rc Shelter, LLC

So, what exactly IS home staging?

Home Staging is the art of preparing and showcasing a home for sale. It is a systematic and coordinated methodology, in which knowledge of real estate, home renovations and creative design principles are applied to attract buyers.

Contrary to what you might think, staging is about more than decluttering or adding a vase or candle; it's what you do AFTER you've cleaned, decluttered, painted and made minor repairs. Done effectively, it creates emotional connection points that make potential buyers walk into the home and think, "I want to live HERE"

How much does it cost, and who pays for it?

First of all, staging is not an expense, it is an investment. And that investment will always be less than a price reduction. The 2012 HomeGain Survey of 1,000 Realtors discovered that home staging typically provides a 196% return on investment! In terms of actual outlay of dollars, an investment in staging could run from a few hundred dollars for a consultation, to a few thousand for furniture or accessory rental, or minor updates and repairs. It really depends on the size and condition of your home, how much you are willing to do yourself, and the price of your home.

Sometimes, the realtor will offer staging, or a portion of it, as part of their listing package, or they pay up front and get reimbursed once the home is sold. Usually though, the homeowner pays for the staging and it is viewed as many other fees incurred in selling a home, like a home inspection or any of the various closing costs.

Can't I just stage myself, or have my realtor do it?

A realtor's area of expertise is marketing and showing your home to potential buyers. That is far different than spending time rearranging furniture, shopping for accessories or managing workmen. A realtors job is to get buyers in the door, a stagers job is to make the house look, in the words of my 5-year old, awesome!

As a homeowner, it is impossible for you to see your home's flaws. Owners have usually gotten so used to walking past or through things that need to be addressed, that they fail to even notice them anymore. And selling a home and looking for a new one, moving, and all that it entails is overwhelming enough without having help in making your current home look as appealing as possible to new eyes.

The real estate market is strong - Why should I stage?

In a hot market, most houses or apartments will sell, but the question is: when and at what price?

Now that the real estate market has significantly rebounded, you might think now is the perfect time to sell. Well, so do a LOT of other people! Remember, staging is an investment not an expense. It can increase profit in two ways – by increasing value AND by reducing expenses (mortgage, taxes, utilities) by decreasing the time the home is on the market.

Wouldn’t it be great to get a bidding war going because your property looks so much better than everyone elses?

Are you telling me that I don't have good taste?

Absolutely not! How one lives in a home and how one stages a home are two very different things. In fact, we emphasize that staging is not to be taken as a critique of your taste or decorating skills; understand that staging is about selling your space, not your things.

We will tell you what is ideal and you will tell us what is practical for how you live. When you hire us, consider us part of your "team".

How is Home Staging different from Interior Design/Redesign?

Well, the idea behind staging sort of runs counter to the usual approach of interior design. Home staging is the art of making a home look as attractive as possible to the widest range of buyers possible; and specifically, the target market of potential buyers in a particular area or demographic. The goal is that any buyer can imagine themselves living in YOUR home, no matter how different tastes may be from buyer to seller.

The goal of staging is to put a house's best foot forward, and give it the gloss of a marketable commodity.