Charlene Storozuk - Burlington Ontario Home Stager

Unless you've been living under a rock, the latest buzz in the home staging industry is Paperny Film's most recent production, The Stagers. Television viewers are given a sense of what actually goes on in the life of a Home Stager at Dekora, one of Canada's leading staging companies based in Vancouver, British Columbia. The show airs Tuesdays at 10:00 p.m. on HGTV Canada.

I had the pleasure of interviewing Matthew Finlason, star of The Stagers recently. You couldn't ask for a more enjoyable exchange. I'm honoured that Matthew graciously took the time to do this interview during his out-of-country hiatus from filming. I'm looking forward to meeting him the next time he's in Toronto.

Born in Jamaica and raised in Canada, Matthew was brought into the family construction business by his Father at an early age. Alongside his Mother, an Interior Decorator, Matthew was also introduced to the world of design. Is it any wonder that he became the very talented artist that we see today. The proof is in his incredible transformations on the show. While attending University in Toronto, Matthew worked as a landscape designer. At the age of 18, he began spending his summers developing both residential and commercial property with his family in the Caribbean. Most recently, Matthew worked as a Production Designer for the upcoming feature film "Control ALT Delete". He is now located in Vancouver and does work for both Dekora and ArtiZEN Renovations. As well, Matthew still oversees his family's real estate projects in the Caribbean, Toronto and Vancouver.

I asked members from Active Rain, a community network for real estate professionals, to send in their questions about The Stagers for Matthew. Read on to learn more.

Q. Would you have staged any differently if this project wasn't on TV?

A. In each episode there is a real client with a real deadline and a real budget that requires the same love regardless of the cameras. Unlike other shows, we have no idea what will be filmed the next day - it depends entirely on how staging went today to determine what I need and where I will be tomorrow. The cameras literally 'just followed us' at our job. Staging on camera, however, is 8x more stressful simply because a crew of people are in your way stepping on your canvas. It also becomes difficult to gauge space with more bodies in it which can increase the margin for error and cost money (transportation) when something is over or under scale. The real difference in staging on-camera was the 'second-guessing'. Being judged by millions of people and my peers instead of just home-owners was a foreign element! This raised the stakes for me and I would pause before every vase and then remind myself that it is my instinct that is true and has led me thus far.

Q. What is your average fee - i.e. is it calculated as a percentage of the property's asking price or by square footage?

A. Fees are entirely dependent on what the client needs and what they are willing to pay for staging or any other service they wish coordinated. Square footage doesn't play as much a role as how many rooms will be staged and what the rental fee will be for the kinds of furniture they need.

Q. Do you stage for the seller, the agent or the buyer?

A. While juggling everyone's 'needs' I always work to service the 'space' so that it will appeal to a wide majority and a variety of buyers. I get very personal with my stages to determine 'who' the market is so that I can market that lifestyle. My process is very different from other Stagers including fellow Stagers at Dekora.

Q. How many actual man (& woman) hours does it take for the staging jobs shown and are those stager's labour hours included in the show's budget?

A. Stager labour wages as well as ALL other costs are included in the shows budget. We can't always break them down for you without violating sensitive agreements with clients and suppliers. What I can tell you is that every conceivable cost to make a stage happen is included in those numbers that are, as all is said and done, determined by the client and their needs. We service those needs and clearly present what those costs will be to the client.

Q. What kind of shoes do you and your team wear when you are actively staging?

A. Cool and clean shoes for 'Meeting the Client'. Runners in the 'Lock-up'. Comfy slippers during the 'Stage'. Dress shoes for 'Final Walk-through'.

Q. Do you or any of your associates have any real estate background?

A. Living in Vancouver most Stagers tend to be involved in the development of their own real estate properties. I myself design, renovate and stage my properties one to the next. Shop talk is always about real estate markets, clients, buyers and sellers. I haven't met a Stager-Agent yet.

Q. How much of the work is more interior design over staging to sell - i.e. are walls removed, counters replaced etc.?

A. Most of the work is 'Staging to Sell'. If a client requires interior design and the time permits any of us can and will provide those services. I usually will advise a client on what they can do to help update their home if it is not a part of the staging budget: paint, fixtures, tile, hardware, and of course if the time permits minor renovations that can also include drywall, tile, cabinetry. Many staging clients become interior design clients after they see what we can do in 5 days.

