Staging for First Impressions

July 14, 2008  By: Karen Huntoon

Do it Yourself or Hire a Pro?

In today’s Truckee real estate market, sellers and their Realtors are looking for new ways to get homes sold. Staging, or creating vignettes, can be an important and strategic move in facilitating a positive first impression. It can also be fun and creative. You can do it yourself or hire a pro.

DOING IT YOURSELF: In real estate, first impressions matter! We often suggest to sellers that they approach the home they want to sell as though they are the buyer seeing it for the first time. Start at the street. Does your driveway need to be repaired or sealed? How does the yard look? Is it clear of pine needles, debris and are the trees trims trimmed and thinned appropriately? Does the house need staining? Are there any exterior repairs that have been neglected? What about the front entry? Now step inside the house. Does it feel inviting? Be honest about the clutter - do you need to put a few things away? Does your furniture arrangement show off your home’s potential? Does your home need a fresh coat of paint? Are you missing any key pieces of furniture? Does the carpet need to be cleaned? Clean out the refrigerator. Put nice towels in the bathrooms. Get rid of ugly bedspreads. Make sure the windows sparkle. Are your pantries and closets organized? Ask yourself, “Am I impressed”?

HIRING A PROFESSIONAL: Some sellers choose to hire professional Staging Consultants. We see this more frequently in brand new homes or spec homes. The staging consultant will typically come to your property (for a fee) and evaluate your home. The consultant will then come up with a plan that proposes the scope of their project including labor and materials. In new homes, the staging consultant will usually recommend that she stages the front entry (inside and out), kitchen, great room / living room, dining area, master bed & bath and a powder bath. Bonus rooms are often staged as well. The next step, if you choose to hire a staging consultant, is that they will bring in a houseful of furnishings and stage your home. The fee for this usually encompasses a delivery fee and set-up fee (the actual staging). A monthly fee is then assessed that is typically a percentage of the value of the furnishings placed in the home. Most staging consultants have a 3 month minimum for staging. Every Staging Consultant is different and it is very important to work with the one that you feel comfortable with. Keep in mind, staging is not meant to make your house sell for more but rather staging entices and captures the attention of your prospective buyers. You still need to make sure your house is priced strategically for the market you are in. Call us today to review what your home is valued at in this market and we’ll also be happy to provide a list of qualified Staging Consultants for the Truckee real estate market.