Will 2009 be good to Home Stagers?

Sveta, I'm a fan of staging - always have been; however, I'm not a fan of over-staging.
The home still needs to look like people live in it; like it's comfortable and inviting.
What I am against, is staging to a point, where it becomes obvious to the buyer that this home is not lived in and that the 'make up' was added specifically and only to make the home sell, but that it's really covering up something else.   Some homes out there have been so overdone, that buyers are afraid of what may be hiding under all that.  Some stagers don't want to work with the Realtors to stage; they want to sell themselves more than they want to help sell the house ... and this is not acceptable.  In the case where the stager wants to work with me, to help sell the home and do what's right for the client, then I'm 100% for it.

I know it's assumed out there that most Realtors do not want to work with stagers, but that's not the case with me ... as long as we all keep in mind who we are trying to help and who we are working for - and that's the client.    We also have to keep in mind that buyers and sellers are very smart.  Clients KNOW - are well aware - that they are buying THE HOUSE, not the staging, and the more overdone it is, the faker it looks; and that's not good for anyone.  Wrong kind of advertising.

If we all work together in the best interest of the client, I'm sure everyone will benefit.
Good luck with your presentation.

Several of the phone calls/emails I've received this week have the agents finally understanding that it is very important - needed - in the current housing market!

I believe that in today's challenging market with so much inventory out there, that sellers need our services more than ever.  Professional staging will make the home look appealing to the target buyer, and goes far beyond cleaning and de-cluttering.  Many realtors and homeowners in my market are seeing that now, and I'm busier than ever.  I'm hoping for a great year for all of us!

When there is so much inventory to choose from, and fewer buyers who have the ability to get a loan at this time, sellers do need to present their home in the very best way possible. That means properly staging the home.

We are getting really busy in our area, multiple offers and more staging going on, I think we're about over the hump, now for the press to catch up with the reality.