Should Properties Look Staged?

I've never seen a home advertised as being staged. I would think it would defeat the purpose of showing the home. I agree that hopefully it would be acknowledged, specially by the seller who can spread the word about the service. Nice post.

I've seen homes with place settings at every spot on the dining room table, complete with napkins, china, wine glasses, etc.  Not how people live around here, but it really looked good.

Well-l-l-l...I don't know if I totally agree.  Yes, people will know by certain settings if a house has been staged, but I do think many buyers enjoy being "entertained" or "wined and dined."  I believe these kind of settings can set off good or homey emotional trigger points.  I also wonder if the message to a buyer would be a positive one, thinking that the seller sees value in putting forth that extra effort. 

Also, I believe by hitting the emotional "homey" trigger points, it may make for more of a lasting impression.

Who knows????? : )

There is a local Realtor who is also a certified stager.  She advertises her listings as stages in both the paper, MLS, and on the yard signs.  I don't know her, so I don't know how that's working for her.  Perhaps I'll give her a call and ask...

NEVER! 

The home should be the star not the stuff. If it looks staged the stuff is showing up too much.

A vacant NEW construction can have more pizzaz... but still the property should always be the star.

Me

Lorriane, I agree with you whole-heartedly! I think there is such thing as TOO STAGED. That's what I call these properties that you are referring to.

In terms of advertising that I have staged it....well...I have to say, I have picked up some clients through this method. That one is a toughy. In fact, a Realtor that I work with states that during an open house, some people who have seen the home prior to viewing it staged, loved it afterwards and wanted my card.

 

Lorraine...I believe that staging should be about presenting a lifestyle.  Our company tailors our staging to the elements of the home, therefore if there is a lovely jetted tub that exudes relaxation and comfort, we will highlight that feature to project the image of the way a buyer could live in the home.  We also advertise our staged homes, because the benefits provided by staging are just as valuable to the purchaser.  They know they are going to see a clean, organized home in move in condition.  I give the listing agent the option of including our signage, and 100% of the time they give a resounding YES!  I may be in the minority with my way of thinking, but if home staging is going to advance to the next level, then the public needs to be aware of the huge benefits it provides to everyone involved in the transaction...even the purchaser.

Absolutely, I agree... But, when you have a client that is paying you $$$ to Stage their home and they want a wine and cheese set-up..... we will do it.  I Stage in an area where wine, cheese, brandy snifters, cigars, and books are a big thing.  It is almost mandatory to have these things out, then during the Open, they become the real thing.  It also depends on where you are. I do not do the signs anymore though... I think the Staging should be discreet in your higher end homes especially... like Craig said " The home should be the Star, not the stuff."

Oh, and I am not an amateur because I use these :)

Well then, call me an amateur!

I stage with fake fruits and place settings, I also stage with fake tree, fake flowers and fake beds. My job title "stager" also implies the state of the home is "staged," i.e. faked. If I were to stage homes realistically, then just let me pile on some clutter here, here, here, here and mmm... more here.

Puh-lease, I don't think we have any position to say someone is an amateur just because they use fake fruits or fake platter on the bed. After all, all it took for me to call myself a stager was a 3-day course. (Or maybe that was only the case for me, and most stagers did go to a staging university) I didn't go to a 4-year university on staging, or have an advanced degree in staging, and I am certainly not in a position to differentiate some as amateur or not just because I use fake fruits or not.

Sometimes putting platters on the bed is a measure of stop kids jumping on beds. I do so when I want to prevent people from jumping on the beds, when I know it's a family oriented area and kids are very tempted to play with the bedspreads, etc. I have had bedspreads & couches came back with muddy foot prints. (BTW, who let their kids do that?!) I also have bedframes came back broken because some parents failed to control their kids during the open house.

Staging with fake fruits or not, it's not going to deflect the buyers feeling it's too staged. OH TRUST ME, BUYERS KNOW IT'S STAGED. They may be first time buyer, they are inexperienced but not stupid. Several of my friends are buying right now, they can differentiate a staged home easily. There is just no way someone lives like that, unless they employ a butler and several maids. It's VERY difficult to live in a staged home. Staging also it not going to take away the sparkle away from the home. In my opinion, it adds fun for the stager and it makes the home more lived in. 

