Staged Living© - The Stagehand Home Staging and Redesign Services

Refresh, Renew, Redesign

RELAX!

Make 2012 your year of CHANGE

A toast to You for the upcoming New Year - wishing you much happiness, peace and prosperity for 2012!

Happy New Year from our family to yours!

 For the New Year, Sell Your Home Smarter! Call us for a complete Market Preparation Consultation or choose any of our services to help you acheive a successful home sale for 2012!

Recently, I suggested a blog written by fellow RESA member and home stager, Linda Barnett of Home Matters, that outlined why professional stagers will  turn down a staging job because the home is not in market condition appropriate for staging.  In doing so, the stager knows that all the staging in the world cannot overcome a home that will leave buyers on the edge about putting in an offer because of lack of maintenance or necessary repairs.  If you have clients that have very limited budgets, what do you do then?  By offering a verbal or written consult for a minimal fee, a professional home stager will  make recommendations for repairs, maintenance and cosmetic issues that sellers often overlook and list the home as is.   In case you missed that article, here it is again for you to read.

As home stagers and real estate consultants, we have to be flexible enough to offer our clients many levels of services that will suit their needs.  And, the majority of professional stagers who are members of the Real Estate Staging Association (RESA), do just that.  RESA defines the act of staging as a two part definition:  the act of preparing (market preparedness) and the act of showcasing.   In fact, it is part of our RESA Code of Ethics that we inform our clients not only of our staging fees, but any information that will effectuate the sale of the property before showcasing services are to begin. "To fully educate my clients on the process of staging, fees, and all recommendations to properly stage their home or listing prior to any work being started."  The majority of RESA members are fully insured and have gone to great lengths to establish professional guidelines and/or proper business models, otherwise we wouldn’t choose to be a member of RESA.   This is what sets us apart from other staging companies both locally and nationally. 

More recently, I have been approached by potential clients to acquiesce my consult fee and “just provide a quote for staging”, i.e, showcasing.  If I review a property for a quote, from a monetary standpoint, it would make sense to give the consult at the same time.  But, more importantly, from a professional standpoint, it gives me the opportunity to answer my client’s questions and consult with them about their particular situation, their particular budget and review the overall market condition of their property and how that will effectuate a sale. All the staging in the world cannot help a home seller if the property isn’t in marketable condition.  In doing so, I can offer them a service for a minimal investment if their budget is limited and they can’t afford full service staging.   

Just as a doctor will not diagnose you over the phone,  it is extremely  difficult for a professional home stager to assess how much inventory is needed, the style of the inventory that should be used (which all have different price levels) and the overall condition of the property.  Will I need to do a color consult?  Will I need to bring in third party cleaners for the home and the carpet?  Will you need to do major decluttering or use offsite storage?  Does your home need a lot of updating or major repairs?  Are the rooms a little quirky?  What features am I highlighting?   The best I can do is reiterate my reasons and tell them we can work with any budget, and that we offer several levels of service, but the most important thing for me to do, is to view the property first.  In doing so, I can best help you prepare your home to sell and help you choose which options are best for you.  A market preparation consult will give you a complete review of the interior and exterior of your home.  Complete Market Preparation is key when selling your home.  If you are unsure where to begin, contact a professional home stager who will help you determine which items will be helpful in determining not only your buyer demographics but where your money can best be used in preparing your home for sale.  

We Offer: 

Holiday Decorating

Holiday Staging

Interior Redesign

Vacant Home Staging Specialization

Occupied Home Staging

Consultation Only Services

Gift Certificates Available

In her blog post below, fellow RESA member and colleague, Linda Barnett of Home Matters explains why market preparation is key to selling a home and why it matters that homesellers have a professional consultation done to address the condition of their property. 

As a real estate consultant, I am acting in my clients best interest by identifying their specific market needs for their property, as outlined in our contracts, and as mandated by RESA ethics and guidelines for best practice. Staging is not only showcasing, but is the act of preparing a property as well. Market preparation effects the process of showcasing. 

 Via Linda Barnett, Home Matters, Indianapolis, In (Home Matters, Home Staging Indianapolis, Indiana):

Happy Thanksgiving

From Our Home to Yours

That time of year is almost upon us - one only has to look through the stores to see the myriad of Holiday Decorations prominently displayed. If your home is on the market during the Holiday season, how do you, as a home seller, celebrate the seasons while adding elegance, and a little seasonal decor without being overly distracting to buyers?

By using simple displays and natural elements to bring the seasons in, you can effectively add a little bit of wow that can give life to your staged property and highlight your architectural features,  and enhance your home without being overwhelming.  

By keeping it simple to one  or two displays to a room (depending on its size and scale of the furniture), you can add a bit of color and a feeling of warmth that buyers will love;  and you can have that seasonal feel without giving up a Holiday celebration.  These displays are also self contained which helps to control clutter, but still add appropriate decor when your home is on the market during the holidays. 

By keeping them to scale, these can be used on dining room tables, buffets, kitchen tables, mantels, coffee tables, and/or your front outdoor porch area to add personality without giving up style, simplicity or the Holiday season!

Photos courtesy The Stagehand Home Staging and Redesign Services

Photos courtesy bhg.com and myhomeideas.com

 . . .And, there are no trees or lights to take down afterwards!

REALTORS, GIVE YOUR CLIENTS A FREE MARKET PREPARATION CONSULT

PURCHASE A PACKAGE OF  3 MARKET CONSULT GIFT CERTIFICATES FROM US

RECEIVE A $25.00 DISCOUNT OFF OUR REGULAR PRICING -

PRESENT THEM TO YOUR CLIENTS TO CONTACT US FOR A FREE MARKET PREPARATION CONSULT

OUR MARKET CONSULT INCLUDES A 1.5 HOUR MARKET PREPARATION CONSULT FOR THE INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR OF THEIR PROPERTY, CURB APPEAL ASSESSMENT, COLOR RECOMMENDATIONS IF NECESSARY, AND FREE QUOTE FOR OUR STAGING SERVICES

*Great for your out of town clients who receive  a 30 minute phone consultation after we review the property and photos of items that need specific attention