What You Can Do BEFORE Your Staging Consultation.
When you decide to sell your home you’ll want to prepare it for sale. That is to say, you’ll want to do everything in your power and budget to make your home stand out. And you’ll want your buyer to see be able to see the value that you’ve placed on your home.
Staging consultations are one of the best investments a seller can make when they are getting ready to put that For Sale sign out there.
To help you make the most of the 2 or 3 hours you’ll spend with a Home Stager, here are some things you can do and some things you’ll want to avoid.
DO
1.Remove any distractions.
If you have small children around, arrange for a babysitter or play date out so that you can give 100% attention to your stager.
The same is true for pets. I’ve been to consultations where it was so hard to talk over barking dogs.
2.Allow for time.
Most consultations can take from 2 to 3 hours depending upon arrangement you have with the stager. Allow for this. If you are looking at your watch because you have to leave for an appointment, you won’t be able to concentrate.
3.Pick up just enough so we can see what you have.
While we want you to leave what you have so we know what we can work with, having to work around piled up laundry, dirty dishes in the sink, or stacks of newspapers will only take away from your consultation time. Stagers WILL mention these things during the consultation and not assume that you know these need to be removed.
AVOID
1.Packing up everything!
This may sound counterintuitive to what everyone tells you but Stagers can work with what you have and save you from having to invest in renting accessories and furniture.
One of my clients had given everything away but her bedroom furniture. All she had was a card table and 2 folding chairs. She’d been told that her home would sell quickly so why not get rid of things so buyers could see the space.
2.Picking up the paintbrush!
Yes your agents and friends have all told you to paint, and yes, as a home stager, I usually recommend a fresh coat of paint but you’re paying for our consultation! Let us suggest a color.
One of my favorite young couples happened to be one paint can away from painting all of their walls a stark white at the suggestion of their painter. They waited for the consultation and ended up with a perfect soft taupe with white on the trim.
3.Avoid the cable staging shows for now.
We all watch them and they have been instrumental in informing the public about the need to make your house a showplace when selling.
But remember that the REAL show is in your house not on the screen.
4.Ask helpful friends and family members who want to come and watch to stay home.
It’s understandable that you may want some support or that others may be curious but we want your full attention on how you can make your home market ready.
Think of it this way, you are paying your stager for her time and expertise. Everytime that your friend opens their mouth to let us know what HGTV says costs you money!
Don’t let a staging consultation scare you. We’re there not to judge but to help you sell your house.
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