Staging is not Fraud!

I think staging goes a long way and is a picture of how the home could look to the new owners even if the current sellers had things different before the magic came in.

This is an interesting discussion. Not sure I can bring anything to the table here but I have read through all the comments and find Ken's comments so "DUH".. HA ... I feel bad for the agent that wrote this and know she turned off comments because it got too tough. Its true, to be an agent you must have a thick skin. I don't, so that's one reason I no long am an agent. ;-) But Lyn you have every right to your opinon and I do agree with you! Buyers CANNOT see themselves in an empty room nor can they see themselves amid someone else's "life" stuff. Staging is the best way to sell a house. It makes a world of difference or there wouldn't be so many HGTV shows on the subject. Have a super week, Lyn! :)

Tammy... one just "might" feel badly for the agent who "wrote" it... if only she was the one who actually "wrote" it.  But, she didn't.  It appears that she paraphrased/copied/plagiarized it from an article on Trulia written by California broker Tara-Nicholle Nelson.  Please see the link in comment #50.

It is not exactly "word for word"... but it is so close that the intent is obvious.  She took someone else's work, and tried to pass it off as her own.

It is ironic, but I am sure the "point" of her doing that was to impress her readers.   All she ended up doing was to smash her credibility and her ethics.

Just had to come back to that push up bra analogy you gave. You are so right. I had a curb appeal client once tell me I gave his house a boob job, Lyn. Lol!

The post that said staging was fraud, makes me wonder if this agent has had problems with staging in the past. As agents have you ever know of incidents where items were used to cover up damage or draw attention away so that the buyer would not notice the damage? I'm not saying staging is fraud, but I would not be surprised if there are sellers and agents that dishonestly try to cover up damage that would keep the buyer from purchasing. Maybe the writer has had some bad experience with this? I know it wouldn't be wise for an agent to do this, since so much of real estate depends on referrals, but I just have to wonder if there is a reason she wrote the post. .  .

At this point it's a hoist and truss system for the girls and if that's fraud then I'm OK with it. 

Regarding the use of other people's blog content...I saw another post recently here also copied virtually word for word from Tara-Nicholle Nelson who posts on Trulia and Inman, I think. Do people think they won't get caught? Just silly.

Oh, on staging...I think staging is a signal that the seller is serious. Of course a house should be put in it's best light, but without hiding material defects.

I think staging is a really, really good thing. It shows the house off in the best light, and can also contribute visual ideas as to where things go in the house, to get a real perspective as to size, layout, etc.

A lot of buyers like that visual help.

Before commenting, I thought it was important to read the post you referenced ... so I did.  In essence, I do understand the message presented in the other post. However, the tone and choice of words could have been selected more carefully so as not to make home staging look like fraud ... because it certainly isn't!

WOW. I am THRILLED, indeed MESMERIZED that so many REALTORS are defending Staging. (But why couldn't more of you live in my area code??)  Leslie @ 86 , I especially like your view that sellers who stage are serious...I did not read fraud in the words of post, but Trulia post is another story. BUT IMO that still makes first 49 comments a bit of a pile-on, no? 

Not for a MOMENT excusing bad behavior, the snarky attitude, or other head-scratching decisions, but wouldn't at least some of this be part of a conversation any ABR might have with a prosepctive client? Kind of like other posts I've read where seller agents write about what they hear in their open houses, from prosepctive buyers? Agreed, not what you'd  LEAD with, but if you are looking out for your clients best needs....?  (Quick, someone throw me a line, I feel I'm sinking.....)

Thanks all for a REFRESHING discussion!

Hi Lyn. For some homes staging definitely helps.

Lyn,

Staging is a home seller's best friend! Humph!

Lyn - RESA's (Real Estate Staging Association) Realtor of the Year is coming out next month, are you a nominee? If not, I think we need to make you an honorary! :) Seriously, thanks for addressing this on AR. To each, his/her own, but I'm glad you're on our side! 

Staging just lets a home put it's best foot forward.  Clean is number one in that process.

Lyn, there is 'virtual' staging where photos are done that do not depict the house when a buyer actually visits and that can be a real disappointment, but there is no question that a carefully staged home will sell faster and for more money than the same home stripped bare of all furniture and decorator items.

Sharon

Lyn - I don't think that staging is fraud, and at least here in California, sellers have to disclose any known material defects, such as painting over water stains.

I agree with you completely here. People don't give consumers enough credit. Besides, most buyers more than likely see the furniture that has been staged and get some good ideas about what to do with their new homes. That is not a bad thing.