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A Professional Stager Pays Attention to the Details

By
Home Stager with Elite Staging and Redesign, LLC

 A Professional Stager Pays Attention to the Details

 

As a Morris County Professional Home Stager I’ve staged hundreds of homes over the years and learned a few things about preparing homes for MLS photos and showings. Besides bringing my stager’s tool kit, I also bring a cleaning kit complete with an iron, extendable duster, Windex, paper towels, wood stain stick, and stainless steel cleaner.

Make sure your home stands out from the competition! 

Even the cleanest homes need a good polish and vacuuming just before taking the MLS photos so it shines and looks its absolute best.

Iron bedding so it looks crisp and new. The easiest way to do this is right on the bed. It only takes a few minutes and makes a big difference in the overall presentation.

Vacuum rugs just before taking the MLS photos. You’d be surprised how much better a vacuumed rug looks, especially if it’s a high pile that shows footprints.

Windex surfaces so they sparkle. Even if the client has cleaned, during staging you kick up dust and it will show up in the photos.

Unplug or hide chords and wires with tape if possible. You can clone them out later, but it's tricky and you need practice. Try taping chords to the back of furniture so it doesn’t show up in the photo.

Dust all fake plants! The camera can and will ferret out dust, especially on fake greenery. Take a wet paper towel and wipe down the leaves. And, only use quality silk plants – this really doesn’t need an explanation.

Clean and polish stainless steel appliances so they shine and look new on MLS  and in person. Stainless steel is only beautiful if it’s shiny.

Use an extendable duster for those hard to reach places like chandeliers, ceiling fans, lamps, or high ceilings. Also, ask your client to wet mop their hardwoods. This especially makes a difference in the MLS photos.

Before you take any MLS photos scan the entire room for hidden junk. Some people are pressed for time and stash things under beds or couches, ect. The camera will find and polarize them!

Have the homeowner remove all cars from the driveway for outdoor MLS photos as well as indoors. You will always get a better view with no cars in the driveway.

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Elite Staging and Redesign - Kristine Ginsberg - 201 602 2562

 

Home Staging Morris County - Staged to Sell, Designed to Live!

You have 90 seconds to make a great first impression once your home goes on the market. Consult a Morris County professional home stager serving Union, Essex, Sussex Counties for that competitive edge so your home stands out from the competition, selling faster and for top dollar!  

Elite Staging and Redesign offers home staging services to North Jersey homeowners, real estate agents, banks, builders, and investors in preparing homes to stand out in today’s real estate market. For a consultation on vacant staging, lived in homes or interior redesign projects call Elite Staging and Redesign at 201-602-2562.

Morris County Home Staging Website: Elite Staging and Redesign

Morris County Staging: Portfolio

Email: Kris@elitestagingandredesign.com

 

           

Comments (63)

Sharon Parisi
United Real Estate Dallas - Dallas, TX
Dallas Homes

Christine, these are great suggestions! There is nothing worse than seeing a wad of cords in a photo.  I like the idea of taping cords in place.

Oct 12, 2012 01:38 AM
Bob Miller
Keller Williams Cornerstone Realty - Ocala, FL
The Ocala Dream Team
Hi Christine we wish we could find a stager in Ocala, Fl. Know any?
Oct 12, 2012 02:07 AM
Barbara Altieri
Better Homes and Gardens RE Shore and Country Properties - Shelton, CT
REALTOR-Fairfield County CT Homes/Condos For Sale

Kristine -- The GREAT thing about all these tips is that there is hardly any cost but they will bring a big return in getting more buyers in due to the great listing pics AND subsequently a quicker sale.  You know how to do it right!

Oct 12, 2012 02:18 AM
Rob Renk
Center Street Lending - McKinney, TX
AE | Fast Fix/Flip Loans for Residential Investors

Your attention to detail is what makes you the professional you are.  A homeowner just can't see the canvas as well as you can.  Get share.

Oct 12, 2012 03:31 AM
Elisa Uribe Realtor #01427070
Golden Gate Sotheby's International - Berkeley, CA
Opening the Doors to California Homes -East Bay

Common sense but always good to be reminded attention to detail is important. Very professional of you to bring it up to Realtors to keep in mind.

