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Staging: Tricks of the trade

By
Home Stager with Atlanta Staging & Design

So I was sitting around trying to think of what to blog about.  At the same time, I was thinking about ways to make staging easier.  So then I thought, why not blog about how to make staging easier and maybe we could all share some tips.  I'm not looking for "trade secrets," just helpful tips that everyone may not be doing.  I will start the list with a few tips that I learned from my friend and mentor Kathy Nielsen.  I'm sure we can all make our lives and work a little easier.

1.  When you arrive at the home, lay out all rugs and turn them upside down so the heat will flatten them.

2.  Immediately remove bedding from packaging or iron and hang over a door.  (This gets it out of the way and helps keep wrinkles out)

3.  Hang small bags on the door handle of each room for trash.

4.  If you have to remove any stickers, spray goo gone and let sit while you get started.  After a short time, it will be easy to scrape away sticker or residue.

5.  To hang a print with 2 nail wholes, 1st take a piece of masking tape and tear tape to the length of the wholes on the back of the picture.  Put tape on the wall where you want your print.  Nail on both ends of the tape.  Remove tape and hang print.

 

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Comments (20)

Rosario Lewis
DDR Realty - Newburgh, NY
GRI, SRES - DDR Realty - Orange County, NY
Nice set of helpful hints. You don't have to be a stager to benefit from these.
Feb 22, 2008 12:44 AM
Yvonne Root
rooms b.y. root - Prescott, AZ
Home Stager - Northern Arizona

Kristi, this is a great list! The one which made me say, "Well of course!" was the hanging of the trash bag on the door handle. I have not used that solution in the past and will certainly do so in the future. Very good idea, indeed. 

What I will add to the list is:

Place like items with like items both in the preparation phase as well as in the actual staging phase. 

Use a small portable table for the placement of tools and supplies as each space is being prepared.

Take your Quality Control person with you always! (In my case it is my husband -- he is good at spotting the ribbon clipping that made it to the floor or the chip on the vase which should be to the wall or any number of other small but important items.)

It will be fun to see what others add to your list!  

Feb 22, 2008 01:34 AM
Diana Young
Staging Seattle, King & Snohomish Counties - Edmonds, WA
It's become our "tradition" to have one of the guys on our staging team go on a Starbucks run for us after the truck is unloaded.  The tip I have to share:  put the drinks you have with you on the job in the sink and only drink them while standing near the sink.  That way, if something spills, it's in the sink and not on a carpet, etc.  Fortunately we didn't learn to do this the hard way, but that just what we do.
Feb 22, 2008 03:45 AM
Kathy Nielsen
http://atlantahomestaging.net - Marietta, GA
Atlanta Georgia Home Stager

This is a great list, Kristi.  Thanks for sharing these helpful hints.

Kathy

Feb 22, 2008 04:54 AM
Terry Haugen STAGE it RIGHT! 321-956-2495
Stage it Right! - Melbourne, FL
Great tips Kristi!  All the while I thought we were just supposed to dump our inventory on the floor and sort it out from there :-)  Well sometimes I actually do have to do that )-:
Feb 22, 2008 07:04 AM
Kristina Leone
Lionheart Home Staging, LLC - Minneapolis, MN

Great list!  I usually try to remove all the stickers before hand, but it's nice to have the goo gone just in case I miss one!

Terry:  I usually have the homeowner leave because I do take everything out of my boxes and spread them out.  It always looks really messy before it all comes together. 

Feb 22, 2008 09:27 AM
Kathleen Lordbock
Keller Williams Realty Professionals - Baxter, MN
Keller Williams Realty Professionals

Oh there you are -  I have heard about you & now you are blogging - yeh>

 I like the coffe or drinks in the sink only.

We inventory each room manually and by photos directly after staging.

We pack & load by rooms, if possible  & label containers. It makes it easier for helpers.

Feb 22, 2008 10:10 AM
Susan Peters
Dove Realty Inc. - Seattle, WA
The Better it Looks the Better it Sells

Kristi,

Great idea. I can't wait to see all of the comments.

My tip is to put all of my lamps on timers so that the showing agent doesn't have to fumble in the dark and the house is well lit and welcoming from the get go.

