Q: Is Vignette Staging Better Than Nothing?

Melissa, we do see sparse staging, and sometimes you wonder why they did just a bit versus the full staging.

Dear Melissa, 

I've been staging homes for 10 years with vignettes.  Most of the homes I stage sell within 10 days and if they don't it's usually because they are over $500,000. If someone calls me and wants to rent furniture, my first question is, "What's really wrong with the house?" Because 9 times out of 10  the seller needs to that money on something besides furniture: appliances, paint, wallpaper removal, new carpet, etc.  The reason a home sells (or doesn't sell) is because of three things: price, condition, and location.  While I'm in the business of making money, I'm not in the business of charging clients for things they don't need.  So unless it's a quirky layout, they just need a few things: vignettes in the rooms that sell houses: fireplace, kitchen, bathrooms. You would be surprised about how just a few little things like that, done well of course, can warm up a home! 

I also work with photographers every day that do digital staging.  So for $40 a room they can drop in digital furniture around the staging I have done in kitchens, bathrooms, and the fireplace. The result is often stunning and more than one would get if they did rent furniture. This has increased my Realtors clicks and showings! 

For full disclosure, you should know that I'm 100% hired by agents.  They pay my fees and I'm busy 24-7.  I walk room by room, write an asessment and then come back to make sure it's done on occupied houses and tweak to perfection on day of photos.  I do not know a single Realtor in my area (and I work for every top agent in Clear Lake) who is willing to spend several hundred dollars a month on furniture rental whether it's one time or monthly.  My top office is Keller Williams Clear Lake on Nasa Rd. 1!  Visit my Facebook page: Botik & Co. and you will see what I'm talking about.  There are 100's of albums on there.  Thanks! 

Larissa W. Botik

Botik & Co. 

Home Staging & Interior Re-Design 

My opinion is that there is not a single solution for every property.  By NO means do I want to imply that it is a "thing" yet, but in the past 1-2 years, I see a certain amount of push-back by buyers against staging.   I am 100% behind decluttering, rearranging, brightening, cleaning.  But I've also had buyers ask "why did they stage?" with an undertone of "are they trying to fool us or distract us?"   I've also had buyers come through on a final walk-through and be rather crest-fallen when it is not as nice as when they saw an elaborately staged version - the last thing that a buyer and buyers' agent wants on the way to closing.  Rearrange, de-clutter, open up furnished homes..  If appropriate and the budget is tight, adding a little propping, for color, scale, and to give a bit of interest to a home is a great idea for an empty home.