Oct 12, 2012 03:46 AM
Lanise Warrior-Johnson
Real Estate Brokers Services, Inc. - Compton, CA
Real Estate Specialist
Great suggestions!
Oct 12, 2012 04:04 AM
Toni Weidman
Sailwinds Realty - Trinity, FL
20+ Years Selling Homes in New Port Richey, FL

Some people don't listen when we tell them we are coming to take photos. Things can be messy but that's how they live, I guess. I wish it were easier to get that across to them, Kristin.

Oct 12, 2012 04:04 AM
Nan Jester
Exit Real Estate Gallery Jacksonville Beach, FL - Jacksonville Beach, FL
Realtor, Exit Real Estate Gallery

I love reading your blog posts. You have some of the most informative and interest ideas for preparing a home for sale.

Oct 12, 2012 06:05 AM
Ron and Alexandra Seigel
Napa Consultants - Carpinteria, CA
Luxury Real Estate Branding, Marketing & Strategy

Kristine,

This is excellent advice.  I am especially delighted that you added, clear the junk before taking a picture...On a luxury listing $20 million, somehow had a (naked :)mattress leaning on an outside wall...LOL.  A

Oct 12, 2012 07:58 AM
Jon Quist
REALTY EXECUTIVES ARIZONA TERRITORY - Tucson, AZ
Tucson's BUYERS ONLY Realtor since 1996

I have often seen a nice house that would benefit greatly from staging. Of course with our low inventory around here, you'd barely have time to get the house staged!

Oct 12, 2012 01:20 PM
Evelyn Kennedy
Alain Pinel Realtors - Alameda, CA
Alameda, Real Estate, Alameda, CA

Kristine:

I am not sure I would ever suggest to my client that they iron their sheets.  It is a good idea, but would they do it.

Oct 13, 2012 07:08 AM
Anja Kerstens, 669.270.8034
Compass - Morgan Hill, CA
GRI, NHCB, CDPE, CHS. Silicon Valley Homes

Kristine, great suggestions. Your tulips caught my eye but your staging pictures impressed me the most. You are talented. I am not sure if I can say that my windows look cleaner after using Windex.

Thanks for sharing these excellent tips.

Oct 13, 2012 09:44 AM
Joan Cox
House to Home, Inc. - Denver Real Estate - 720-231-6373 - Denver, CO
Denver Real Estate - Selling One Home at a Time

Kristine, you ALWAYS pay attention to details, and the staging photos you provide for us shows every bit of detail you provide in your services.  GREAT JOB!

Oct 14, 2012 12:57 AM
Marte Cliff
Marte Cliff Copywriting - Priest River, ID
Your real estate writer

Amazing what the camera will notice that your eyes didn't. For instance - how many of us actually notice cords? They're just there, part of the background that we're used to seeing.

Oct 14, 2012 04:34 AM
Clint Mckie
Desert Sun Home, commercial Inspections - Carlsbad, NM
Desert Sun Home, Comm. Inspection 1-575-706-5586

Hi Kristine,

As always you provide the best information that is right on point.

Congrats on the number of comments.

BTW Thanks for the Recommendation on Linkedin.

Best, Clint McKie 

Oct 15, 2012 10:56 PM
Brad Baylor
ERA Coup Agency - Milton, PA

Kristine - Thanks for all the tips you provide in your posts.  I've used many of them when advising my sellers.  Keep up the great work!

Oct 16, 2012 01:41 AM
Bob & Leilani Souza
Souza Realty 916.408.5500 - Roseville, CA
Greater Sacramento Area Homes, Land & Investments

Kristine, these are indeed great tips on how to prepare homes for photos! I never would have thought about ironing bedding...unless of course, it was wrinkled. :)

Leilani

Oct 17, 2012 09:54 AM
Roy Kelley
Retired - Gaithersburg, MD

Enjoy the colors of autumn with your camera in hand.

Oct 23, 2012 11:00 PM
Olga Vasquez
Park Regency - Granada Hills, CA
Olgasells

Kristine: Thank you for the tips.

Oct 25, 2012 06:21 PM
Joe Smith
NeNet - Tulsa, OK
Great SEO Services that you can afford!

Kris,

Just thought of you today and thought I would stop by and check out your blog.. Great post.. Hope all is well with you and your family. Have a blessed holiday season!

Dec 13, 2012 12:12 AM