Home Staging - The New Wave in Real Estate

Setting the stage

Home staging is a relatively new concept within the real estate industry. It applies to the general aesthetics of a home or how attractive it looks to a prospective buyer in terms of design, look and feel. Because the average seller may not be too design savvy, you can actually hire a professional to "stage" your home for you. This might seem a bit extravagant but you would be surprise at the end results.

Because home staging implements basic design techniques (or basic cleaning techniques!) such as opening spaces up and de-cluttering, it helps the prospective buyer visualize the house with their items- not your miscellany. Some home stagers go so far as using a feng shui approach in their home staging service. Whether you are into enhancing your house's energy or not, feng shui staging does offer some very helpful and effective techniques such as stimulating the buyer's senses and instilling a feeling of calm upon entering- a definite benefit during a usually stressful process.

The Performance

Now that the proverbial stage is set, I impel you to try some home staging of your own. As long as you can dedicate some time and energy, go on and get your feng shui on! First things first, de-clutter! Start eliminating and think minimalist. Open up all the floor and wall space. Take down the plethora of family pictures and replace them with a single neutral picture such as a landscape image or painting. Remove unnecessary end tables, chairs, and yes, even that 1970's, plush-velvet loveseat from your aunt. The key is to give the room some added space. One realtor gave the following advice, "area rugs also tend to clutter a room, so hide them away in the closet for the time being."

An easy solution to add some pizzazz to an interior room is to throw a fresh coat of paint on the walls. If you are using a different color make sure it's neutral and adds brightness to the room. These improvements are especially important for the first room seen upon entering. Real estate professionals also suggest removing the screens from the windows and washing them thoroughly. Then replace the windows sans screens. This helps brighten up a room without the hindrance of light. If your house is vacant, add staple pieces of furniture in the foyer or living room to help the buyer visualize the space. Add a twist of feng shui with some subtle smells like vanilla or cinnamon and play some soft, background music to enhance the buyer's experience.

Staging Costs

If you decide you would like a professional home stager, staging costs vary depending on the extent of the service. According to some estimates, the cost to have a staging professional simply come to your house and give a consultation ranges from $150 to $200. The cost for them to actually come in and "roll-up their sleeves" is anywhere from $300- $500. If the house if vacant and you require them to supply furniture that can cost around $1000 for a period of 3 months. Now that the stage is set, and the act is together, break a leg!

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