The Difference Between What They Think is Staging and Real, Real Estate Staging

Last week, I provided a staging makeover with a couple who are both realtors in the Eugene area. They listed their home for sale recently and worked very hard at putting away a lot of their furnishings and decor (similar to the recommendations they provide to their sellers). However, when I came to their home, we identified a number of other things that I strongly recommended changing and editing.

Many agents in this area (since Eugene isn't really a mature staging market) still think that Professional Real Estate Staging is pretty much just cleaning up and decorating. Because of this, there is not a tremendous response when I do workshops about staging in the process of marketing myself locally.

It was really a great opportunity to work directly with these folks in re-staging their own home for sale. My hope is that they will now go back to their office and talk with colleagues about the difference between what they have been doing and what I do. They both acknowledged that my recommendations were a lot more detailed and they think the new RMLS photos will showcase their home in a much more compelling manner.

Here is a visual tour with BEFORE and AFTER photos of their home. The best outcome I can see for this is that they get a sale in the next month or so. I've got fingers crossed!

BEFORE - LIVING ROOM - cool decor, but just too much of it, as well as too much furniture:

AFTER - LIVING ROOM: Less furniture, less decor

BEFORE - DINING ROOM: they had dated chairs at their dining room table which had high, solid backs, acting as partial walls and impeding the view into the back yard. There was also a problem with this room not being sure "WHAT IT WAS". Dining room; family room??

AFTER - DINING ROOM: They had some updated dining chairs in the garage with lower backs. We also removed the TV and updated the decor on the wall above the fireplace. Now there is a much clearer view to their large patio and back yard.

BEFORE - MASTER BEDROOM: This was a small room with some taste-specific decor.

AFTER - MASTER BEDROOM: We removed decor as well as the trunk that had been at the foot of the bed. We also got a photo that accented the outdoor greenery.

BEFORE - MASTER BATH: Too much stuff on counters.

AFTER - MASTER BATH: Removed power cord and misc. "stuff" from the window sill as well as changing out the rug on the floor.

BEFORE - KITCHEN: Dated cabinetry, too much stuff!l

AFTER - KITCHEN: They painted their cabinetry, which was a very inexpensive "fix" that updated the look significantly. Most items were removed from window sills. It's amazing how items placed on a window sill stop the eye from seeing beyond, into the back yard.

BEFORE - GUEST BEDROOM:

AFTER - GUEST BEDROOM: Horizontal shot makes the room look WAY bigger

BEFORE - LAUNDRY ROOM: This space was an afterthought in the BEFORE photo:

AFTER - LAUNDRY ROOM: This was really a great space. Lots of cabinets, large room, light and bright with a pleasant view to the back yard.