Staging: Get Your Property Ready For Its Close Up

Although not a new concept, staging homes has come more into focus with the abundance of homes on the market -- especially vacant properties.

Staging a home allows that home to sell for a price that is 10 percent to 20 percent higher than a home that is not staged, according to a 2004 National Association of Realtors survey. 

So, what exactly is staging a home? 

There are three levels of staging:  staging the seller, staging a vacant home and staging with a twist.

Staging with the seller.  This is the staging solution where a professional home stager (the “stager”) will meet with the seller, discuss the options and give a proposal for fees to stage the home.  Staging the home can include de-clutter, organization and staging the home with the seller’s furniture and accessories. Occasionally, with this solution, a stager will supplement the seller’s home with their accessories for an additional fee.  There is a basic and hourly fee depending on how much time and supplementation is required by the stager. 

Staging a vacant home.  This staging solution is a full furniture solution for the vacant home.  According to Showhomes, America’s largest staging company, rooms that are vacant appear smaller to a potential buyer and they often have difficulty envisioning furniture that will fit in a room.  Staged furniture allows the buyer to envision the room but without the clutter, personalization or design mistakes made by a lay person seller.  A staging professional has a special certification and extensive training in how to make a room appeal visually.  Adding the right furniture, number of pieces and splash of color can transform a home.  During the transformation, Carol Ackerman, co-owner of the Pinellas/Pasco County Showhomes  franchise, says there is a “no peek” rule for the seller and real estate professional so there is a dramatic effect when the transformation of the home is complete.  In this solution, all the furniture and accessories belong to the staging company and the seller pays per room to “rent” the furniture and pay for the stager’s professional consultation.

Staging with a twist.  This is the most interesting and most economic solution for the seller that has a vacant home to sell, wants it to look fabulous and feel ‘lived in’.  For this staging solution, there is another party to the transaction – a home manager.  A home manager is someone with impeccable taste, fabulous furniture, an organized lifestyle, perfect credit, lack of criminal background plus the penchant for a spontaneous lifestyle.  A home manager is chosen for a vacant home by the stager from their inventory of home managers that are cleared through their strict, detailed interview process.  Once a home manager is identified for a specific property, they move in, pay rent, take over the utilities and live in the home during the marketing and sale period.  Check out some before and after photos in the gallery.

What are some of the benefits of staging to the seller? 

• Achieve a higher sales price in less time on the market,
• Home feels ‘lived in’ and is maintained instead of sitting vacant,
• Home manager defrays costs for the seller during the marketing period,
• More showings, no showing is ever declined, and
• Potential buyers can envision themselves in the home because of the instant warmth created by a staged room. 

Deidre, who recently sold a home in West Park Village in Westchase, used the staging with a twist solution for her vacant home.  Linda Saavedra, owner of the Showhomes Tampa franchise, assisted with the staging of Deidre's home.

The home was on the market for 7 months before Deidre decided to get it professionally staged. Back on the market, it was under contract in 17 days.  Deidre felt the professional staging “allowed the home to look beautiful while creating an emotional attachment for potential buyers,” she said.

Staging can be the perfect compliment to a top real estate professionals advice during the sale process.

If you are interested in staging a home professionally, contact Linda Saavedra for Tampa-Hillsborough County and Carol Ackerman for Pinellas/Pasco Counties including some of the Keystone Odessa region.