Feb 22, 2008 04:02 PM
Terrylynn Fisher
Dudum Real Estate Group - BuyStageSell.com - Walnut Creek, CA
HAFA Certified, EcoBroker, CRS, CSP Realtor, Etc.
I am with Susan, I have MANY timers and extention cords for the lighting...no way do I want them having to turn on all the lights when they come in.  I want the buyer to feel and see light and bright...which they may realize was from the lights, but they for certain notice if the lights have to be turned on to accomplish the light and bright. 
Feb 22, 2008 05:52 PM
Janis Gaines
Staging Sells Eugene Homes - Eugene, OR
Home Stager Eugene OR - The Notably Well-Dressed H

You've shared some great ideas. Here are a couple of links for picture hanging tools. I got mine at a convention, but these are a similar idea. You hang the picture on the tool, hold the tool up to the wall, at the height you want, then push the point of the tool into the wall and it makes a small indentation where the nail will go. With pictures that have 2 hooks, you need a buddy standing across the room to let you know when its level, or a leveling tool.

http://www.sportys.com/acb/showdetl.cfm?DID=10&Product_ID=751

hhttp://www.worksavers.com/cgi-bin/plugins/MivaEmpresas/miva?plugins/MivaMerchants/merchant.mvc+Screen=PROD&Store_Code=ATCI&Product_Code=WS-100

Feb 22, 2008 08:04 PM
Michele Hess
Simply Staged Inc. - Rockford, IL
Home Stager Rockford - Simply Staged Inc

I don't know about you, but I dread cleaning/dusting artificial greens/trees.  A tip I learned was to use spray hairspray.  You don't have to dust it first and it adds the sheen back to the leaves.  However, you may want to place a towel under your working area so you don't end up with a sticky floor.

 

 

Feb 22, 2008 11:20 PM
Kristi Oliver
Atlanta Staging & Design - Atlanta, GA
Atlanta Georgia Home Stager

Thanks Janis,

I have been looking for something like these.

Feb 22, 2008 11:42 PM
Kristi Oliver
Atlanta Staging & Design - Atlanta, GA
Atlanta Georgia Home Stager
Great idea Michele, I would have never thought of that.
Feb 22, 2008 11:43 PM
Becca Briggs
Rochester, NY

I love the masking tape idea, I had always used the hooks to make marks on the wall, this sounds better!!

Rather than using the matching dresser mirror we use a wall mirror hung vertically.  It's cheaper and makes a nicer statement in the Master!  Same in the formal dining, we use a sofa table and a mirror for a sideboard.

Great Blog Idea I hope the ideas keep coming!

Becky  

 

Feb 23, 2008 12:10 AM
Tara Boettger
HOMEGIRL Home Staging - Poughkeepsie, NY

I too love the masking tape idea. I was measuring the distance between the holes marking them on the back of the pictures then measuring the wall and placing my hooks in. This sounds alot faster and easier!

Feb 23, 2008 02:26 AM
Elaine Manes Gage
Home Staging Online Services - Denver, CO
Staging done ONLINE!

We were trained to use chalk when hanging pictures, but blue painting tape works so much better! My friends husband use to hang artwork at the art museum for a living and he recommends this type of nail. I have started using them, and I don't worry about damage to the walls, or my pictures coming down after I've left. They are more expensive than most, but it's cheaper than causing damage!

nail

Feb 23, 2008 02:40 AM
Gina McNew
diva la difference interiors - Atlanta, GA
Host of Diva in the House - The Voice of Real Estate Staging Radio

Kristi;

    Great Posts!  I usually use my mark and mount ruler for the pictures with two hooks, but I love the idea of the masking tape.  I will certainly stick that ( whew sorry for the pun ) to memory.  I had a client a couple of weeks ago who said she needed my help in hanging some art work.  I got to her house and we started hanging art in her bedroom, then her son's room and a hallway.  Then we got to the basement where she had the floor covered ( and I do mean covered ) with certificates from a life time of achievement that she wanted hung in a hallway.  I about fell over!!!  It took hours!  I am waiting for the return call as now she wants another hallway decorated with a life time of family photos.  I get quesy at the thought of it.  But it's her home and she is loving it! 

Cheers!

Feb 23, 2008 03:09 AM
Susan Cunningham
NE Atlanta Home Staging - Suwanee, GA
R.E.VISION - Suwanee, GA

Love all the artwork hanging tips! 

Elaine - do you get those hooks at your local hardware store?

Thanks all!

Susan

Feb 23, 2008 03:09 AM
Cindy Bryant
Redesign Etc. Home Staging - Houston, TX
"Houston Home Staging Pros"
I have a lasar level, that works pretty good too, if someone can nail while you hold the lasar.
Feb 23, 2008 04:41 PM
Becca Briggs
Rochester, NY

Those picture hangers are great, they just leave a large pin hole rather than the big holes!  Lowes, Home Depot etc carry them.

Becky

Feb 25, 2008 02:42 PM