Working with a HOME STAGER - Q & A with Home Stager, Lori Howard of Hope Designs

By the time I was 18, I lived in 6 different homes. My parents continually bought homes that needed to be remodeled, fixed up and then sold. Hence, I am a house junkie, slowly remodeling and refurbishing our 1925 bungalow home in Northern California. I am also the co-founder of Silicon Valley Moms Blog http://www.svmoms.com

By the time I was 18, I lived in 6 different homes. My parents continually... More »

Earlier this week, I met with a friend who just put her home on the market. She shared with me her experience finding a PROFESSIONAL HOME STAGER. What she learned really surprised me: the home staging industry is booming. The Professional Home Stagers she interviewed and eventually hired were ALL extremely busy and tight on inventory.

In this economy?

The Reality: Sellers are having to stage their homes to keep up with the competition, and of course, showcase their home in the best possible light.

With so many homes on the market, home staging is crucial.

... and this is where I went down the path to learn more about Home Staging from an expert and Professional Home Stager, Lori Howard of HOPE DESIGNS. http://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/users/hopedesigns

Join me as we discuss and learn more about the the home staging profession. Lori also gave us tips for staging a home, on our own.

Comments

Owen Weir says:

I would like to know mor about home staging. Can this make my place ready for a faster sale?

3 years ago · Like

bobishi says:

Hey!
I "staged" my own home - cleaned out all the clutter and excess furniture, put pots in the garden (you can take them with you when you move), put beds in all the bedrooms, changed the art from our style to a more neutral style and put fresh flowers everywhere... and my house sold to the first person who walked through it within a week of going on the market for teh asking price! Yay! I would really recommend giving it a shot. After going to an open house yesterday and seeing the home owners underwear on the line and dishes in the sink I now realise how important it was to create a good first impression!

3 years ago · Like

Margaret Everton says:

What an interesting and helpful ideabook. Thanks for your insight.
PS I just moved from Palo Alto. Good friends with the founder of This Week For Dinner, who has been a guest on your site...

3 years ago · Like

sophie777 says:

Just get rid of clutter and make sure everything is in working order. Paint everything so it looks brand-new too.

3 years ago · Like

Chandra says:

Rent an extra storage or pod unit to store the extra "clutter" that you are trying to hide as you begin to stage your own home. While you are at it consider decluttering as you approach the purchase of your new home by asking yourself if you really need that item. Fresh flowers and some sort of homey scent such as cookies, muffins, bread baking in the oven go a long way to a potential buyer as communicating, "this feels like a home I could live in." I remember clearly that my mom and dad purchased a home once and the detirmining factor was cinnamon rolls baking in the oven.

3 years ago · Like

karen74 says:

Great tips, thanks for sharing!

3 years ago · Like

quin99 says:

Great tips....the only one I can add is make sure your pets have been removed from the home and any evidence of them.

3 years ago · Like

Working with a HOME STAGER - Q & A with Home Stager, Lori Howard of Hope Designs

Comments

News From Our Partners