In my experience, Staging definitely works!
In general, the homeowners pay for the Staging. They are ones who stand to benefit the most from the results. Statistics show that Staged homes sell faster and for more money than non-staged homes, irregardless of the market.
I do have instances where the agents pay for the Staging however. In some cases, the homeowner will make an agreement with the agent that once the home is sold, the seller will reimburse the agent for the cost. I hate to see this happen, because as we all know, there is no guarantee the home will sell. The seller is not forced to accept an offer, so the agent is not guaranteed a successful close of escrow no matter how hard they work or how much they invest in a transaction.
Staging a vacant home is like moving twice - with the help on an interior decorator. So effective Home Staging is not free. But when a vacant home is professionally Staged, it definitely has a major impact on buyers. The telltale signs of a great Home Staging is when people walk in the door and say "Wow!" - but they don't stop there. They keep on going. Staging is different than Interior Design or Interior Decorating in that the focus is on showcasing the home - not the stuff. The furniture is placed to draw buyers in, to complement a home's best features, to make awkward spaces feel usable. The goal is to sell the home for top dollar quickly.
But when it comes to a Staging Consultation for an occupied property, it is more common for an agent to provide this service to their client as part of their listing package. The Consultation is an affordable and very effective way to help the sellers get their home market ready without putting the agent in the uncomfortable position of talking to their client about packing up, getting rid of or cleaning up their homes. Additionally, Stagers are trained to make the best use of what people already have in their homes and will help them to get their homes show ready, quickly and affordably.
Once you find a Stager that you have success with, you will want to use them on all of your listings. The agents that I work with tell me that they do not consider me as a referral - they consider me an integral part of their marketing plan to get their listings sold. What a compliment!
I hope you can find a Home Stager that will work well for you. If you need any referrals, let me know. I may be able to get you a few names. I recommend that you talk to a few people, find someone you like, visit some of the properties they have Staged, talk to some of their clients, and find out their success rate. Home Staging is increasing in popularity and there are a lot of new Stagers out there, just be sure the one you work with is one who is professional, creative, knowledgable, knows what will get the home sold and is someone you can count on.
And yes, Stagers work with different clients, different real estate agents. There can be several Stagers in your area. Finding one that gets the job done for you is what you are looking for.
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