Home Staging

1. What is Home Staging?
   Home Staging is the art of preparing a Home for Sale. It is a Marketing Tool for a faster sell. Staging focuses on the architecture and draws the attention to the best features of the home to interest a potential buyer. At the same time, Staging avoids any decor that's too distinctive — such as a bright painting or a busily patterned couch — that will pull the prospect's eye away from the home and toward its furnishings.
2. Why Stage?
   • Staged homes look better than competing homes for sale.
   • Staged homes sell faster:
     
     
   • Staged homes sell for more money in most markets:
     
     
     
3. Who Hires a Stager?
   A Seller will benefit financially from the Staging.  Therefore typically a seller will hire the Staging Company.
4. What is the added benefit to a Broker to hire a Stager?
   A Stager is part of the selling team.  She/he is an independent person invested in marketing the home in a visually appealing way.  Sometimes it takes an independent third party to make requests to sellers such as moving the favorite personal items to storage.
5. Does Staging Work?
   Absolutely. While Staging cannot guarantee a sale, statistics prove that a staged home will sell faster and for a higher price than an un-staged home.
6. What are typical Staging costs?
   A seller’s investment in fixing up their home is usually less than their first markdown, which is typically 10%. A seller’s investment can be as little as $300.00 for an Assessment.  Further costs are quoted per job and range depending upon the menu of services that the home needs – de-cluttering, cleaning, window washing, painting, carpet cleaning or removal of carpet, floor refinishing, and Staging.
7. How long does Staging take?
   There are two phases to putting your home on the market.  There is the Prep phase which includes all the cleaning and de-cluttering of the residence.  The actual Staging, which is the arranging of furniture, accessories and art work can take one to four days depending on how large the property is.
8. Do you find that you can usually use what the seller has at hand rather than have them go out and purchase more 'stuff'?
   Usually, a seller needs fresh linens in the Master Bedroom and fresh towels for the bathroom. Other than that, I find they can use most of their things.
9. When choosing what items/props to use in staging, are you mainly interested in attracting a specific type of buyer, or are you more interested in a general sprucing up of the premises?
   Our main focus is sprucing up the premises.  We always use high quality silk flowers, clean linens, and colorful throw pillows and accessories.
10. What are tips for families to keep their homes as presentable as possible during the selling period?
    We recommend baskets for the kitchen, bathroom, Home office and bedroom. For those items which we have to have out on an every day basis — soaps, toothpaste, cooking utensils, clothes, papers, etc. — they can be placed into the baskets at the time of showing and this will tidy up all areas immediately.
11. Are color schemes chosen based on what's 'in' now, or do you go with what's available at the homeowner’s premises?
    The most favorable colors are Linen white, taupe colors and colors compatible with a seller’s décor. Color can be very effective, but the walls and surrounding home have to be squeaky clean.
12. Are there any specific colors or patterns you would never use because of connotations they may denote?
    Patterns and animal prints are generally not good. We also advise sellers to remove all religious items.
13. Do you use fresh flowers for their scent and loveliness? And, if so, what about prospective buyers' allergies? How do you keep them looking fresh?
    We prefer silk plants, unless the seller objects. There are fabulous ones on the market
14. Do you have any suggestions for removing the smell of cigarette smoke from an apartment?
    PureAyre 14oz Spray Bottle - eliminate awful odors like pet urine, cigarette smoke and musty smells from mold and mildew! PureAyre is both strong and safe. Made from food grade safe plant ingredients. Safe enough to spray around food and even directly ON people, pets and the planet!
15. I have heard that bathrooms and kitchens sell apartments. (And here in Manhattan closets are a close third!) And how important are closets?
    Beside the main LR/DR/MBR, Bathrooms and Kitchens are the most important rooms. And I think that closets are a close third. If the closets have not been designed/organized and the sellers won’t redo the closets, you have to at least make sure they are not over stuffed and are neat.