Everyone is Not a Stager

Often while perusing MLS photos or attending an open house, I encounter a home that at first glance appears staged, but sadly, isn’t. Sometimes the signs are subtle (menus and magnets on the fridge) and sometimes they’re glaringly obvious (a kid's "Power Wheels" truck parked in the living room). But seeing them makes one thing crystal clear . . .

. . . everyone is not a stager.

I know it looks easy on HGTV. Slap on a coat of fresh paint, toss a pillow here and there, set a table, rearrange the furniture, and viola! Let the bidding war begin! But just like good actors or elite athletes make what they do look effortless, people don’t realize how much training, research, and experience are behind the skills professional stagers possess.

I have seen homes that were supposedly staged, but featured taste-specific colors, clashing styles, and over-the-top props; essential staging principles like highlighting focal points, creating furniture layouts that emphasize spaciousness, and thorough de-cluttering were overlooked.

Just because your neighbor visits model homes in her spare time or your sister watches every episode of “Designed to Sell,” or your friend loves shopping for home decor items, doesn’t mean they are qualified to stage your home for sale. We professional stagers eat, sleep, and breathe staging—we’re excited by the creative challenge of making a home look its absolute best, and continually strive to improve our skills by learning more about our craft.

Selling your most valuable asset means there’s an awful lot at stake—give yourself every advantage by having your home staged by a professional.