Staging is great but its not for me!

I am a firm believer in staging homes. There is no question in my mind that the buyer has a difference experience when viewing a staged home verses a vacant or a "lived in" home. Buyers like the ambiance of a model home and staging is as close as a resale home can come to looking like a model.

I like to dabble in decorating as well so took the plunge and became a accredited staging professional,  bought some supplies, and before the market turned south I staged a few of my listed homes with good success. However, along the way I discovered a few surprises.

 Homeowners are attached to their stuff! They like how their homes are decorated, they like the blue carpet and the green walls and they don't like having someone tell them, it doesn't look appealing to the general public. I know it works on HGTV but I find it difficult in the real world. HGTV gives the homeowners a budget and does the labor for free too. This discussion can also become a point of contention between me and my client. The are sometimes reluctant to change things especially if they have always received comments on how nicely the home is decorated. So back to Murrieta and Temecula, and what should an agent do?

For one thing, I will not go it alone again. Next time, when I suggest hiring a stager, it won't be me! I like the idea of someone else taking the heat when they suggest that the homeowner needs to neutralize the walls and clean the carpet. I like the idea of the stager telling the homeowner that Aunt Millie's doilies are not a good idea and that the collection of bottle caps or posters, or even art glass needs to go. I like the idea of commiserating with the seller that the stager made them pack up so many belongings and that it is hard to let go, but after all she knows her stuff and we should listen to what she has to say. No doubt there are agents out there that can wear both hats really well but I don't think I am one of them.  I want to be single minded and focus on taking care of the transaction, finding a buyer, keeping on top of the market and getting to the finish line.

 Yup, as the market comes back and the sales become standard again, I will be enthusiastically recommend staging but I won't be the one doing it.