Q. Are vendors solicited for "freebies" and marketing plugs to get their products on the show or is all inventory from Dekora alone?

A. No solicitations. No freebies. No marketing plugs. Furniture comes from Dekora's incredibly stocked 'Lock-up'. If a job requires a 'particular stock' or look that isn't present in the Lock-up we rent from the appropriate source which usually isn't determined until the day before, by the Stager. It's tough for production to keep up with what we need and where and many times are racing last minute to get location releases. They hate it when I change my mind last minute but the reality with staging is that at any moment something will appear that can change the entire palette and furniture arrangement thus requiring a different source. It's very tough for production keeping up with staging schedules and its flips and turns.

Q. Did it really take 4 days (8 hours per day) for Bridgett and Maureen to stage the 1,200 sq. ft. bungalow? If so, was there more to it that wasn't shown on T.V.?

A. The timelines are real. Production loved what we (Stagers) could do in so short a time period hurdling obstacle after obstacle, coordinating through clutter, never losing sight of our creativity and sprinting toward open house deadlines. Isn't that what it is to be a Stager? Staging timelines are the true drama for the show. A stage can continue up to 1 hour before open house. I have snuck a few times during open house to swap cushions or lamps. Why do homeowner's decide to stage so late in the game?

Q. Do the home stagers and the staff get paid by the sponsors?

A. We wish! It doesn't work that way. The show was shot from the hip with passion for the craft and truly authentic without agenda.

Q. Do the clients pay for anything or is it free to them since they use their home to do the staging?

A. These are real clients with real budgets and like real staging jobs they pay for the service. Television is better at attracting personality more than it does property.

Q. How do they break down the costs in even percentages - staging, inventory, assistants, delivery, etc.?

A. All costs are included in what is revealed in the show budget. Staging with Dekora, I am not involved in negotiating those costs so I am unable to provide breakdowns or percentages. I know what I cost and I know more often than not I convince a client to spend more on renting a proper sofa.

Q. Were the items sold to the client (art and decor) included in the $40,000 staging fee or was that separate income?

A. The staging fee did not include items sold.

Q. Who has the last say on the job?

A. It should be the Stager who has the last say, as we are the professionals who know how to design to sell. Clients must understand that we are not designing for their taste. Staging is often confused with interior design and hopefully The Stagers will change that. However, the reality is that we are working with people's financial livelihoods and they will always have something to say in the end about this and that. A good Stager can also manage these personalities and PR situations.

Q. Where do you all eat? Do you bring lunch boxes? What is good stager energy food?

A. My name is Espresso!! Wouldn't it be lovely to have time for lunch? With our time constraints and having to source within business hours, energy bars become a staple.

Q. A $900 lamp - is that really necessary?

A. The budget is often determined by the client's needs. I am not afraid to use items that "aren't staging" if it works within my budget and makes the home feel more expensive to achieve a desired price point for the seller - which is the point of staging. If that means using a Naguchi Paper lamp to diffuse the view - the major obstacle to selling the condo in episode 4 - then that's just what I'll do. If the client wants to pay less, there is the Ikea knock-off. Who really wants to stage with IKEA when marketing sophistication? The rental fee of one is similar to the purchase price of the other. When people are buying new homes they are buying up in life. Stagers are not just selling real estate, we are marketing lifestyle. I apply psychology to furniture placement to entice a buyer with a lifestyle that once was beyond their reach. Who is the buyer? How do they aspire to live? These are the questions I ask during my staging process. Often the buyer purchases the home AND the Naguchi lamp or Cow Ottoman.

Q. Does the staging fee quoted include salaries for all designers, assistants, furniture movers etc.? Would the furniture rental component be for one month or more?

A. The staging fee includes every cost. The rental is for one month and if the property is on the market for several months the renewal fee is factored into the total budget.

Q. The Pilot episode - there is some confusion as to what the actual budget was for that project vs. actual staging costs. Some people thought that the overall budget was $6,000 and that Dekora went over budget since the actual staging costs shown were approx. $20,000. Others thought that the $6,000 was what was budgeted for rentals for the living room and bedroom only. How did this work?

A. I believe we were close to budget, however as the project continued along there came to everyone's attention that there were more needs to attend to that weren't obvious at the outset. This included landscaping costs, contracting a glass company to remove a desk that wouldn't leave through a door as well as other necessary steps to ready the home for sale. A budget doesn't go over without approval from the client. The property did take a few months to sell which means that there were renewed monthly rental fees that were added to the total staging cost.

