Fsbo

Staging makes your house look bigger, brighter, cleaner, warmer, more loving and, best of all, it makes home buyers want to buy it. Contrary to what you might think, it’s about more than preparing the house for sale. Staging is what you do after you’ve cleaned, decluttered, painted, made minor repairs; it’s all about dressing the house for sale.

It’s about adding the small details: the lipstick, mascara and, for simplicity, a stunning, single strand of Tahitian pearls.

What is a Professional Home Stager?
Professional stagers are highly skilled artists. They can take a blank canvas and paint a sensuous portrait without ever lifting a paint brush. Stagers possess the skills of a top-level designer and they create dramatic scenery that appeals to all five senses. Here are some of their secrets:

* Arrange sparse pieces of furniture in an appealing grouping known as a vignette
* Showcase a generous usage of soft fabrics such as silk, lambswool, satin
* Display unusual knickknacks in units of 1, 3 or 5
* Drape window coverings with simple lines
* Add unique elements to shelving, bookcases and fireplace mantels, which draw attention to predetermined areas

Find a Certified Stager in Home Staging Directory

What Accessories Does a Stager Use?

Stagers bring in a vast array of items to spruce up the house. Here is a small sampling of items professional stagers often use to dress each room. How they are utilized is limited only by the creativity and vision of the stager.

* Mirrors
* Plants
* Silk Flowers
* Floor & Table Lamps,
* Area and Throw Rugs
* Small Love Seats
* Ottomans
* Afghans
* Pillows
* Inflatable Queen-Size Beds
* Baskets
* Plastic Tables & Chairs

Professional Staging Tricks and Tips

* Apply orange oil to cabinets that appear dry, which will renew their original luster
* Put out large bowls of fruit such as polished apples, bright oranges, luscious grapes
* Arrange colorful and fun cookbooks on the counters

The back yard needs staging, too. For patios and decks, stagers bring in plants and potted flowers, and add additional color by setting the picnic table with bright, plastic dinner plates.

How Much Does it Cost?

Prices vary depending on where you live and the local demand for professional home staging. Coastal areas and large metropolitan cities where home staging has been prevalent for years command higher prices. Fees range from $500 to $5,000 or more, depending on square footage and the number of rooms staged. You can find a stager in Fizber Home Staging Directory

From Elizabeth Weintraub, Your Guide to Home Buying / Selling

This entry was posted on Tuesday, March 25th, 2008 at 9:19 am and is filed under FSBO. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.

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