And don't be afraid to put your business cards out there. I got LOTS of calls from those staged homes. Even if they don't call me now, they hold on to my card then they call me, or they give it to their friends. 1/3 of my business comes from that. Also agents who tour homes tour frequently, it's good to let them know that you are working a lot. I advertise my clients' listings with the wording "staged by staged4more" and the photos have my company's watermark on it. It's part of the branding, none of my clients had a problem with it.  

This is a business and our job is about shameless self promotion. Not placing business cards out there is only doing yourself a dis-service. If your client doesn't want you to advertise, all they will do, and they will, is to chuck your materials in a drawer. 

I do apologize if I come across harsh, but I really don't think using fake fruits or food is terrible, let along disqualify me as a professional stager. Moreover, those themed bathroom, spa-like baths that we go ga-ga about here on AR? Yeah, staged too! What a surprise!

They do fake food (fruit, cheese, lobster, you take your pick) at Pottery Barn all the time, in their catalog, did it stop people from buying knowing that the tablescape is staged at their store? N-O! They are still selling like hot cakes. In the meanwhile, I will still be using my fake food, thank you very much. And I am still a professional stager, not an amateur. I have certainly invested way too much in it to be called one.

Cheers,

Cindy 

I use wine, cheese and fruit for my photos. And I must admit that I placed a book on a chaise lounge just the other day. My feeling is anything goes, as long as it is tasteful and fits the style of the house.

By the way the house sold in 3 days for 5k over list so I don't think that 'gimick' offended anyone. 

....wow.........plenty of opinions here.  Well, going back to the first house my hubby and I bought WWAAYY back in 1980, the dining room table was set for 4.... music playing.... all the "tricks of the trade" and we bought it (literally) - hook, line and sinker (is that the saying?)

First of all....  yes....  even when a house is Staged, people know when it's not occupied, so we're not "fooling anyone"  -- I doubt very much that any prospective buyer would feel misled by seeing a tray with a tea set on a chaise lounge with a book beside it. What we need to remember is that most people are unable to "envision" things like that  -- we recently Staged a property that had a room that was added on, and it had rather low ceilings and was fairly small and away from the rest of the house. We placed nice artwork, tree, chaise lounge and a couple of wicker pieces and DID put a tea set and a couple of books and made the room a desireable "retreat" and it looked beautiful, so instead of thinking "wow, these ceilings are low"....people hopefully think   "wow, what a nice place to relax with a bit of privacy away from the main rooms...."    isn't that what Staging is?   putting things in a room that will take the emphasis off of something that might not seem too positive?     also.........we have it in our contract that we can display our name and info at the property, and honestly, we get a fair amount of business from Realtors seeing our work and recommending us to their clients.        AND.....  I don't know about you, but the market is pretty darn slow in Tucson.........and often, clients contact us after their homes have been on the market unsuccessfully for a few months...........the Realtors OFTEN put in the remarks that the house is "Staged" and they feel that this might be what is needed to get Realtors "back into the home" and give it renewed interest. 

.........AND...........we love putting a cutting board in the kitchen with "fun permanent veggies" on it.... or yummy looking cookies, .........many of our clients love it when we do these things....  I guess we are "amateurs"

I agree that buyer's know when the home is staged.  

I stage vacant homes a little different then occupied homes.   I leave business cards next to the Realtors cards in vacant homes but never in occupied homes.  I sometimes set tables in vacants but never in occupied.....etc.  I don't think this topic is as black and white as some stagers see it.   It really depends on the situation in my opinion. 

WOW....lots of lonnng posts here. 

As a designer,I believe the idea is to sell the 'dream'.  We all dream of breakfast in bed, spa-like bathrooms and kitchens well-stocked with 'fresh-looking' fruit.  We are selling a vision of 'what could be' lifestyle....and setting the 'stage' is our job. 

Staging is part of real estate selling and I think more stagers should pay attention to the quality of design work they are putting out there, not the 'artificial living' props.  Regards-Kathleen G

 

 

I guess I'm an amateur...

I use faux vegetables, fruit, cake, wine, cheese (although I think I'm over the cheese thing), when appropriate. I set dining room and/or kitchen tables, when appropriate. I use silk flowers and silk plants all the time. I use what I feel is appropriate to the situation and the target market.

I  believe that we are dealing with a very well educated home buying public, that has access to many, many home shelter magazines, catalogs & TV shows about interior design & home staging. People aspire to live in the homes they see in those magazines, catalogs & TV shows and I feel it is my job to create those environments that appeal to home buyers in that same way. If I have to use fake fruit and vegetable to do it - thats what I do.

