living is not necessarily how the home should be marketed for maximizing your profit from a sale.  

I don't mean to make everything about money, but let's face it, most of us need every penny from a sale we can get.  So now is not the time to be penny wise and pound foolish.  Every room of your home is valuable real estate and we need to help the buyer realize just how very valuable it is. That is what is going to get you more money from the sale of your home.

 HOW DO I STAGE THE WHOLE HOUSE WHEN IT'S VACANT?

A full service home stager will discuss options for staging furnishings and decor with you in a written proposal.   I have found the least expensive staging plan  is to rent key pieces and use add in decor provided either by the homeowner or the stager. The skill of the stager is in the plan and the interior design of furniture arrangement with decor added.  

Sometimes owners decide to stage it themselves and and go  rent their own furniture.  However, having a  tan vinyl  couch pushed against a wall with a brown coffee table in front of it -  is not staging.  It screams low rent district.

 One house I went in had furniture, but the tags were still dangling from the lamp and the lamp did not have a light bulb put in it.  That was just sad! 

 This was a vacant living  room staged with a rental loveseat.  

All other furnishings were provided by the stager.

Staging is the decorator icing on the cake.   A plain, unfrosted cake has value, but a frosted cake adorned with roses and "Happy Birthday" written on it has increased value.