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Staging.....Just do it yourself, Save $$$$$

By Patricia Barta

Home Stager with Staging by Patricia

January 24, 2007 09:01 AM

I cringe every time I hear a Realtor or homeowner say, "Staging?" I don't need staging, I just do it myself. Self proclaimed stagers this is for you!

Staging is NOT about filling a room with stuff or making things pretty!

I actually had a Realtor call me and say I want more stuff for the room. I even had one change my things around!

At one point the agent had placed 2 round stones on either side of a large candle stick which rested on the fireplace mantle and stated, "I am adding a pop of color". Never mind that the focal point of the room looked completely inappropriate.

I do not claim to be a Realtor nor do I play one on TV.

That is a specialized arena that I respect and admire, but please unless you have training and are an Accredited Staging Professional please let us to do our jobs. Stagers are trained professionals we do not just walk in and place "stuff" everywhere. I work very hard and truly love what I do as I am sure all of you do.

I am particular now with my staging jobs. I love working with agents like FRANK LL0SA an agent with FranklyRealty.com. He is a genius at marketing, selling etc but staging....well, um...he leaves a lot to be desired, he is color blind, has no clue on furniture arrangement would scatter crazy colored throw rugs everywhere if he could (ok, slight exaggeration but you get the picture......)

I am now stepping off my soap box in the hopes I have not offended anyone just wanting to get a point across.

This is my first Blog, so be gentle.

Comments? Are you a Realtor that stages your own places?

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Nick M.

Certified Residential Appraiser- West Palm Beach Real Estate - West Palm Beach, FL

Realtor-Appraiser in West Palm-South Florida Real Estate Appraiser

Hello Patricia!! allow me to be the 1st to welcome you to Active Rain! Dont worry, I'll leave it to your stagers, I can barely get me socks to match and my wife still picks out my clothes.. (i'm kidding, i kid you, i kid).. anywho.. looking forward to many posts about staging and all it entails. Loved the comment, but I may change it a little.. "I do not claim to be a tall dude, nor do I play one on TV!" - haha.. just having fun. see you around!

Jan 24, 2007 09:23 AM

Marci Toliver

438-4642 - Mauldin, SC

Anderson SC, Spartanburg,Greenville SC, Home Staging

Patricia, welcome to AR and this is a great post! Im a stager and would love to be one on TV, that would approach a homeowner with professionalism and tact. (what we see currently on tv from stagers, doesn't show that we do have professionalism and tact!

Jan 24, 2007 09:43 AM

FRANK LL0SA Esq.- Northern Virginia Broker .:. FranklyRealty.com

Northern Virginia Homes - FRANKLY REAL ESTATE Inc - Arlington, VA

Hey Patricia,

Your biggest fan here.

Just like we make fun of For sale By owners that think they can do it better, Realtors somehow think that a trip to Target and $200 can do the trick. I think you saw my attempt at staging. You know, those plastic wine glasses on a random table.

Oh, that staging you did for me in Alexandria, I showed it the other day. The buyer couldn't stop raving about the bathroom. I haven't told you this yet. She wanted it all. Even the plastic flowers. We got a contract, but it isn't ratified yet.

Thanks

Frank Borges LL0SA- Virginia Broker/ Owner FranklyRealty.com

Blog.FranklyRealty.com Featured in BusinessWeek, CNBC, WSJ etc.

Jan 25, 2007 01:39 AM

Tina Parker

Justin Havre Real Estate Team - Calgary, AB

REALTOR, Associate Broker

Welcome Patricia. This is my pet peeve as well. I like the comparison of Realtors attitudes toward FSBOs; I'll bring this point up the next time I hear about Realtors "staging" their listings.

Jan 25, 2007 10:28 AM

Sheron Cardin

California Moods Inc - Selma, CA

ARTIST - A Home Stager/Sellers Best Friend!

Welcome as well Patricia. I look forward to getting to know you. We have a lot of fun dancing in the rain helping each other and fine tuning techniques and developing ideas that everyone can benefit from.

Stage it forward!

Jan 25, 2007 03:01 PM

Cindy Nicholson

Nicholson and Company - Castle Rock, CO

Cindy Nicholson

I am new to AR also. I do stage myself, but am not against a professional. So when I need one I will use them, but so far, I have nothing but good comments with my staging. When they say oh you used a stager, it's great! I take that as a compliment.

Jan 27, 2007 05:41 AM

Marilynn Currie

Staging for Top Dollar Stager 9 - Abbotsford, BC

Hello from B.C.

Was at an open house today. Realtor said it had been spruced up. was very clean but every surface was cluttered with family photos and walls crowded with limited edition prints. You could not see the space for the stuff. It was very clean and smelled clean!! I knew I could not get anywhere with the Realtor so complimented him on the cleanliness, left my card and went out the door.

What could you have done?

Marilynn Currie CSP abbotsford/chilliwack b.c.

Jan 27, 2007 04:53 PM

Patricia Barta

Staging by Patricia - Great Falls, VA

Staging by Patricia, N. Virginia

Hi Marilynn.

Hmmm that is a tough one. In my humble opinion if this is a particular listing you want to stage. Don't give up that easy! Get the realtors name and e-mail or call him/her.

Don't take for granted that he/she knows what staging is! Link him to your site and tell him/her you where at the open house and noticed..... ALWAYS start on a positive note (wow! I was so impressed at how squeaky clean the property was! Blah, blah, blah) At that point you can go into if you are interested (opening the door for him/her) I had some pointers that may help you on making the property even more sellable!

Hey, it is worth a try! NEVER, NEVER give up!

Jan 28, 2007 09:57 AM

Marilynn Currie

Staging for Top Dollar Stager 9 - Abbotsford, BC

Hello Patricia,

Thanks for the encouraging words. What would you do with a $900, 000 house that has a prayer room. No one can enter the room without removing their shoes and wearing a head shawl. I suggested (very carefully) tht perhaps we could move the prayer room into a large armoire for the duration of the sale period. But of course they would not consider it . This was 5 months ago and it still has not sold. The house is also very pink pale pink walls, carpet and draperies and kitchen cabinetry very 80's overblown decor. I gave them an extensive consultation and paint estimates etc but they have done nothing in this last 5 months it is still on the market with no takers. Finishes etc are very high end.

Any suggestions as I am considering revisiting the Realtor and the family to encourage them to do the staging I recommended.

Cheers from Marilynn CSP Abbotsford/Chilliwack B.C.

Jan 30, 2007 04:06 PM

Patricia Barta

Staging by Patricia - Great Falls, VA

Staging by Patricia, N. Virginia

Dear Marilynn,

After reading your response I had to stop and reflect. I too had a house to stage that had a HUGE shrine in the kitchen (the size of a small refrigerator) with rice on one side and incense burning on the other. They also had religious pictures and statues everywhere.

Bottom line while I struggled to be polite and dance around the issue I vowed to NEVER do a home like this. They did not want me to paint the family room fireplace (which was BRIGHT RED!!!) everything else in the room was stark white and dancing religious items scattered about. I am truly respectful of religions coming from a Greek and Spanish background and parents who raised me with religion; but as we both know the way you live and they way you sell your house are two VERY diffrent things (to quote Barb Schwartz). I tried to explain that to them but, they did not budge so I had to make a judgement call. I could not take money from them AND place my name on this work (that would have been half done) so I simply told them I respected their home and their choices but I could not stage the home properly and feel ethical about it.

I guess sometime it is ok to walk away......hey I should BLOG about that! What do you think?

Jan 31, 2007 02:47 AM