FAQ #1 What is the difference between a Staging Consultation and a Staging Bid/Proposal?
I am frequently asked what the difference is between a Staging Consultation and a Staging Bid/Proposal. They sound like they could be very similar and yet they are very different. This question is usually asked at your first contact with a potential client and it is usually followed with another question: "How much does each one cost?".
Each Home Staging Company is unique and does not always have the same business practices but this is how I answer these questions.
- A Staging Bid/Proposal is where I will come to the home of a potential client who is interested in Staging their home before they put it on the market for sale. I preview the home, make notes and take pictures. A Bid/Proposal walk-through might take up to 30 or 45 minutes to complete. When I finish the walk through I go back to my office and prepare the Bid. Each Bid I prepare has three staging options for the homeowner to choose from. Option #1 ~ Is for 3 Key Rooms in the house. Option #2 ~ Is for half the house to be staged and Option #3 ~ Is for the entire house to be staged plus outside as well. Presenting a client with three options gives a client a chance to choose the option which best accommodates their budget. A Staging Bid/Proposal is complementary.
- A Staging Consultation also known as Detail Evaluation Report is where I walk-through a house and make notes and take pictures. A Staging Consultation walk-through can take up to a few hours to complete depending on the size and square footage of the home. A Staging Consultation is a complete and very detailed room by room list of all the updates, improvements and recommendations that a homeowner would need to successfully prepare their home for sale. It will also include Detailed Staging Instructions after all the updates and recommendations are made. A homeowner can use this list to do all the work themselves, some of the work themselves or hire a professional to do all or some of the work for them. For this service there is a minimal investment... very worth while for the DIY client.
A Home Stager is trained to view your home through the eyes of buyer. The way you live in your home and the way you market and sell your home are two completely different things. You design and live in your home to make you happy and enjoy it, the way you stage and showcase your home for sale is to make as many potential buyers happy and enjoy it. The more they enjoy it the more they will want it for their own home.
Here is an example of a Home Staging Consultation that I did where the Homeowner's followed the list of things to do to prepare their home for sale. They were living in their home and did all the work themselves. Their home had been on the market for 6 months with no offers after completing the detailed list their home sold in 10 days with multiple offers and over asking price!
By simply opening up the space it allowed buyers to see the lovely fireplace and with this furniture placement it allowed the Great Room to look larger.
This large bedroom was used as a combination of things... an exercise room, entertainment room and a playroom for kids.
Changing it back to a bedroom allowed potential buyers to see the purpose of the room and how large it really was.
The Dining Room looked dated with the valance and it kept a lot of the natural light out. There were also several family photos on the walls which was distracting when you walked in.
The Dining Room looks larger and lighter now... more square footage for buyers to envision entertaining with friends and family.
Can potential buyers see themselves living in your home?
You never get a second chance.. to make a Great First Impression!
Linda D. Pufford, ASPM
With Divine Style
Home Staging ~ Interior Redesign ~ Color Consulting
707.217.0817
lpufford@withdivinestyle.com
www.withdivinestyle.com
Serving the Greater San Francisco Bay Area
Comments(7)