The Home-Staging Cheat Sheet

Reader Comments
Back to article

How should I arrange my living room to sell since we don't own a TV. I know it could be a problem if people think there's no room for a TV. We have an upright piano on one wall and on the other an antique curio cabinet. I have the couch facing the sliding doors so I can look at the garden. thanks for your help.

Lucinda of SC 7:44PM December 30, 2009

How much does a home stager typically get paid?
Is it by the hour? If so how much?
Or by the job?

William of NJ 1:44PM August 06, 2009

It sounds like you have already started a staging business. I suggest you put together some professionally designed brochures using your former friends/clients as references. Hopefully you have some before and after photos to include in the brochure. get some professional business cards, too. Send these to the local real estate offices and mail them to people who look like they could use your services (tired looking homes for sale in your town). Don't forget a local business license and liability insurance. Do a Google search to find an insurance company that sells liabiity insurance.
Like others have stated, there is no official accreditation for this profession yet (i'm sure its coming in the next few years). But it wouldn't hurt to take a course to brush up your skills. Home staging and interior design have different goals.
This is a good time to get into the profession with all the homes on the market. I wish you luck.

Barbara Cox of NC 7:35PM June 28, 2009

Ethical professional home stagers do not conceal major flaws in the homes we stage. As the Ethics Chairperson of the Real Estate Staging Association (www.realestatestagingassociation) I can tell you unequivocably that our members do not engage in the unethical practice of hiding major structual or condition flaws or they risk expulsion. All our members adhere to the Real Estate Staging Association Code of Ethics which is modeled after the National Association of Realtors Code of Ethics. I cannot speak to the code of ethics of other staging organizations as I am not familiar with them.
I have personally walked away from 3 different situations where either the home owner or the listing agent asked me to hide or cover what I considered to be a substantial defect, such as buckled hardwood floor due to water damage, mold, and a cracked granite slab countertop. I don't want to work with anyone who will try to trick an unsuspecting home buyer. I ALWAYS recommend that structural or condition defects be repaired (not masked) before the home is put on the market.
Obviously home stagers have no control over the behavior of the home owner or the listing agent once we have staged the home. It is unfortunate that there are some home sellers and listing agents (and a few home stagers) that willfully hide defects in a home. I just won't work with them.

Michelle Minch, Moving Mountains Design of CA 12:37PM February 22, 2009

Please be aware that there are other designations for Home Stagers. Accredited Home-Staging Specialist, or AHS is the designation I have through RealtyU. There is no official National Realtor Association designation.
What makes me laugh is that I and many others have been doing this for home sellers for a long time, before it had a fancy name like "staging". Some called it Feng Shui, or Decorating to Sell. Yes, there is an art to it: it's not just re-arranging furniture and setting the table. I have professionally staged 5 homes and the very next showing on 4 of 5 homes went to contract and closed; the 5th couple decided to stay, the house was so transformed! It's a good adjunct to my real estate business.

Muffie Hendricks of NH 5:42PM February 17, 2009

One of the 15 “secrets” from MyPhoenixMLS.com article 15 Insider Seller Secrets: Don’t Try to Sell Your Home without Them, is “Paint prospective buyers a picture.” Over-personalized decorations can hinder a buyer’s ability to imagine your home as their own. So put away your knick-knacks and replace them with well-placed, neutral decorations. Buy some home decorating magazines for ideas. Or, if you’re not the decorating type, consider hiring a home staging consultant who can help you get your home ready for showing.
When you’re decorating your home for showing, think about the type of buyer that may be coming through your house. If your prospective buyers are mostly young families, leaving out the kids’ decorations is a good idea. If your buyers are more likely single professionals, a few coffee table books or a well-placed vase are better ideas.
Once you’ve cleaned, repaired, and decorated your home to make a good first impression and to help prospective buyers visualize themselves in your home, invite a few friends over to give you their honest opinions. Your real estate agent will be able to give you a good objective opinion, too.
For more information on home staging, check out www.MyPhoenixMLS.com

MyPhoenixMLS.com of AZ 12:56PM January 28, 2009

Hello -
We are retired due to my husband's illness. Extra bars have been added to the walls in the bathing area of the master ensuite. We also have a special " Raised toilet seat" in there for his convenience. Is it " ok" to leave the bathroom as it is during the selling of our home ? Without these items my husband , who has Early-Onset Parkinson's Disease, will have a very difficult time with using the bathroom facilites. The other bathroom down the hall & the powder room are not "Outfitted" with these extras... Your advice would be greatly appreciated as we are in the process of staging our home for sale. Thankyou !
Regards,
Sandra Davis
sjtd9@hotmail.com

Sandra Davis 8:56PM August 16, 2008

Accredited Staging Professional (ASP®) and Accredited Staging Professional Master (ASPM®) trained through StagedHomes.com University are the best stagers in the business. They are specifically trained to stage properties - not redecorate, not redesign (like IRIS).
Plus,ASP®/ASPM® are the ONLY nationally recognized designations in the home staging industry and are recognized by the National Association of Realtors® (NAR®)
Who wouldn't want to be trained by Barb Schwarz, the Creator of Home Staging?

Lydia Brown of PA 8:16PM August 05, 2008

Yes, staging does work; however, please do not think that ASP certification is the best qualification for a real estate agent/stager. They offer many one day workshops that do not address all of the aspects necessary for successful staging.
Rather, look for someone with the I.R.I.S. certification - it has a much higher industry standard. Stagers receive week long training w/ hands-on projects & pass a rigorous test to receive their certification.

Jennifer of CO 6:22PM July 27, 2008

Iam very interested in being a stager; however, I do not know
how to get started. I do not need any classes on decorating or
staging for that matter! Everyone thinks Iam a decorator & I did
have my own decorating business for 1 year; & decorated 3 homes,
alot of it was staging to start & then painting/wallpapering,
purging, re-arranging furniture, adding some/getting rid of
other things. I did one home in oriental, one was french country, and the other one was well, they were tough...had a lot
of stuff and a busy-body husband, but, it all turned out!
My gardens in my own home are first priority, we have the prettiest house on the street. Inside, I have had several themes
& am always adding or taking away things to keep it updated
& fresh; plus... I'm a clean freak.
If anyone has any ideas on where to start a new career as a stager; I would love if you shared them with me.
Thank-you...Brenda

Brenda of OR 6:10PM July 27, 2008