Home Staging is the preparation of a home to sell by a professional who specializes in this form of design and has been certified and trained on the art of home staging.  Many definitions you have seen no doubt stop after the word “sell” and that is part of the big misconception and devaluation of home staging. A professional home stager has the resources and can objectively view the home as a product and highlight its assets while downplaying its flaws. The home seller cannot view their home objectively, while many successful Realtors do not have the time or trade resources to properly stage a home.

Home sellers are usually incapable of successfully staging their own home. Why? Because our homes are like our children, we don’t always see all of its flaws. We’ve gotten used to the way it looks and in fact it is difficult emotionally to change it. If you can’t view something objectively then you are unable to market and package it effectively. Not to mention most home sellers don't "stage" homes everyday for a living. That’s what HSR Certified professionals are for and that is where the greatest returns come in.

Even if your house sells quickly in a good market, it doesn’t mean it sold for the amount it would have sold for had it been professionally staged. Remember, HSR Certified professionally staged homes sell on a conservative average for10%+ more in a good market (see the Latest Home Staging Statistics).

Only a mere 10% of home buyers can actually visualize the potential of a home and most of these folks are "investors" or "flippers" who will hammer you on price.  In our Consultation walk through, I will identify those "price eroding" factors of your home, so that you can do the simple fixes that maximize returns. 

This is also why having a vacant home professionally staged is so important. Buyers cannot visualize size and scale so furniture helps to give them a frame of reference.