Home Stagers

What does a home stager do?

Home staging companies employ a variety of different techniques to present the home in the best light possible. The first step will likely be to make sure the home is impeccably clean, including the exterior of the house. Next the home stager will work on removing the personal touches that are unique to the current owners. Paint colors might go from dramatic reds and purples to neutral tones like beige and taupe, in order to appeal to the masses. The home will likely be cleared of family photos, risqué artwork, collections and knickknacks, so potential buyers will be able to better envision their own life in the house. In some cases furniture will be swapped out, and you might not even recognize your own house. Some home stagers tackle most of these tasks themselves, while others work with subcontractors and other professionals to get the job done. Here are some related professionals and vendors to complement the work of home stagers: Interior Designers & Decorators, Photographers, Real Estate Agents.

What should I consider before hiring a home staging company?

The process of staging a home can be difficult for some homeowners, especially when being asked to change things you’ve poured your heart and soul into over the years; but try not to take anything personally, as the stager only has your best interest in mind and no intention of insulting your personal taste. Before you contact a professional home staging company, make sure to consider a few things: Are you willing to change your home and take the advice of this professional to help sell your house? Do you think your house would greatly benefit from the help of a stager? How long are you comfortable having your home on the market? A staged home is likely to sell faster and, on occasion, at a higher asking price than a non-staged home. While there is no guarantee this will always be the case, it’s often true and can make the entire selling and moving process a lot less stressful in the long run. If you are selling through a real estate agent, it’s a good idea to get their opinion on whether staging your home would be beneficial to your specific situation.

Questions to ask potential home stagers:

• May I see your portfolio?
  
• What type of training and experience do you have in home staging?
  
• Are you insured?
  
• What is your average ratio of listed to sold properties?
  
• Do you offer any sort of guarantee on the sale of the property?
  

Find a certified home stager on Houzz. Narrow your search in the Professionals section of the website to home stagers. You can also look through photos by style to find a room you like, then contact the professional who staged it.