Frequently Asked Questions

A home staging consultation is the process of viewing a property being listed for sale and making recommendations on any potential price eroding issues, features of the home to highlight and ways to pack away each room if needed so that we create a home that buyers can envision themselves living in. Once the we complete the consultation the sellers will have a complete written guide with notes, checklists, showing guides and vendor recommendations, if needed.

We are so glad you asked! Home Staging is one of the best ways to invest in your home prior to listing it. Statistics show that for every 1% of the list price that is spent on staging of the home, sellers saw a return on average of 7.1%. It will also have a higher impact on your marketing with staged homes presenting better online causing more foot traffic and and higher turnout to open houses.

It is never too late to stage. While we will always recommend that you stage before you list your home for the best impact, staging can always help bring new life to any listing and show each homes best features and perceived value.

We get this question a lot. No, Interior Design and Home Staging are NOT the same. Interior Design is the process of creating a space for the homeowner tailored to their specific tastes, likes, colors, etc. Home Staging is creating a design and home that appeals to a broad audience of home buyers and is typically tailored to the demographics and lifestyles of each neighborhood.

Yes, yes and Yes! Vacant Homes are in more critical need for staging because Vacant Homes show worse than occupied homes. Potential buyers will focus more on the negatives of a vacant home because in an empty room there is nothing else to focus on but the walls, floors, lights and other possible small defects which will allow them to seem bigger than they are. Over 90% of home buyers can not envision what a blank space can be and Staging creates that vision for them.

Staging is typically paid for by the home seller. Some agents may choose to cover the consultation cost for their sellers as part of their listing package. The IRS does consider professional staging costs a marketing expense for the seller. To learn more about whether those options would be covered and how to handle them, you would need to speak with your local Accountant.

We are so glad you asked but no, the cost for staging is invoiced and due at the time of booking to secure your staging day on our calendar.

Because each home is different and there are several factors to consider for each home, we cannot give an exact amount. Some homes may need only the consultation if they are occupied and Vacant homes start at a minimum of $2500.

Staging your home is not a fail proof guarantee. Several other factors can impact the sale of the home, such as ensuring the home is priced well (this is why a good agent is worth their weight in gold! If you don’t have an agent, we would be happy to recommend some great ones.), the current market and location.

No, while we appreciate and understand that you may want to be involved in this process, we are trained in buyer psychology and knowing how to highlight the features of the home through the decor and you have hired us because of our expertise in helping you merchandise your home. We will always do our very best to make each home stand out and show beautifully through photos and showings so that your potential buyers “ooo” and “aaaa” over the home.

We understand that sometimes the homeowner may not like every single piece of furniture or decor that we style the home with. Again, we remind buyers that we are not styling for their personal tastes but to appeal to as many potential buyers as we can and merchandise the home so that we get help it sell quickly and for Top Dollar.

A good home stager is going to want to have your best interest in mind. If you find that who you are working with is not focused on you and your home they are not doing their job. Here’s a few tips on how to know if you have found a good stager.

1. Every home stager designs differently, so don’t assume we are all equal and have the same aesthetic. Have a clear idea of their talent by reviewing their portfolio and style ahead of time.

2. Ask the Home Stager What Kind of “Look” Can You Expect in the Home – A qualified stager should be able to talk you through their ideas, expertise and style planning for the space.

3. Make Sure the Staging Matches the “Luxury Level” of the Home – Every home is unique, so it’s critical to match the furnishings with the level of luxury the buyer demographic expects in the home.

4. You Usually Get What You Pay For in a Vacant Home – Home Stagers have to charge enough to cover the cost of their inventory, so technically you are always getting what you pay for when it comes to the furnishings that go into a space. Unfortunately, many times stagers simply cut out inventory in order to fit your budget…this does not make for a very nicely staged home. Beware of the “lowball stager” who charges less and only puts $500 of inventory in a room vs. the stager who completely stages the space with $2500 worth of inventory…there is a difference.

5. Make Sure the Staging Matches the “Luxury Level” of the Home – Every home is unique, so it’s critical to match the furnishings with the level of luxury the buyer demographic expects in the home.

As you can see, there is a lot that goes into staging and merchandising your home so that buyers see the value of your home and all the great qualities it has. Don’t leave your home to just anyone who “stages” and make sure you ask all these questions to anyone you consider working with.