AYN Advice

How does your staging work?

This month I would like to address a question I was recently asked by Katisha. Katisha asked me, “how does your staging work and how do you get your jobs; from agents or the public?”

Typically, here in Quebec, the stager gets the job after the home has been listed by the agent. Some agents ask me, the stager, to visit the home, even before the ink has dried on the listing contract! That is a brillant idea as that way I can prepare the home before the agent caravan and before the pictures are done for the internet.

Most buyers are internet savy and prefer to do their own research, at their own convenience. Having “picture perfect” photos, available on the internet is an essential marketing tool that entices the interest of the buyers looking for that type of home.

The stager re-packages the home to appeal to the buyers in the market. An example of this would be a retired couple looking to downsize (sell) their 4 bedroom home. A stager would make sure that the home was set-up to appeal to families by creating/bringing back the single bedrooms that the retired couple had set-up as an office and a sewing room. The home is re-packaged to suit/appeal to the buyers looking in that community for that type of house.

To have the home staged before the agent caravan visit is another fabulous marketing tool as well. The home presents itself well, and the visiting agents are anxious to show it to their buying clients. No one wants to visit or show an ill prepared home. Showing an ill prepared home, an agent risks upsetting their buyer who may walk away feeling mis- represented, discouraged that their agent does not understand what they are looking for. It may also discourage the buyers by over-whelming them with the amount of work they will have to do to have the home meet their expectations. Most of us are visual, making a positive first impression is essential when selling our home.

A staged home satisfies all parties involved; the home seller walks away making top dollar without reducing the market price of the home, the home sold quickly which allows the vendor to “move on”. The buyer is not over-whelmed by addressing the renovation requirements the home needs in order to meet their comfort and expectations. The agent(s); buyer and selling, can walk away knowing they have fulfilled their client(s) needs.