To Stage or Not to Stage

A fellow in my office said one day "Women and HGTV have ruined it for guys in the Real Estate Industry."  I said, "Why?"  He responded, "It used to be that we chatted, listed a home, sold the home, then moved on.  Now we have to advise on decorating and decluttering, most of us have to hire the stagers or decorators...it's just bad."  I laughed because there was some truth to it.  I have been involved in either selling properties or renting them for over 30 years.  There is a way to present a home to maximize its' value-better for the customer, better for the agent.  We have become consultants to selling homes.  Some of us, me included, have specific staging items, carefully collected over the years to bring to homes for presentation.  I have staged minimally (particularly in vacant properties) to full-blown rental furniture, painting and total redecoration.  I had a project like this last year.  Still kick myself for not having before and after pictures.  Oh, well.  The end result was pretty spectacular.  I have to admit though, I am tired of the stuff in my basement. I had the gal pals over for dinner in January.  My friend Ruth asked, "Where is your stuff?"  I tend to declutter on a regular basis, upstairs, bedrooms and two offices, main floor, kitchen, living, dining and utility room.  However, NO ONE is allowed in my basement.  I didn't show Ruth; she simply would not believe the diaster zone down there.  SOOOO, I have been reading a book called The Happiness Project.  The very first commandment is to declutter.  I have slowly been weeding out the stuff in the basement.  An old chair in tatters...out the door last week.  A base of a pedestal sink that I thought for sure I would mosaic into something fabulous...now gone.  Gulp.  My next move?  I think to have a yard sale (perhaps Yard Sale for the Cure) and unload the staging items.  That's right.  I only need a few; anything else can be rented.  My car is in a perpetual state of moving.  As a matter of fact, I've been asked that so many times, I've lost count.  From now on, I'm just going to say Yes.  

Anyone for some staging "stuff"?

Cheryl Bower

www.CherylBower.com

 

Comments

[Bill Oates]

It must be very difficult trying to live up to a television image. TV has so little to do with real life.