Q. Are there plans to continue the series beyond the 13 episodes already filmed?

A. If everyone loves it or at least watches it there will be more opportunity to define this business craft. Let HGTV know you want more so we can continue to highlight staging in the media. Let them know what you want to see, including what you like and what you didn't. Life is a work in progress and I believe there is more to say on The Stagers.

Q. Will all episodes be filmed in Vancouver or is there a possibility of other cities being approached?

A. I have no idea - only production would know this.

Q. Are 1 hour episodes feasible in the future?

A. I think 1 hour episodes are essential to the telling of what actually happens during a stage. If HGTV knew that viewers wanted more..........

Q. How many hours per day were you filming? How many hours does it take in total to complete one 30 minute show?

A. The show was never made, I believe, for the 30 minutes in mind. The show is pieced together with the most interesting and informative footage collected over many hours that it takes to stage a property. It was never about television schedules. The less days we have to stage, the longer those days tend to be.

Q. Does much of the taping get cut out?

A. How long does it take to stage a home and how long are you sitting watching the show? Do the math. The show is made in the editing room which is why all your comments positive and negative can only help make better future episodes.

I'd like to thank Matthew for taking the time to answer everyone's questions. It was a pleasure getting to know him better and very interesting to learn a little more about The Stagers from a "behind-the-scenes" point of view.

If you haven't watched The Stagers yet on television, you've been missing out. It's time to see what all the hype is about.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Dezigner Digz is a home staging and interior decorating company located in Burlington, Ontario and servicing Ancaster, Hamilton, Aldershot, Burlington, Waterdown, Stoney Creek, Bronte, Oakville, Milton and surrounding areas. The owner, Charlene Storozuk, is a member of the Real Estate Staging Association and is the founder and current President of the Halton & Hamilton-Wentworth Real Estate Staging Association. For more information, visit our website at www.dezignerdigz.com.

[Photo from HGTV's website]

Another great episode of The Stagers last night. The project this time was a 1,600 square foot cluttered, outdated home listed at $1,498,000. Dekora's team had 4 days to get the job done. This was an owner-occupied property that required working with the client's existing furniture and accessories (or so it started out). I was really pumped up to see how the transformation would turn out since some of the more challenging staging jobs involve working with only the owner's furniture and decor items.

I wasn't sure which Stager would be featured in this episode. I was pleasantly surprised to see Matthew Finlason on the screen again. I don't know what order the episodes were filmed in, but Matthew is really coming into his own. The camera loves his frenzied antics. Add to that his sense of humour and design talent and you've got the makings for an entertaining show. The comments that he comes off with definitely put a smile on your face. Whether it's his own material, or it's written for him I don't know, but it just makes you like him all the more.

This episode had an educational side to it as well. It was good to see some selling tips thrown out there. For example, homeowners learned about simple updates to a kitchen such as changing the cupboard door handles. As Matthew pointed out, if a potential buyer walks in and has a sense that the kitchen needs updating, there goes $20,000 off your price. Another great tip that was shared was that if you are selling a 2 bedroom, make sure that both rooms are set up as bedrooms. You're not selling a 1 bedroom + den.

The paint colour throughout this property would not have appealed to a broad range of buyers. Fortunately, the home owner was open to repainting. That in itself, can make a huge difference to a property when you are trying to sell. The resulting neutral colour opened up the space and gave it a clean, fresh look. As with other episodes, the team had their challenges to work through - one of which was that the homeowners were around for some of the staging process asking questions and making suggestions. That can be difficult when you are tight on time and you have to keep stopping to explain the reasons for what you are doing.

Matthew worked his charm and managed to talk the homeowners into removing their furniture so that the team could bring in whatever they wanted from the warehouse. This gave them a blank canvas to work with. That's the best scenario for a stager in order to get that polished, designer look for a property. However, in reality, many homeowners aren't willing to do that. I would have liked to see the team work with what they had. I hope at some point during the season, they will come across such a project - now that's a challenge!

End Results: Listing Price: $1,498,000 / Staging Cost: $5,355. At the time of final production of the episode, this property had not sold. Matthew's comment was "Some take longer to find their buyer - that's just the way it is." Way to go The Stagers! Thanks for keeping it real and not fluffing over the detail that it hasn't sold yet. Let's face it, homes are sitting on the market a little longer now than they were before. Mind you, without staging, they'll just sit that much longer.

