To stage, or not to stage, that seems to be the question

Thanks Letitia.  Just curious.  Do you stage your homes over in your area of the country?   I'm trying to determine if the horrible foreclosure rate here in Arizona is not effecting the industry, or if it's helping.  In talking with folks, they seem a bit shy about "investing any more money".  Granted, the market is truley a buyer's market right now, making it more important to set yourself away from the packs of distressed homes. 

About 4-5 years ago, I sold to realtors in Manhatten in a different industry, but they almost always felt they had to stage a home.   What's the marketing like in DE, MD, and PA? I would appreciate any input. 

Jon, I have found your comments rather interesting. Thank you for the feedback.  Staging services are to attract more traffic, and buyers.  The goal of staging is to enhance your marketing efforts.  You are right about staging not changing the physical dimensions of a property.... but how many buyers truly have an idea by looking at a picture if that King size bed they own will fit into that Master Bedroom?.   Or will they know how high the ceilings are?

In an empty home that I staged, I purposely selected a canopy bed so that buyers could see how high the ceilings were in the Master.   Prior to that, the room just looked like an empty space. 

About 90% of all potential buyers have no imagination.  Staging just makes the selection process easier for a buyer. You need to consider that when making that decision to stage.  And since there are no real standards of excellence when it comes to staging, it really depends on how talented, and creative the stager is in transforming a property.  A great stager will showcase the features of a house.  It's not just "fluffing pillows".

I know some realtors actually try to do the staging themselves, but many of them do not understand or have training  in the art of balance, flow, furniture arrangement, scale, etc.   It's not just tricky, it's a gamble.  Perhaps our industry needs to really educate realtors about what it is WE do.  Based on your comments, it appears there may be misconceptions about staging.   --- Which is why I asked for feedback.  

Mike..

Home Staging is considered an art.  HGTV has increased the awareness for the industry, but there are numerous DYIers who feel that if they depersonalize, declutter, and paint their house more neutral palettes, that the house will sell.

To be honest there is more to it.  And many busy realtors really don't have the time to devote to staging. That's why I'm wondering how many realtors suggest using a stager, and what the reaction is from clients they make that suggestion to.

This is our business.  It's all we do.  Depending on how much  TLC that might be needed, it can be a very small investment, or larger.   A professional home stager should be able to give you at least 1-2 hours and tell you where they see areas that need the most attention.  

And I heard an interesting comment today about home sellers, and home buyers.  If  home sellers object to the idea of professional staging, they have to realize that today many home buyers are trying to scrape up every last dime they can to move into the house, so chances are  home buyers will not want to be putting in "extra money" to replace anything once they buy it.   This came from a veteran Phoenix home stager that I talked with today, who does about  $300,000 a year in business.