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Home staging is not a new term, but for many homeowners and real estate agents the
concept of professional home staging is shedding new light on how to promote a home
in the real estate marketplace.
In past years, homeowners were left to their own
discretion as far as preparing for home showings. Though they could occasionally
rely on an agent for instructions, more often than not real estate agents were
just as perplexed at working out the details as the homeowner.
While agents are experts in the field of selling and closing, many are not design savvy.
Agents usually know exactly what factors can help sell a home. It's just not always easy
to get a home into selling condition in a timely manner without some sort of experienced assistance.
 Professional home stagers are practiced in the art of preparing a home for resale.
They work with the flow of a home, eliminate clutter, edit and arrange furniture,
and even assist in enhancing curb-appeal. With the aid of a professional home
stager, your house can make a notable first impression on potential homebuyers.
As the real estate industry often stresses, the first impression is the key factor in
selling your home. Typically, a potential buyer has made up their mind ten seconds
after they step in the front door. They were already forming an opinion as they pulled
into your driveway! That really doesn't leave too much room for fault.
To achieve the greatest possible outcome a home should always be presented at its best the first time around.
 You find and select a professional home stager much like you would find any other
professional service. Ask around and get referrals. Check with your real estate agent.
A number of larger real estate companies offer access to a listing of professional home
services in your area. These individuals and companies have often already been pre-screened
by the real estate agencies or their agents.
When you contact a home stager, ask for an estimate. Most home staging businesses will
be happy to give you a free estimate and it is usually a quick process. Keep in mind
that this is only an estimate and estimates can be a bit off. However, unless something unforeseen
takes place between the estimate and the actual job itself, an estimate should be fairly accurate.
Get several free estimates and make some calculations. Just like any service, pricing in the
home staging industry can vary over a wide range. Some charge an hourly rate and some will
charge you a set fee for the entire job. Be sure to ask how they determine their fee so
that you can make an educated decision. Also, factor in the condition of your home, the
average amount of time homes have been on the market in your area, and the asking price of your home.
Asking price can play a huge factor in what a homeowner should be willing to pay for
staging services. Some professional home stagers bring in rented furnishings, driving
the price up considerably. Some simply charge too much to make it pay off. A lot of
home stagers seem to forget that their clients are planning on moving out of the
house very soon. Most home sellers are not willing to invest a huge amount of cash in a
house they are planning on leaving behind.
Find out up front what the stager is planning to bring in and at what cost. Though
expert services do come at a price, the cost should balance with the expected benefit
of a higher selling price. As a rule, the higher the asking price of the home,
the more one can spend to have it professionally staged.
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