Staging versus Staging:

What's the Difference?I was watching a Realtor on House Hunters show 3 vacant houses to his clients. The second one had furniture in it. Just furniture. No artwork, accessories, plants or flowers, or any of the things that make a home warm and wonderful. The Realtor explained to the clients that the house was "staged". My friends, it wasn't like any staging our team has ever done. But, if that was your first experience of staging, you might be surprised to find out that we do more than just place furniture in a home.Our team's entire concept in staging your client's home, is to have the buyers fall in love with your house and write a contract on it, after they've seen 6 to 8 homes that day. We want buyers to envision themselves living in your listing, imagining what their life can be like if they owned your beautiful home. It takes more than a silk tree in the family room to evoke that response. We have many references to attest to our quality of staging in getting your house sold quickly and for top dollar. For example: Cyndi Early of the Early Group says, "You and your Team did a great job! The home is filled with quaint places to read, study, curl up with a book, entertain, work, work out, enjoy a good meal, and just enjoy the company of family and friends......I am a big believer in staging and I continue to be a big believer in Staging Evergreen and Conifer!"

What's the big deal about family pictures? We've often noticed homes on the market with a ton of family pictures on walls and tables. Since we are in your sellers' homes constantly, we know the resistance you get when you ask them to pack up the pictures. Some people don't see the importance of removing them and don't have the conversation with their sellers in the beginning. Others may not be sure how to broach the subject. After all, little Johnny and Susie are adorable and if their pictures come down, what goes up in it's place? Others may not think that it's the family pictures that are keeping the house from selling. Don't believe everything you think. Getting started in the staging industry, I worked with a Realtor who allowed me to take her buyers out for those first looks at houses. It taught me invaluable lessons regarding the things that are important to buyers. The first thing women and I wanted to do was look at the seller's pictures. We would walk out of the house and forget the floor plan. Obviously, we didn't fall in love with that house.We don't want pictures of the kids on the internet with the property address. It's one thing to know there are children in the house, another to see what they look like. Take their names down, while you are at it. Keep those babies protected!Men don't want to see pictures of someone else's family in the house that they are considering for their family. They see pictures of the adults and wonder if they were in a meeting with them last week. They spend the entire tour of the home trying to place your clients' faces and remember where they met them. Might as well take that house out of consideration.Our team is well versed in what keeps a home from making the A list for buyers and we articulate them so well with your clients that they are glad you sent us to them. Especially when they go to the closing table!

For more information on Staging contact your Evergreen or Conifer Coldwell Banker Realtor.