Home stagers-do you do nurseries?

Cheri: Before I became a stager and Realtor I had an antique shop for 10 years.  We sold many wicker basinetts that people bought to use in their nurseries or used for their doll collections.  I could always find great ones at auctions and I don't think I ever paid more than $15 for one and for that price many had the skirts and blankets that went with them. So I would start with auctions. If that is not an option for you then try the antique shops.  We usually sold them for anywhere from $45 to $75 depending on condition, accessories, etc. Hope this helps.

IKEA (more modern ones), resale/used baby stores, craig's list, goodwill. I would do a google search for resale baby store where parents can take in their old baby stuff to either trade or sell their stuff. You may want to start with that.

Hope this helps,

Cindy 

Hey Cheri! You should absolutely post on craigslist and freecycle that your looking for that. :) You just never know.

Cheri - I would rather stage a third bedroom with a twin then a crib.  It will appeal more to the masses and that is what we want to do.

About a year ago I staged a 6 bedroom house.  I know you all "know" this house.....three bedroom split, with tiny rooms, no overhead light, narrow hallways, all hall bathrooms, and PANELLING.  Knowing the profile of today's buyer, I instantly turned three into "something else".  One became a playroom (the smallest.....used a big rocker, a few large stuffed animals, a colorful rug, small bookshelf and a few books), one an exercise room (floor lamp, treadmill, TV and stand, weight rack, and running shoes), and the third was a "nursery".  I used an existing twin bed, took off the mattress, leaving the box spring on the frame, and draped it with white bedding and very 'young' accessories, including a tiny pink butterfly costume hung on the wall.  I used soft toys on the floor, and bright lamps (no overhead light....ughhh!).  While I called it a "nursery", the idea is that it is the room the baby grows into.  This lets the room relate to the parents of the newborn, and to the little girl, alike. 

Practically speaking, the twin idea works better for staging (IMHO) because there's often a spare twin somewhere in the home, or an inflatable is easy to do.  Carrying around a crib or wicker bassinette is tougher and more time consuming.  I just keep the twin low to the ground to "tell the story".

Cheers, from DC!

   Jaynee

Wow! We just sold ours on Ebay a few months ago!! I wish I'd thought of using it as a staging prop!  Great thought!

 

My husband would think me nuts if I purchased a new one though. I can just hear it "LUUUUUCYYYY you got som splaining to do!!!!" Ricky Ricardo style  <G>  

 

Warm Regards,

 

Lise McCleerey, Keller Williams Realty Bellevue

Office for sure. Doing a nursery appeals to only certain amounts of buyers. Not everyone has kids but most have offices.

Ann and Cheri:  No doubt the home office is the first thing to do with that 3rd or 4th bedroom.  When there's either that awkward space in an open hall, or that 5th or 6th bedroom, or that tiny bedroom that is ridiculous for a normal sized person, I think the nursery story is a good one to tell.

Just my two cents, from DC!

   Jaynee

While I never staged a nursery I think that could be very cute. you will have to consider your target market, for instance if you are staging in a community that attracts older couples 55 and over then obviously not.

A home office of study is what I have always staged in the extra bedroom. I like what Jaynee did and that way it appeals to mroe people. Go with your instincts, trust your ideas and then take lots of pics to show us.

Shop those garage sales and estate sales. Good luck

Phyllis Pafumi