So Many Home Stagers; So Many Questions

Something most Home Owners and Realtors may not be aware of, is that currently there is not an independent or national oversight organization such as NAR for Realtors, that certifies or licenses Home Stagers, and no government oversight or licensing in most areas. There ARE member based organizations which enforce a strict Code of Ethics for its members and communities such as the Real Estate Staging Association. That being said, here are few questions that will help you to choose the RIGHT Home Stager for you.

1. Find a Stager with the most experience in actually Staging homes: There are many training, “certifying” and “accrediting” companies which, within just a few days, or a couple weeks, can turn anyone who takes their course into a “certified” or “accredited” home stager. Since there is not currently any government oversight, ANYONE can “become a stager” almost overnight. Don’t hire “just any” home stager; Experience and professionalism trumps “certification”.

2. Does the Stager have a printed portfolio or website with before and after photography? If they don’t have a current staging portfolio, they may have never done a staging job, or very few.

3. If they have a website, you need to get past the first page.
In other words; make sure that their portfolio contains photos that are of their own work. The first page may be filled with amazing photos of excellent Interior Design or architecture, so you need to ensure that you "get past" the first page and go to either the Portfolio or Gallery page to ensure that what is being presented is not stock photography purchased over the Internet, supplied by the “certifying” training course or “shared” before and after photos in a centralized web-site. Does their website have current information on recently staged properties or successes in today’s market and economy?

With so many people entering the Home Staging Industry, it's important to be educated about who you entrust your most valuable asset. For more tips and questions to ask your Home Stager; click here.

Sellers: Be Wary of the "HGTV Effect"

Let me start by saying I love HGTV for the very fact alone that it has helped educate the public masses about the power of preparing and presenting a home when it’s on the market sale; otherwise known as Home Staging. (My disclaimer)
However, a word to Seller’s to be wary of getting caught up in what has lovingly been dubbed “The HGTV Effect“. similar to the “CSI Effect” of Judicial Juries believing that DNA samples can be resolved and fingerprints matched within a few minutes. The HGTV Effect is the misconception that an entire house can be upgraded, Staged and transformed for $2,000. While these shows do an excellent job of showing what can be done, it also does not show what has not been OR what goes into GETTING all these things done.

Case in point: One show might show three rooms that have been transformed and at the end of the show a breakdown might be presented as something like, “Paint was $295.00, Flooring was $630.00 while lighting was $75.00 and draperies and new bedding were only $45.00….” You get the point. What is NOT shown in these totals are the cost of moving trucks, equipment and tool rentals, carpentry fees, and labor. Think about how much TIME is spent shopping and researching all those “great finds” as well as the labor to design, paint, install, cut, haul, etc… This doesn’t even touch other needs that Stagers in the REAL WORLD must cover such as insurance requirements, additional labor, movers, gas, etc…. Now, I’m not saying that a home can’t be Staged for $2,000. What I am saying is; be realistic and educated about what Professional Home Staging really entails. If $2,000+ still is not within your budget, many Home Stagers may even offer options for smaller budgets or Consultations for the Do-It-Yourself Home Owner.

It is also the misconception that ALL of this work can be completed in a 30 minute time-frame. OK, not 30 minutes, but you get the point. Upgrades and repairs will take up to several weeks to complete depending on the amount needed for your home to compete for top-dollar in your market. Also consider your timeline: some Home Staging Company’s will complete installations within just one day, other’s might take 2-3 depending on the amount of work and the square footage to be Staged. Some Companies might require a 1-2 week period to schedule an installation, while others might be able to fit you in “this week.”
Research and interview several Home Staging Companies that service your area and as always take into consideration that you may very well “get what you pay for”. You might even consider reading this post to know what to look for when hiring a Professional Home Stager. However, once your homework is done, be confident in knowing that you’ve made the right decision about the Home Staging Company you have selected and the exceptional outcome it will produce.

Start the Process of Packing Sooner than Later « Platinum Home Staging's Blog

Start the Process of Packing Sooner than Later « Platinum Home Staging's Blog

There is a psychology behind selling your home, especially if you have been there for a long period of time. Suddenly you begin to realize that you can’t keep 50 boxes of files in the spare bedroom, that your prescription and vitamin collection probably shouldn’t be aired out like dirty laundry for all to see, or that you don’t realize that your home smells of wet dog. As a Seller you become “used to” these things because your eye sees it everyday; it almost becomes a comfort. Something that, as a Seller one needs to realize is, that you are going to need to go through this process sooner or later. (Click on the link for more)

Home Staging and the Generic Can of Beer « Platinum Home Staging's Blog

Marketing companies spend MILLIONS of dollars every year to convince you that their beer is the best beer. They spend MILLIONS of dollars, man hours and time on product development and placement. What colors will be most impactful and memorable to their target consumer and buyer. But we’re not talking about $2.00 bottles and cans of beer.
Home Staging and the Generic Can of Beer « Platinum Home Staging's Blog

Is Home Staging Worth It?

Real Estate Blog - Remember This House?

Real Estate Blog - Remember This House? Yep, this was the house that had us Singing the Blues in December 2009. Yep - It's SOLD! This home is already in escrow! Under contract in just 9 short days! Congratulations to Kelly Pesis of White House Properties and the KOR Group Development Co. for pricing it right and recognizing the power of Professional Home Staging!

Platinum Home Staging's Blog

This project located in Agoura, CA started out quite some time ago. You see, Platinum Home Staging, Inc. has known and worked with this Client before: we STAGED his house for sale alomst 18 months ago. He was inspired what what we had done and when his new residence was ready, he called our Professionals in to transform his house into a HOME. Click here for more: Platinum Home Staging's Blog