Tag Archives: real estate staging

Staging in 2023

Home Staging,

Like fashion, staging trends come and go. What have I noticed this year? Nothing is predictable, and it’s okay to mix it up (old, new, modern, traditional). Take this staging we did last week.

Because of the busy street out front, I knew I wanted to frame the window in some way, calming down the outside. When staging, we don’t usually put new curtain hardware up, so I had to find a way to do this with our items. I had these lamps in mind, but the rest wasn’t decided until the selection at the rental warehouse. The door to the patio and the office door to the left meant that the seating couldn’t come into the room too much (like a sectional), however, the room was very deep. In the “before”, there was a couch so far away from the fireplace, it felt like a lot of wasted space. In order to feel like the space could be fully utilized, we needed to have the best of both worlds – a deep seating area that didn’t encroach. Enter: the curved couch and glass coffee tables.

I deliberated between this couch and another one for a while. I was concerned it would be too deep, but combining it with the glass coffee tables mitigated that feeling. These tables add to the coziness of the room without adding too much bulk. More curves also mean you can walk around them to the patio, easily.

To me, a living room doesn’t feel finished without two distinct seating items (generally, at least a couch and a chair). This curved chair is near the entry, and because of the curve and the low back, it doesn’t create a wall. I also haven’t used this skinny piece of art in 3 years, but when I saw it, I had to grab it. The black frame works with the tables and some black dining chairs in the adjoining kitchen. https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=592740472833784&set=pcb.592740582833773 – I like how the reddish orange goes with the brick outside. And, the plate on the table has some orange that ties into the art. That creates a visual through-line from the middle of the room to the patio. That was a surprise, too.

Anyway, this house sold in a couple of days. I’d like to say that was a surprise, but since 2005, we’ve seen that staging a home just… what’s that word… oh, yeah – works. That’s why I love it, and always try to make each project better than the last.

Thanks for reading. – Holly

Low Cost Solutions for Selling Your Home

Home Staging,

The days of big staging budgets are over, at least for now.  These days, few people are selling their homes because of dreams of fantastic profits and moving onto greener pastures.  Now, if you are selling, it’s probably because you are relocating, looking to downsize and reduce expenses, a death, a divorce, or other less than cheerful reasons.  If none of these are your reasons, then you may just be thinking you’ll dip your toe in the water to see what happens.  Very few of these scenarios would make you think that staging is a luxury you can afford.  Wrong.

Staging is not a luxury.   Staging an occupied home, when you are selling while you are living in the home, is an absolute necessity.  Plus, many stagers can accomplish a great deal for around $200 or less.  Staging is just as vital, to help your home sell quickly, as a pre-inspection, appraisal, or photos.  All of these services work together to create a well-presented, well-priced home that will draw more buyers to your house, make them stay longer, and help them easily take mental ownership (the first step towards making an offer).

A professional stager is much more than a decorator.  She is not there to “fluff”.  A stager can devise clever and low- or no- cost solutions to common issues that could be problematic to a buyer.  For example, I recently staged a home in Littleton occupied by a single man.  The home was a great family home, but the extra bedrooms were set up as offices or guest rooms.  One room, a lavender room with one wall of Tinkerbell wallpaper, was just used for storage.  The owner was sure that I was going to ask him to paint and remove the wallpaper, which can be a time consuming and potentially expensive project.  Instead, I saw this as an opportunity.   I suggested bringing in a bed (this one happens to be inflatable, on a metal stand – but there are other ways to accomplish this), and accessories that would help the room feel young, yet still sophisticated enough to appeal to an older child, or a couple without children.Bedroom Staging

So, for the cost of some rentals (this plus other items in the home worked out to be about $85 per month), and a little staging time, many problems were solved with one simple, low cost solution.  The feedback has been great, and the little kids love this room.

A few more notes about how staging can help:

 – Staging is tax deductible to the realtor (as a business expense) or to the seller as a selling expense.

– An un-staged home often sits on the market longer, costing you more in mortgage expenses.

– As a realtor, offering staging as part of your service will help you get the listing over a realtor who does not.

– One way to help a seller pay for staging services is to offer to reimburse them for the staging once the home sells.

– The forward momentum started by staging an occupied home will help the seller mentally “detach” from the home, so they remain motivated to sell, and won’t give up too soon.

Staging remains a fairly new concept, especially for those who have not sold a home recently.  Don’t let the novelty of it negate its positive and proven results.  Good photos, a fair price for the neighborhood, good condition, and careful staging still make a big difference.   Don’t leave money on the table.  Give us a call and find out how we can help you make the value of your home “abundantly clear”.

Holly Lange

Abundantly Clear – 303.322.5327