You’re thinking of partnering with a NJ home staging company, but there are so many to choose from where do you start? Below are some guidelines that will help you determine which stager fits your criteria, budget and what you can expect.
Stagers fall into several niches and there's a need for all:
Occupied staging: Working with what the seller already has, often reconfiguring and re-purposing furniture and decluttering. There is no inventory rental.
Vacant staging: They stage properties of all price points usually under a million dollars. They will also do partial stagings or minimal staging.
Luxury vacant home staging: Best for homes over a million dollars in the luxury market. You can (and should) expect higher end furniture, art, rugs and accessories. Because they are more expensive, you should expect that all the main rooms (living, dining, kitchen, family room and master bedroom) look magazine worthy. Keep in mind, like everything else, you get what you pay for.
Determining Quality:
One surefire way to know the quality of work that you can expect is by viewing their portfolio on their website. Keep in mind this is their best work.
Ask the stager if you can visit one of their staged vacant properties. If they say no, it’s a red flag. Good stagers are happy to show you their work.
Ask for references of Realtors and clients they’ve work with. A respectable stager will be happy to supply them.
Initial Contact:
Give them a call and speak to them and then listen to your gut! I can’t stress this enough because your gut is always right. You will know right away if you click with this stager.
Be wary if they won’t give out any information over the phone. An ethical stager will answer your basic questions so they don’t waste your time and theirs. Think of it as you’re both interviewing each other to see if you’d make a good fit.
Whether you're looking for an occupied, vacant or luxury vacant home stager, ask what is their primary niche and area they work in. You want a home stager who knows your buyer pool and the neighborhood demographic inside and out.
Questions to ask about Vacant Staging
Some Stagers may balk at this, but in my opinion a vacant consultation should always be free. Your there to give an estimate so there shouldn't be any charge.
when you receive a proposal make sure it includes taxes, delivery and pick up fees. Our proposals are exact or slightly under which keeps our clients very happy.
Ask who carries the furniture lease and what the terms are: Do the offer month-to-month, a 3 month lease (this is our standard because we stage luxury homes which take longer to sell), and how much will it cost if they want to extend it.
Lastly, I know I'm repeating myself but the most important way to gage the quality of work you can expect is by viewing their portfolio of work including the before-after photos.
I Hope these guidelines help you to find the right stager for your particular needs and budget!
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