The Top 4 Levels of Staging...
Due to the country’s explosion of the staging
concept, most people are aware of the term. What I have found,
however, is that the home seller and many realtors are still confused
with what staging actually entails. And while popular television shows
have boosted the staging value and awareness, oftentimes, they leave the
viewer with a distorted view of how to stage the “average” home.
Many of the shows are staging very high end homes and using furnishings
and accessories that are very expensive. The stagers have access to
unlimited inventory and open ended budgets. While still other programs
are showcasing major remodeling of bathrooms and kitchens while still
coming in under a set budget of only several thousand dollars!
Staging the average home lies well within the middle of these two
described scenarios.
Hopefully the following will bring a more realistic understanding to
what value staging brings to the table. In addition, to help simplify
awareness of the 4 major staging levels available, that fits the average
home, lifestyle and budget.
Level One - Full Staging for the Vacant Home
This would be the vacant home that the seller is willing to fully stage.
In other words, to make the empty home appear as if someone is actually
living there. The effect is comparable to a new home display model.
The stager can either work from their own inventory to furnish the home
or select these items from a furniture rental company. Or it could also
be a combination of using the stager’s inventory and additional rented
pieces from the rental store. Bottom line, the stager will install the
selections which will include delivery and pick/up fees plus a monthly
rental charge for the furnishings and accessories. Fees will vary
according to your stager and geographic area; however, most do charge a
3 month minimum.
Level Two - Full Staging for the Owner Occupied Property
In this case, your stager can help you stage your home using your
existing furnishings and accessories. You pay for the consultation and
the actual staging and then it is up to you to keep it that way!
Your initial consultation will include tips and advice on how to enhance
your property to its fullest potential. They can guide you with
suggestions of what to remove from each room and what can be used to
showcase and give your home that “Wow” factor!
The professional stager will be able to help you choose appropriate
neutral updates or changes you might wish to implement.
A good stager can also assist you in understanding how to create
conversation areas, where to clear up traffic flow issues, where to hang
artwork, how to make the best impact with accessories and where to place
your lighting.
Your stager is usually an invaluable resource for products and services
that you might need to prepare your home for sell. Very much like,
redesigners, stagers offer a friendly, less intimidating, and much more
cost effective service than traditional design consults.
There are many variables with this Level Two option. You can choose to
implement your stager’s ideas or hire them to professionally stage the
entire home or only one room. Oftentimes, the stager will include a
“Courtesy Shopping List”. This could consist of inexpensive purchases
that could give huge enhancing benefits to your home.
Again, you can choose to ignore the list, shop for these items yourself
or hire your stager to make these purchases for you. With so many
variables you will understand why fees vary depending on what you choose
to do yourself or what you choose to hire done.
Level Three - Vignette Staging
This level can be implemented very inexpensively and done in the vacant
home or for the owner occupied home that has an empty room or two.
A properly placed vignette does not need to be elaborate in order to
take the cold edge off of an empty room. A very popular vignette would
consist of a chair, a side table, lighting and rug to set it all on. Add
a plant for life and the right accessory and voila!
Or place an ottoman near the fireplace with a tray holding (empty) wine
bottle and 2 glasses.
A vignette staging is versatile, can be placed in one or many rooms and
is very easy to set up and maintain for you or your stager.
Level Four - Highlight Staging
Recently one of my former students asked me to help her understand how
she could incorporate this staging style as one of her offered services.
Basically, I told her that “highlights” are whatever she could take to
the property in one or two laundry baskets!
Highlighting can be done with the addition of a few books, plants and
accessories placed on any built-ins. Accessorizing spaces such as a
fireplace mantle or built-ins showcases the architectural elements of
the home. Adding bright spots of color with tea towels, decorative
plates on stands, small lamp and plant on counter tops brings the
kitchen to life. Adding decorative soaps, hand towels and fresh, new
shower curtain in bathrooms instantly eliminates that cold, clinical
feel. . Use a tray or basket to hold spa items and place on or near the
Jacuzzi.
Highlighting inventory and ideas are endless and best of all give a huge
impact for very little money or effort
Written by Victoria Palmer is the director of National Redesign
Institute which gives career training in Interior Redesign, Home Staging
and Interior Decorating. She is also the owner of Urbane Interiors
which offers traditional design services in the Kansas City metropolitan
area.
Read another home staging article...
Staging lets home sing for a sale
"It's a nice house with a beautiful fireplace, but it doesn't have the
sparkle," admits her broker, Maura Bang
