“A person’s mind stretched to a new idea can never return to its original dimensions.” Oliver Wendell Holmes

In truth I had about eight billion three hundred million six hundred thousand and forty four “great” ideas. With time and the facts of life the list was narrowed to about seven or eight really (and truly) great ideas. Some of my “great” ideas were ahead of their time and some behind. Others of my “great” ideas were simply stupid. Then more were fine ideas for someone else. And still others were ideas that simply needed to simmer for a while before they could be useful for anyone at all.

Suffice it to say – because I have education and experience, flair and finesse, desire and determination I thought it was a good idea to become a home stager. While not all of my life experiences have led to this path, enough of them have to make me feel comfortable hanging out the shingle and tapping on the keys.

“We must respect the other fellow’s religion, but only in the sense and to the extent that we respect his theory that his wife is beautiful and his children are smart.” Henry Louis Mencken

Helping people (home sellers, house builders and real estate agents or brokers) to prepare for-sale properties to not only look but also be the best they can be (given the original condition and the allotted budget) before their debut on the market would fall into the no-brainer category and simply be an easy sell.

“In theory there is no difference between theory and practice. In practice there is.” Yogi Berra

The Practice Beyond Theory

While some parts of the original Theory – home staging is a great way to help home sellers, house builders and real estate agents or brokers prepare their for-sale properties before they are placed on the market – are beyond doubt, there are other parts which have needed revision. Before I get to the revision I’ll explain the three major facts behind the theory.

1. All things being equal the vast majority of shoppers are much more likely to choose the attractive package over the ugly (or even the plain) package.
2. Most home sellers don’t know how to achieve decorative balance and harmony, but like their counterpoints, the home shopper, they recognize it when they see it.
3. In the scheme of both the real estate world and the decorative world the investment in staging is a bargain.

As for the revision in my flawed theory – I now understand that there is no easy sell when a new concept is being presented to the buyer. Because the value of home staging is a concept which I and my fellow home stagers understand it doesn’t follow that the average consumer has heard of or understands the worth of the process. As players in the real estate world, it is up to home stagers to step by step help both agents and home sellers understand more than the magic of transforming a space but also the magic of giving home buyers an appealing package which speaks to their heads (basic repairs and upkeep have been addressed – I can move in without hassle and get on with my life) and their hearts (this home looks like a place where I can hang my dreams.)

So, one chance encounter at a time, one open house meeting at a time, one speech at the MLS breakfast group at a time, one blog at a time, one press release at a time, one community class at a time, one sign on a vehicle at a time, one newsletter at a time, one visit to a realty office at a time, one email at a time, one phone call at a time, one membership in the local NAR group at a time, one membership in the local contractors group at a time, one house staging at a time, we will find that our potential clients are learning and UNDERSTANDING more and more about home staging – one day at a time.  

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Information provided by Yvonne Root of rooms b.y. root. Yvonne not only likes preparing homes for sale she also enjoys helping folks understand the benefits to be achieved by staging homes. She would love to hear from you. The team at rooms b.y. root are most likely to be found staging homes in northern central Arizona. Look for them in Anthem, Black Canyon City, New River, Mayer, Dewey-Humboldt, Prescott Valley, Prescott, Cottonwood, Camp Verde and surrounding communities.