Wham Bam vs. Bling Bling

Wham Bam vs. Bling Bling!  After a great week of successful staging projects I have a moment to look back.  And I find myself once again.... Looking forward at our market and our industry.  It is fascinating how the market and industry have changed in the last two years.  Not being a "pioneer", and certainly not a "newbie" I feel I have a good feel on the industry today. 

It is disappointing however, that there is so much division in our industry.  From our business models to our individual design expertise and everywhere in between.  I have dreamt of this divine world in which all Professional Home Stagers see out of the same proverbial scope.  I have now concluded and accepted that this will never happen and am pleased to say that I feel good about it.

There is an obvious difference between the Wham Bam vs. the Bling Bling!  I recently read a realtor post that stated something to the effect of the following...

...It is tiring seeing the same staging décor items plopped in different homes, with no attention to the homes personal architecture. (this is not an exact quote, just my perception on the BLOG comment)

Most (if not all) homes are built with a specific design and layout in mind.  Often we find the original "style" of the home may have been changed with an eager homeowner with his or her own personal style.  This creates a challenge for us Professional Home Stager's.

This is where education, design background, training and the "it" factor come into play with home staging.  This has nothing to do with overdoing a staging project or under doing a project.  This has everything to do with doing the project right.  Right by the industry, right by the client, right by the real estate agent, and right by design standards.

There have been many definitions of what home staging is and is not.  Some of the common denominators, which are tried and true and go without question in Professional Home Staging, are...

1. Create flow to a property.  Layout of rooms should be inviting to potential homebuyers to view the property in its entirety.
2. Update!  Professional Home Staging should be an affordable way to give a home an updated feel to potential homebuyers.  This would include quality furniture and accessories that follow current trends.  The greatest pieces are typically timelessJ.
3. Define the space.  This is sometimes where design expertise and experience in space planning come into play. 
4. Help potential homebuyers make an emotional connection with the property.  This is what we refer to as the WOW factor.  A homebuyer is more likely to spend more time in a home and generate more excitement when they feel emotionally connected to a property.

With that said the design concept for Professional Home Staging is always the same, but may take on many different "styles".  The concept is to stage the property to sell quickly and for the most money.  That we must all agree with? 

This may involve elaborate details including faux food, "Spa like" vignettes, fully set and beautifully dressed formal dinning rooms etc.  This may also be a striped down version of the same to meet a wide variety of budgetary concerns.  The Home Stager or the homeowner should not make this choice.  This choice should be made by the HOME itself. 

Does one wash their car before selling it?  Probably 99%, and I for one add dressing to the tires and even get an oil change.  A home is the largest purchase anyone will ever make, thus the largest sale anyone will ever encounter.  Isn't your property worthy of an investment?  Done right it will sell faster, at a higher price, and thus pays for itself.  Staging should never be looked at as an expense, always an investment.

Failing to consider a homes architectural feature does not do it any good, and only creates distractions for potential homebuyers. 

This may create a lower bid for a client/homeowner (if a stager uses what they have in inventory vs. what is best to enhance a properties architectural features).  However this is the "Wham Bam" that gives poor light to the Professional Home Staging Industry.  And, ultimately devalues the Service of professional Home Staging.

So, take your time, get it right, and make sure your staging service does the client, the homebuyer, and most importantly the property it's justice.  There should always be some Bling Bling or WOW factor to any staging project.  The proof is in the details.

Joe Kaspari

Essential Home Staging, LLC

www.essentialstaging.com