How home staging is like putting away the holiday decorations...

I actually use this home staging analogy all year long. If I had a penny for everytime I have explained this basic familiar concept I would be a wealthy woman. Since I just put away most of my decorations today, this might be exactly when to remind everyone the importance of staging in a way that most can relate to... Now I will state first off that this really applies to the typical occupied home, not vacant....

Here is exactly how I typicallly present it to my clients.... (I really wish I had thought to take photos of my living room right now!) Feel free to use it as a script....

"Do you or someone you know decorate for Christmas?" (of course everyone at least knows someone who decorates for Christmas - clients nod now)

(Christmas 2009)

"Great! Isn't the home beautiful and magical with the tree all lit up, full of beautiful ornaments? There might be stockings and garland on the mantle. Many people even have kissing balls, snowmen, santas and garland strewn throughout their home. Can you picture it?" (clients nod as they think about it)

"I think most of us would agree that our homes are never more magical and lovely than the holidays... everything feels so warm and inviting." (clients usually smile and nod)

"Now... for a moment, think about the day you pack everything away. The tree has come down, the snowmen, santas, stockings and garland are all put away. Tell me, how does the house feel when it's all gone back into the attic/storage" - insert the most likely place it would go - ? (clients usually look at you waiting for you to fill in the blank)

"The house just feels bigger when it's all put away doesn't it? It's almost like it breathes a sigh of relief" (clients usually smile and nod) "We all agree that the house was beautiful and magical when it was decorated, but now that it is all put away, the house just feels bigger."

"This is what happens when we stage. We'll pack away some of your decorative items and remove pieces of furniture. It's not that they aren't great - or even that they don't make sense while you are living here, but our goal is to make the home look and feel as large and roomy as possible. Removing the (insert furniture piece) is just like putting away the Christmas tree." (clients usually understand exactly the point you are trying to convey now

Helping clients to relate to WHY we make recommendations often gets them on our side - helping us to help them!