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Tips for the Smart Seller- Let's Think About the Professional Home Stager

By
Real Estate Agent with Prudential Lifestyle Realty

Working With a Professional Home Stager

Home staging in the real world is different from what you see on television. Professional home stagers are trained to apply interior design principles to real estate marketing to create a desirable product. Staging makes your house more competitive, increases profit potential and costs less than an average price reduction.

 Home staging in the real world is different from what you see on television. Let's look at the basics. 


What is staging?  Home staging is the application of interior design principles to real estate marketing. Staging transforms your house from a personal space to a product that appeals to any buyer. 

Why should you work with a professional home stager? Staging protects equity. When done properly before the house goes on the market, staging allows you to set a higher initial listing price and increases profit potential. Staging has a forty year history of producing favorable results in all market conditions.

What does a stager do?
A stager evaluates the appearance of your house and suggests ways to create spaces that look simple, open and inviting. The goal is to focus attention on the house, not your belongings. Staging an occupied house involves editing the contents by packing and storing things you don't need right away.  Then the stager re-arranges the remaining furniture and accessories to create a dynamic impression. This step is crucial! 

How does a stager work? The first step is a staging consultation. You can implement the recommendations yourself, or hire the stager to help you. Even if you do the implementation, it's smart selling to have the stager return to add the finishing touches. Some stagers have furniture and accessories to rent, if needed. If you're reluctant to call a stager because of those you've seen on television, don't worry. A professional stager is an ally and a resource, not a critic of your decorating. Your stager will work with you and suggest the most cost-effective ways to make your house look its best and, most importantly, stand out from the competition.

What does staging cost? Stagers charge an hourly rate, and a two hour consultation usually costs around $150. They emphasize no-cost and low cost ideas with big impact, but when more is needed, stagers will guide you to the most cost-effective solutions. Compare staging costs with the increased profit potential from a higher initial listing price. Weigh the cost of staging against the money you could lose from a price reduction. Staging is a wise investment.

Smart Selling Tip:
Home staging in the real world is different from what you see on television.Professional home stagers are trained to apply interior design principles to real estate marketing to create a desirable product. Staging makes your house more competitive, increases profit potential and costs less than an average price reduction.

©2009 Sandy LeRoy and Mary Stephens