We often get asked questions about how staging works, how much it costs, and how long it takes. We thought we would take a moment to share some of those with you along with their answers. How Much Is This Going to Cost? We always feel bad saying this but we just don't know. Here is why..... First, the cost of staging really has nothing to do with the size of your home. It boils down to what needs to be done specifically. Are you just in need of decluttering, which is free? Or do you need to paint and replace items? Without seeing your home, we really cannot give you an intelligent answer. Frankly, nobody can. What we can tell you is that you control your budget. How much you spend on staging is entirely up to you. We can help you decide how to best allocate those dollars for maximum returns though.
What Exactly is the Process? For your typical homeowner, who is planning on keeping their things in their home and/or living in their home while the house is listed, the process is usually as follows. We first start off with a home evaluation. During this appointment, which usually lasts about an hour, we evaluate the home for opportunities for improvement. We go room to room and look for ways to make the home more appealing to buyers. These suggestions can be anything from decluttering to repurposing rooms to painting and other small repairs. In every case, clients can be assured that the suggestions we make are done so with a lot of respect for the fact that we know sellers do not want to spend a lot of money on a home they are moving out of. All of our suggestions have a return on your investment, period.
Why Should I Hire You? I Have a Friend Who is Pretty Creative. We hear this all the time. Kudos to your friend for being creative and wanting to help you. That is certainly very thoughtful. We have to wonder though how much your friend knows about real estate and what drives the buyers that might be looking at your home. Does he or she understand the importance of photography and how to style rooms so they photograph well? Given that your photos drive your showings this is one of the most important parts of our job. What about the return on your investments? Does your friend understand what upgrades yield the highest ROI? And lastly, can you really afford to trust the marketing of your biggest asset, and likely your largest source of debt, to "a creative friend". Frankly, we wouldn't even let a creative friend cut our hair. Harsh, but true.
If It Is So Helpful, Why Didn't My Agent Suggest Staging? This is definitely a tough one. At this point, unless your agent has been living under a rock, he or she definitely knows that staging helps sell listings. The disconnect comes in when your agent is afraid to hurt your feelings and tell you that you should consider staging. Frankly, everyone should stage, period. An agent who does not mention it is likely not sure how to approach the conversation with confidence and therefore will just never bring it up.
I Know I Cannot Keep My Home Looking Like a Model Home All the Time. Is It Worth It? Nobody expects you to live in a museum, even when you are selling. You can only do what you are able, and willing to do. This is your home and you call the shots. We can make suggestions, help you prioritize them, and then help you implement. At the end of the day you decide what changes you want to make. We can also provide you with solutions for the day of a showing. Perhaps there are tweaks you make just on the days you know buyers will be coming through.
Do You Have Painters, Carpenters, Etc that Can Help Me With Your Suggestions? Absolutely. We have a lot of people we have partnered with over the years that we are happy to put you in touch with. We have relationships with everyone from moving companies to masons to painters, organizers - the list goes on and on. I Want To Do The Work Myself. How Can You Help Me Do That? Our home evaluation is the perfect solution for the DIYer. We meet with you, in your home, look for opportunities for improvement and then send you a report following our meeting. We make ourselves available to you during the implementation process via phone, email, and text as much as you want free of charge.
When Should I Call You? Whenever. We have clients who call with as little as a week or two before they plan on listing. Others call a year in advance to get a head start. It really depends on you and at what pace you want to work making changes in your home.
Do you still have questions? We are happy to chat with you and answer any questions you have about the process. Give us a call or send us an email.