Summary:

There are lots of simple things a homeowner can do on their own to decorate their house to sell. However, many homeowners are unsure of where to start. 

The process of selling a home can be completely overwhelming, but a Home Stager has the ability to look at a home with a fresh pair of eyes. They view the home as a highly critical buyer would see it.


Why Hire a Professional Home Stager?

There are lots of simple things a homeowner can do on their own to decorate their house to sell. They can get rid of clutter, re-paint, clean or put out fresh flowers.  So why hire a Home Stager?

Many homeowners are unsure of what paint colors to choose or where to move the clutter.  The process of selling a home can be completely overwhelming. They often lack real estate knowledge about their local market and what homes in their price range should look like.

A Home Stager has the ability to look at a home with a fresh pair of eyes.  They view the home as a highly critical buyer would see it.

A professional Home Stager:

1. Knows what's needed to create the right environment quickly and at the lowest cost.

2. Knows what homes in different price ranges look like and what's selling.  They will give homeowners suggestions that their real estate agent may be afraid to offer because the agent does not want to risk losing the listing.

3. Is not emotionally attached to any of the homeís contents which means that they can see the home in a way that someone who has been living there for years simply cannot.  Using their fresh vision, they recommend the optimal way to re-arrange existing furniture, art and accessories.

4. Can quickly choose new paint colors, flooring, tiles, counter tops or any number of finishes. They have a ready source of painters, cleaners, handymen, off-site storage and a myriad of other services that may be needed on short notice.

5. Brings in replacement furniture, accessories and art if what is there isnít appropriate to the homeís target market or the home is empty.

Home staging is not just for multi-million dollar homes, it can have a dramatic effect on the selling price and days on market of even a modest home. 

One home I staged had been on the market for months with a best offer of $350,000. I spent 90 minutes with the owner rearranging the furniture, putting items in storage and telling him what needed to be cleaned.

He sold the following week for $361,000!

How many other legal ways can you think of to invest $600 and get an $11,000 return on your investment the following week?

 

Related Stories:

Home Staging helps real estate investors and builders maximize profits 

Forget the garage sale, get rid of the junk now and decorate to sell

Why home staging ups the selling price of a home 

Debra Gould, The Staging Diva
President, Six Elements Inc. Home Staging

Internationally recognized home staging expert Debra Gould, also known as The Staging Diva, bought decorating and sold 6 of her own homes before becoming a Professional Home Stager. Since that time, she has staged hundreds of homes and been featured in The Wall Street Journal, CNNMoney, CBS and CBC Radio, Reader's Digest, Woman's Day, MoneySense, Entrepreneur Magazine, House & Home, Style at Home, National Post, Globe & Mail, and HGTV, CityTV, GlobalTV, CBC TV, LifeChannel among others.

She created the Staging Diva Home Staging Business Training Program and has over 700 graduates across the US, Canada and in Australia, New Zealand, Wales, England, Italy, Portugal, The Philippines and South Africa. Homeowners and real estate agents can find a stager in The Staging Diva Directory of Home Stagers or use our free Home Stager Locator Service.