Print
E-Mail
tool name
closeHome stagers set the scene
Some say the demand for their profession has increased because home staging adds value, draws interest to a house up for sale
Roxanne Cooke
In today’s housing market slump, adding value to the price of a home for sale can be a beacon to any homeowner or realtor. That’s where home staging comes in.
Home staging involves either redecorating an occupied house to prepare it for resale or furnishing a vacant home that’s up for sale. The goal, stagers say, is to make the house appear attractive and spacious — a place where potential buyers can imagine living.
“Home staging offers an inviting atmosphere to a buyer,” said Pamela Schuler, a home stager who started her business in Bonney Lake.
Many stagers offer their services to homeowners as well as realtors and builders. A consultation with a stager is often the first step for a homeowner.
The consultation includes a review of the home to find out what items should be removed and how the furniture can be rearranged to create an open, welcoming feel, Schuler said. Anything personal, including children’s toys, family photographs or religious objects, should be removed because it’s distracting to buyers.
“You need to de-clutter,” she said.
Stagers also recommend painting the walls in a neutral color such as an earthy green or taupe, keeping artwork simple and neat, cleaning carpets and fixing anything broken or damaged, including small details that may be scrutinized by buyers.
Some homeowners may opt for a do-it-yourself route to keep costs low, and home stagers like Debbie Nelson of HomeStagingNW offer a package that includes a booklet of personalized suggestions based on the consultation.
Others may prefer having a professional do the work and can hire the stager on an hourly or daily basis to rearrange furniture, redecorate rooms and paint walls, said Nelson, who stages homes in Puyallup, Edgewood, Tacoma, Federal Way, Auburn and Renton.
It can be difficult for homeowners to reorganize their entire home, especially if they’re still living in it during the process of selling, she said. But she emphasizes to her clients that selling a home means thinking differently.
“Any way you live in your house is right,” Nelson said. “But when you want to sell, you have to take a different approach.”
Though it’s not always fun, it’s worth the effort because staging helps to make a home stand out and sell faster for more money, she said.
“That model home will grab your attention before the others,” Nelson said. “This gives them an edge.”
Puyallup-based home stager Sandi Gregory agrees. With so many houses for sale, the staged ones really “pop out” on Web sites and flyers, she said.
And popular home redesign and staging television shows have brought the profession a little more recognition, said Gregory, who started her business, details Redesign and Staging, in 2005.
“(Staging) is just catching on,” she said.
Charles Pappas, a real estate agent in Buckley, said he would recommend staging, but noted that in a distressed market, homeowners often can’t afford to stage their house.
“The better your house looks, the better you have a chance of securing that offer,” Pappas said. “The ones that are staged really do stand out.”
But Sumner real estate agent Julie Nordyke-Moltke has seen home stagers quit the trade because it was no longer economical for them.
“Unfortunately, with the way the economy is, they’ve all gone and gotten jobs,” Nordyke-Moltke said. “None of them are doing it anymore. People aren’t spending that extra money to stage the house like they would’ve before.”
But without a doubt, redecorating a home to help it sell puts homeowners and realtors at a big advantage, she said.
“I’ve done it with and without,” Nordyke-Moltke said. “I truly believe it makes a big difference.”
--------------------------------------------------------------
STAGING TIPS
> Stage the home prior to listing to ensure that it looks its best when potential buyers are visiting.
> Get rid of clutter and personal items, including family photographs, religious items and children’s toys.
> Refinish the walls with a neutral paint color like taupe.
> Refinish the floors and clean the carpets.
> Fix anything that is broken.
> Clean the windows, make sure all light fixtures are working and replace bulbs with the highest wattage allowed to maximize light.
> Arrange furniture and accessorize rooms to downplay negatives and accentuate features.
> Clean up the front yard, making sure all plants are alive and healthy. Remove moss and pressure walk or sweep sidewalks.
Source: Sandi Gregory, owner of details Redesign and Staging in Puyallup