I put up a discreet 8 1/2 x 11 sign with my business cards. I get 3-5 calls from every home I stage from people who have picked up my cards. Sometimes it is a Realtor who would like to hire me to stage, and sometimes it is a homeowner that would like to hire me to do the Interior Design on their home. Many Realtors that I work with advertise to other Realtors that their listing was staged because they know they will get a better turn out on Realtor caravans and that other Realtors are more likely to want to show a staged home, than an unstaged home.

If a Realtor wants to advertise their listing to the public as being staged, fine with me. I don't second guess their knowlege in how to best market their listing.

You can add me to your list of amateurs as well...I guess there are a lot of us out there!  Thank goodness, I was hoping I wasn't alone.

I believe in setting the scene with whatever it takes to make the room feel warm and inviting...not over done.  That is why you have to treat each house and even each room like it is its own.  All that extra stuff might work for one house but not in another.

I know that I LOVE going to look at model homes!!!  The majority of them are staged with fake food, fake tvs/dvd players, games set up, toys laid out and tables completely set.  None of those things have ever been a distraction...they just add to my experience of enjoying and falling in love with the house.

I would love to see some pictures of your staged homes as I am curious to see how a home looks without any of those items you have mentioned...maybe I am missing something here?

But in the end, it is all a personal preference.  Each stager in each town and state has their own style and way about them...and if their phone keeps on ringing for work, than they must be doing something right!

Cheers,

Reece

I haven't been putting cards out for open houses but have for the agent tour , however, I am rethinking that position because I think that I am missing out on advertising. 

I have seen ads in the paper "Open house - staged by" in my area, but have seen that staging - Oh, OH. I don't want to be confused with her work or have her take credit for mine.

Staging works. Period.  Passing judgement on how others do it isn't going to bring our profession anything but bad press. 

We ARE Professional HOME STAGERS. That is my title and I use it and wear it well.  I am not ashamed to use it or promote it or put cards in a home that the owner has agreed to say it was "professionally staged".  I get calls from Realtors asking for my services by those cards.  I use what works in a home, if it be fake food at times or a wine bottle and glasses, so be it. 

Should Realtors hide their signs? NO! This is a house for SALE and if it looks great because it was STAGED what is the shame in that?  If we are to move forward in our profession and bring it to the place it needs to be a STANDARD PART OF A RESIDENTIAL REAL ESTATE TRANSACTION - SHOUT IT from the roof tops.  This is a viable profession, a much NEEDED service and we should not have to HIDE anything. I am passionate and adamant about this.

Good job Lorraine hitting a cord with many.  I agree with most of the points on the side of advertising and showing a home is staged.  The point is to evoke a feeling in the buyer as to what they might want.  What they need might be different.  I want a clean office, usually it's full of work, a good thing, but it looking at a home I want to see a "staged" clean office, as I always have the hope and dream that mine will look like that someday.  It evoked emotion and action in some cases as what they see fits their vision.  Advertising, well they do know anyway, buyers are sophisticated and educated, whether you say it out loud they know a staged home when they see it.  It is refreshing for them to see it clean, kept up, and in showcasing condition.  Who wants to buy the dirty, smelly car?  Why are homes any different.  Actually in general they are not. 

As in life, I believe we (all stagers) are unique in our own way.  Our uniqueness is what designates some businesses from others as well as those that are successful and those that fail.

I must say that in all the homes staged, it is always the star and shines very brightly.  Along with Heather, I also display a beautifully framed sign that states "this home professionally and proudly staged by Interior Aura" along with business cards in all vacant and model homes.  I am proud of my work and the services I provide to clients and Realtors.

I prefer to consider both "amateur" and "professional" as unique.

Lisa Sherman ~ Interior Aura

I have mixed feelings about the subject of "too much" staging. When I place a tray with a coffee cup and book on a chair, it's to help the buyer imagine what a wonderful spot this would be to sit quietly and read. Or a bottle of wine and two glasses by an over-sized tub is just to evoke a feeling of romance the buyer COULD experience if they purchase this home. I don't use fake bread or cheese, etc. because I'm not sure what psychological response that is trying to trigger. The same thing with placing articles of clothing in closets. I have to have what I consider a legitimate reason for placing the items, not just because model homes have them!

As far as advertising when a home has been staged, I think it would be beneficial for the Realtor to know it's been staged. That way, they know ahead of time that the home will show well, and they may not have to preview it. As far as the public knowing it has been staged, I'm not sure it's harmful, but I don't think it's necessary.