Another very enjoyable 30 minutes of T.V.!

Dezigner Digz is a home staging and interior decorating company located in Burlington, Ontario and servicing Ancaster, Hamilton, Burlington, Waterdown, Stoney Creek, Bronte, Oakville, Milton and surrounding areas. The owner, Charlene Storozuk, is a member of the Real Estate Staging Association and is the founder and current President of the Halton & Hamilton-Wentworth Real Estate Staging Association. For more information on us, visit our website at www.dezignerdigz.com

The savvy owner of this home realized the value that home staging can bring to the table when selling a property. That's why he decided to have his property staged prior to listing it.

The result: The property SOLD IN 9 DAYS!!! Fabulous statistics, especially during a slight market downturn.

Home staging shouldn't be considered an added expense. Think of it as an effective marketing tool that can help attract buyers and sell your home faster than a comparable property. In a slower real estate market, it becomes even more important to make your property stand out from the competition.

Want to see the difference home staging can make? See some of the 'before' and 'after' pictures from this project below. (In case you are wondering, you will notice that the 'after' photo of the martini lounge is missing something. A 6 foot, black, granite-top bar was being delivered to sit in front of the barstools. The house sold before it arrived.)

Interested in learning more? Visit our website at www.dezignerdigz.com. While you're there, view our gallery of 'before' and 'after' photos to see more of our work. We look forward to seeing you.

Dezigner Digz is a home staging and interior decorating company located in Burlington, Ontario and servicing Ancaster, Hamilton, Burlington, Waterdown, Stoney Creek, Bronte, Oakville, Milton and surrounding areas. The owner, Charlene Storozuk, is a member of the Real Estate Staging Association and is the founder and current President of the Halton & Hamilton-Wentworth Real Estate Staging Association.

Some of the existing shows on T.V. that portray home staging are more for entertainment value and do not really represent what we, as home stagers actually do.

I've been anxious to see HGTV's new addition to their lineup - The Stagers, especially since it's filmed in Canada. Dekora of Vancouver is the staging company that takes it to the screen. Matthew, principal Stager on this first job was a treasure - very entertaining and most likeable. Tracey, the senior Stager has to reel Matthew in at times, she is the more practical of the two.

Some of the other TV shows about home staging are overdone in how the stagers react and comment to the homeowners about the negatives of their properties. I was really hoping that this wouldn't be the case with The Stagers. Matthew started out by narrating to the television audience that he doesn't want to be rude to the homeowner. I was really glad to hear that. I find that many clients are nervous when you show up at their home. Based on some of these shows, I think they are expecting to hear some of the insults that are thrown about to make for good TV. Matthew was very restrained in his comments to the homeowner which I was really pleased to see.

This show demonstrated some of the blips that can come up along the way on a job which made it much more realistic. The Stagers is not afraid to show those issues - hats off to them! The end result was a beautifully staged home.

Bottom Line: Home listed at $2,188,800. Sold at $2,300,000. Staging Cost: $20,255.00. At the start of the show they announced that there was a $6,000 budget for the job. That may have been just for furniture rentals though, so I'm not sure if they went over budget. However, the end result was a selling price of $100,000 over the asking price. Proof again that staging does in fact work!

Overall, I would say that it was an entertaining show that portrayed quite accurately what actually goes on behind the scenes to stage a property, although somewhat more theatrical which is to be expected. It is TV after all. I'm hoping that as the show evolves, they will break down the staging costs. The other shows do not include labour as one of their expenses.

Will I watch the show again? Yes!

Dezigner Digz is a home staging company located in Burlington, Ontario and servicing Ancaster, Hamilton, Aldershot, Burlington, Waterdown, Stoney Creek, Bronte, Oakville, Milton and surrounding areas. The owner, Charlene Storozuk, is a member of the Real Estate Staging Association and is the founder and current President of the Halton & Hamilton-Wentworth Real Estate Staging Association. For more information, visit our website at www.dezignerdigz.com

Good, I got your attention. If this is not the type of blog you had in mind, sorry to disappoint, but since you are here now anyway, you might as well read on. Who knows, maybe my advice will be of some help to you, and it is free after all.

Some clients have asked me for tips on an easy fix for their bedroom when they are trying to sell their home. They don't want to spend a large sum of money, but want to give the master bedroom an extra bit of life to appeal to potential buyers.

