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Are You a Stager, a Realtor or Both?

By
Real Estate Agent with Online Real Estate Agent Training

Are You a Stager A Realtor or BothStaging a property is usually a great idea. Staging helps potential buyers "see" the space.  Staging is perfect for condos and single family homes that have small, enormous or awkward spaces.  There are many real estate agents who offer staging as part of their services.  But staging is a skill...and not all real estate agents have that skill.  You have probably seen a few of those properties where the agents didn't have the "staging" gene.

It's A Little Embarrassing

When you walk into a property that hasn't been staged by a professional, it makes you laugh and you also feel a little embarrassed for our profession. Here are just a few staging mishaps that are pretty sad.

  • An outdoor lounge chair with a bedspread thrown over it posing as a "bed"
  • A 6" vase with plastic flowers on the kitchen counter
  • A card table and two folding chairs posing as a dining room set
  • A chair placed in the corner of the living room posing as...I couldn't tell you!
  • A plastic plant in a corner
  • Rearranging furniture and rugs from the 1940's posing as vintage

This Is Not Staging

If any of the above is the best you have to offer, spare us all and don't do anything...why bother?  This is not staging...it just looks ridiculous.  This "staging" is not going to make a buyer make an offer on your listing any faster.  This "staging" doesn't even help a buyer visualize themselves living in the space.  If anything it hurts the property because that's all the buyer remembers.  Here are just a couple of tips I have for Realtors when it comes to staging a property.

What Not to Do

  • If you don't have enough furniture for proper staging, don't try to do it yourself...call a professional.
  • If you don't have the talent for proper staging, don't try to do it yourself...call a professional.
  • If you or your seller don't have the money to pay a professional, leave the house vacant.
  • If you can't stage, make sure the property is clean and freshly painted.

Everyone Is Not A Stager

I'm not a stager.  I don't want to be a stager, so I don't have a garage or storage unit full of miscellaneous furniture and accessories.  It's not what I do. I know lots of real estate agents who do staging and do it quite well...it's just not what I do.  Why? Because I know my limitations and I choose to "stay in my lane"!

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Posted by

Candy Miles-Crocker

Real-Life Real Estate Training

Chris and Dick Dovorany
Homes for Sale in Naples, Bonita Springs and Estero, Florida - Naples, FL
Broker/Associate at Premiere Plus Realty

Great post.  Yesterday someone wrote about keeping staging props for use in listings.  I completely disagree with that theory.  You hit the nail on the head, don't do it yourself hire a professional.  Just moving some non matching furniture into a space does not a beautiful room make.

Jun 04, 2015 11:07 PM
Richie Alan Naggar
people first...then business Ran Right Realty - Riverside, CA
agent & author

I have a half-staged place now. You can say it is half done or half empty

Jun 04, 2015 11:12 PM
Sharon Tara
Sharon Tara Transformations - Portsmouth, NH
Retired New Hampshire Home Stager

So glad I just happened on this post....excellent advice! I've been called by many sellers who were promised "staging" by their agent and got something similar to what you describe instead of the real thing.

I would never suggest pricing or offer to prepare documents for a listing....there are many agents who think they can stage a property for sale who have no clue what they are doing.

Jun 05, 2015 04:37 AM
Sharon Tara
Sharon Tara Transformations - Portsmouth, NH
Retired New Hampshire Home Stager

Thank you for the inspiration....just wrote a post on the subject and included link to this post.

Jun 05, 2015 05:22 AM
Lenn Harley
Lenn Harley, Homefinders.com, MD & VA Homes and Real Estate - Leesburg, VA
Real Estate Broker - Virginia & Maryland

It's so easy to identify a professionally staged property for sale.

It's a lot more than simply rearranging the furniture and adding a plastic flower.

Jun 05, 2015 05:46 AM
Margaret Rome Baltimore 410-530-2400
HomeRome Realty 410-530-2400 - Pikesville, MD
Sell Your Home With Margaret Rome

Thanks to Sharon Tara for pointing me here. Lenn Harley That plastic flower does not cut it!

Jun 05, 2015 06:24 AM
Tammy Lankford,
Lane Realty Eatonton, GA Lake Sinclair, Milledgeville, 706-485-9668 - Eatonton, GA
Broker GA Lake Sinclair/Eatonton/Milledgeville

We had some "free staging" agents in my market for a while.  Didn't work out too well for them or their clients.

Jun 05, 2015 11:39 AM
Joanna Cohlan
Fresh Eyes For Your Home - Chappaqua, NY
Designing, Decorating & Staging Westchester Homes

Hi Candy, you are absolutely right - plastic flowers? Oh no!!! And, I am a firm believer in leaving a house vacant if you don't have the money to stage it - let it be clean and fresh at a minimum!

Jun 07, 2015 01:58 PM
Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
Pasadena And Southern California 818.516.4393

Hi Candy - I too came here today via Sharon Tara -- you offer very wise advice. 

Jun 08, 2015 02:48 AM
Nancy Chenevey
The Chenevey Group - Ann Arbor, MI
"Showing You the Way Home"

Makes me extra appreciative that we have a licensed interior designer on our team!

Jun 08, 2015 11:28 PM
Maureen Bray Portland OR Home Stager ~ Room Solutions Staging
Room Solutions Staging, Portland OR - Portland, OR
"Staging Consultations that Sell Portland Homes"

What a great post, glad I found it via Sharon Tara's post.  You are so right ... most agents are not stagers .... as a matter of fact there is a name for them:

"Stagents"

Jun 09, 2015 01:55 AM
Elaine Manes Gage
Home Staging Online Services - Denver, CO
Staging done ONLINE!

Great post! There's a simple rule--no staging is better than bad staging.

Jun 11, 2015 02:45 AM