Many people have the misconception that staging is simply adding decorative elements to make the home “pretty”. Some even call it “house fluffing”. Nothing could be further from the truth.
Home and condominium staging is the process used to prepare property for sale, regardless of price, or location. Stephanie Adams from the Barrie Condo Team states “staging uses buyers eyes to identify the problem areas as well as the best features of the home.”
Decorating is about appealing to ones individual taste & style. Decorating is for living. Staging is about appealing to the broadest range of potential buyers. Staging is for selling. Think of staging as a tool used to sell your property quickly and secure the equity you have worked so hard for.
A good stager will have an excellent understanding of the common psychological desires in human beings. We are all naturally drawn to light & bright as opposed to dark & dingy, airy, open & uncluttered as opposed to stuffy, cramped, & cluttered spaces. A good stager will also understand the market and stage every home based on the unique selling features. For example, staging a large detached house is very different than staging a small condo.
When staging a house, we think of square footage, when staging a condo, we must think of every square inch and make each one count!
• Paint wall neutral, white/ivory/tan
• Create the illusion of lots of space by using the
appropriate scale of furniture.
• Limit furniture to only necessary items. (Less is
more)
• Strategically placed furniture, sometimes using
angles can visually open up a space. (As in bottom
picture)
• Be mindful of the flow, you want buyers to move
freely throughout the spaces.
• Keep countertops clear; create the illusion of more
counter space.
• Above all else…clean the house before an open house!
Simone Frank CSP is a staging professional with New Leaf Décor - Property Staging. For more information visit: www.newleafdecor.com
Stephanie Adams is a condo sales representative focusing on Barrie Condominiums, Barrie Waterfront Condos and Barrie townhomes sales. View our guide to Barrie Condos.
Stephanie,
As a home inspector, if people did all this, it would make my life just too simply easy.
I get the houses where I walk in to one apartment and take one look and figure I have never seen such a disaster in my life. Then I walk into the second apartment and figure, "Well now I have!" And of couse I get met at the door of the third apartment by a girl about 18 whe meets me with "Hi, we don't do drugs you know."....
Of course this does make my inspections interesting.