One way to achieve that is through simply changing the bedding and adding a few matching throw cushions. Here is an example of the difference it can make:

For a Do-It-Yourselfer wanting to spruce up their home, this change can be achieved for as little as $200.00. The best part? You get to take it with you when you move to your new home.

Of course if you aren't a shopper, are limited on time or you just aren't sure what would look best in your room, give us a call. We would be happy to take care of your home staging needs for you.

Not the kind of zing you had in mind? Better keep on surfing.

Dezigner Digz is a home staging and interior decorating company located in Burlington, Ontario and servicing Ancaster, Hamilton, Aldershot, Burlington, Waterdown, Stoney Creek, Bronte, Oakville, Milton and surrounding areas. The owner, Charlene Storozuk, is a member of the Real Estate Staging Association and is the founder and current President of the Halton & Hamilton-Wentworth Real Estate Staging Association. For more information on how we can help you, visit our website at www.dezignerdigz.com.

The Aldershot Community Festival will be taking place on Saturday, May 31st from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. at Hidden Valley Park. There will be over 20 crafters and vendors on hand as well as an all day BBQ in support of the United Way. The Field and Stream Rescue Team will be holding their annual rubber duck race. It sounds like a great day is planned for everyone.

If entertainment is what you are looking for, Canadian rock band The Kings will be performing. Remember a few of their hits like Switchin' To Glide and this Beat Goes On? What a blast from the past!

Also performing will be up and coming artist Annie Marleau who will be performing in various venues across Burlington over the summer.

The Aldershot Community Festival sounds like a must-do event. For more information, visit www.aldershotfestival.com

Charlene Storozuk, Dezigner Digz, Proud Aldershot Resident

Dezigner Digz is a home staging and interior decorating company located in Burlington Ontario and servicing Ancaster, Hamilton, Aldershot, Burlington, Waterdown, Stoney Creek, Oakville, Milton and surrounding areas. To learn more about us, visit our website at www.dezignerdigz.com

Dezigner Digz is proud to be an exhibitor at the 21^st Annual Designs For Living Home Show at the Hamilton Convention Centre. The show is running from March 14-16, 2008.

Celebrity presenters include Glen Peloso from the popular television shows Restaurant Makeover and Take This House & Sell It as well as Jane Lockhart, star of Colour Confidential on the W Network.

Bringing the kids with you? No problem. Show organizers have looked after that for you. Take the kids to the KidZone to play while you enjoy the show.

Stop by and visit Dezigner Digz at Booth #338 and enter our draw for a floral arrangement designed by our Lead Design Consultant. There will be another draw for a complimentary staging consultation which is open to real estate agents only (business card required please).

Starting a decor project at home but want a second opinion on colours or fabrics? Bring along your samples. We'll try to answer some of your questions while you are at the show. We look forward to meeting you!

For more information on the show visit www.thehomeshow.ca

Dezigner Digz is a full-service home staging and interior decorating company located in Burlington, Ontario and servicing Ancaster, Hamilton, Aldershot, Burlington, Niagara Region, Bronte, Oakville, Milton and surrounding areas. Lead Design Consultant, Charlene Storozuk, is the founder and current President of the Halton & Hamilton-Wentworth Real Estate Staging Association and was recently awarded Local Chapter President of the Year for North America. To find out more about us and our services visit our website at www.dezignerdigz.com

The next meeting of the Halton & Hamilton-Wentworth RESA local chapter will be held on Wednesday, March 19th at 7:00 p.m. so save the date! This is an opportunity for you to meet and network with fellow stagers in the community.

The topic for this meeting is Prepaid Legal Services and How it Can Benefit the Home Stager. Our guest speakers will be Lyse and Tom McDonough of PrePaid Legal Services. It should be an informative evening. I hope you will be able to attend.

Please R.S.V.P. to me by March 10th. I'm looking forward to seeing all of you!

Charlene Storozuk - President, Halton & Hamilton-Wentworth Real Estate Staging Association

charlene@dezignerdigz.com

Dezigner Digz is proud to announce that Charlene Storozuk, Lead Design Consultant, was recently awarded Local Chapter President of the Year for North America for her work as founder and President of the Halton & Hamilton-Wentworth Real Estate Staging Association. If you have any questions about the local chapter or if you are interested in joining, contact Charlene.

Home staging is a service-oriented business, but it goes way beyond that. There is a mutual bond of trust and respect that must exist.

Comfort Zone

A home stager is being given the trust of a homeowner to enter their home and turn it into a more appealing, sell-able property. It goes beyond just giving them the lock box combination to gain entry. A homeowner must feel comfortable with their choice of stager. After all, a home is the largest investment that most people will ever make. To turn your home over to just anyone for a home staging job can result in disaster.

Sensitivity and Respect

A home stager must be sensitive to the fact that they are dealing with not only bricks and mortar. A home is a great big box of memories (for lack of a better description). Whether those memories be good or bad, a home stager must respect that and act accordingly. People move for various reasons. Sometimes they are moving because of a job transfer, promotion, wedding or to be closer to other relatives. Other moves are not for such happy occasions such as a family death, divorce or an aging parent that can't live alone anymore. These situations require sensitivity and respect.

Trust

A homeowner must also trust their home stager to do what is best to bring out the full potential of their home. Once you are selling your property, you have to let go of your attachment to it. If you don't like the colour your stager selects for your living room, it doesn't matter. You won't be living there anymore. He or she has chosen that colour to appeal to the broadest range of potential buyers. If you don't like the way your furniture has been re-arranged and you find it not functional for your particular lifestyle, try to bear with it - it's temporary. Your furniture was placed in that fashion to give the room flow and to show potential buyers the many options that they will have available to them as to the placement of their furniture.

If you are unsure as to whom to hire, ask your real estate agent if they have a stager that they work with. If not, check with family and friends. They may know someone who has worked with a home stager with successful results. Another option is to go to the Real Estate Staging Association's website and do a search for reputable stagers in your area. Their web address is: www.realestatestagingassociation.com. The Real Estate Staging Association has undertaken a new program called the Staging Excellence Alliance which some stagers now belong to. It is similar to a Better Business Bureau type of program. You can review a home stager's profile and find out a little bit more about how long they have been in business. You can also find out if any complaints have been made against that home stager from past clients.

As you can see, there are many facets to the home stager/homeowner relationship. It goes beyond just painting, re-arranging and de-cluttering. All of these aspects should be considered by both parties in order for it to be a win-win situation for everyone.

Dezigner Digz is a full-service home staging and interior decorating company located in Burlington, Ontario and servicing Ancaster, Hamilton, Aldershot, Burlington, Niagara Region, Bronte, Oakville, Milton and surrounding areas. To find out more about us, go to our website at www.dezignerdigz.com.

In my opinion, you bet it does. People are busier today than ever before. A lot of us lead much busier, fast-paced lives than our parents ever did, and they didn't have all of the gadgets that we have today. You know; the ones that are supposed to make our lives easier. The pace of daily life just seems to keep picking up speed.

The same carries through to the housing market. More and more home buyers just don't have the time for extensive home renovations and decorating. Therefore, a lot of potential buyers out there are looking for properties that are in "move-in" condition. Some are even willing to pay a premium for that luxury.

There will always be the Do It Yourselfers - good for them. However, keep in mind when you are selling your property, that there are a lot of people who can't dedicate the extra time to these projects. The more that you can do to make your property "move-in" ready before listing it, the less a buyer will have to do. Believe me, buyers notice these things.

Take for example wallpaper. It can be a very labour intensive project to remove it. Not to mention that sometimes where there is wallpaper, there is more wallpaper. I remember being in one home that had 3 or 4 layers on the walls - a new home owner's worst nightmare! Are your walls painted in a very bright colour that may not appeal to others? You should consider re-painting with a more neutral palette.

Before you list your property (and that's what it now is, you have to stop thinking of it as your home) do a walk-through and try to see how others will view it. Ask yourself how much work a potential buyer would have to do if they bought your property. If the answer is "a lot", then it's time to take down that wallpaper, paint the walls and fix those other items that you noticed. Don't have the time to do it yourself? Remember, there are lots of buyers out there that won't either. Maybe it's time to call in the professionals.

Dezigner Digz is a full-service home staging and interior decorating company located in Burlington, Ontario and servicing Ancaster, Hamilton, Aldershot, Burlington, Bronte, Oakville, Milton and surrounding areas. The owner and lead Design Consultant, Charlene Storozuk, is a member of the Real Estate Staging Association and currently serves as President of the Halton & Hamilton-Wentworth Real Estate Staging Association.

www.dezignerdigz.com