Home staging has become a popular, and in some areas, a necessary, way to prepare a home for sale. However, if it’s your first time investing in home staging, it’s not always easy to know what to expect from a home staging consultation. During a home staging consultation, the stager will go over what needs to be done to stage your home. They will also answer any questions you have about the process. Here are some key questions to ask during your consultation so you can be sure you’ll get the most out of your home staging.
Question 1: Have You Staged Homes Similar to Mine?
Different types of homes require different approaches to staging, so it’s important to find someone with experience in staging similar properties. This will give you an idea of whether or not they are familiar with homes like yours and whether or not they will be able to showcase your home effectively. For example, if a stager is used to working with luxury homes and yours is more modest, they may not know how to stage a smaller home, and vice versa.
Question 2: Can I See Your Portfolio?
If a home stager has no photos of their previous work, that’s a red flag. Seeing before-and-after shots will give you a good sense of their style and what they’re capable of doing. This is another way to see if they’ve worked with homes like yours. A portfolio shows how they’ve been able to transform different types of spaces from rooms with great water views to cozy bedrooms, so be sure to ask for photos of homes that are similar in size and layout to yours.
Question 3: What Services Do You Offer?
Be sure to ask about the full range of services your potential stager offers. Sometimes, they may simply provide a consultation and leave the implementation up to you. Other times, they may be able to provide full-service staging, which means they’ll handle everything by bringing in all of their own furniture, art, and accessories. Sometimes, they offer partial staging or redesign services which means that they will incorporate or rearrange your own existing pieces. Knowing what services are available will help you determine whether or not the stager is a good fit for your needs and budget.
Question 4: What is Your Fee Structure?
Some stagers charge by the hour, while others charge a flat fee for the entire project. Be sure to ask about the stager’s fee structure up-front, so there are no surprises later. Also, be sure to inquire about any additional costs that may be involved, such as furniture rentals.
Question 5: How Long Will the Process Take?
If you’re working with a professional home stager, they should be able to give you a reasonably accurate estimate of how long the entire process will take from start to finish. This is an important question to ask if you’re working with a tight timeline, such as getting your home ready for an upcoming open house or showing. You’ll want to consider the stager’s schedule as well, in case they aren’t able to stage your home right away. Popular stagers often get booked far in advance, so if you’re in a rush to sell this question is key. Though keep in mind that waiting for the right stager is quicker than having your house stagnant on the market.
Other Questions to Ask:
The questions above aren’t the only ones you should ask. Here are some other questions that should have straightforward answers:
- Can I see references from your past clients? A good home stager should be able to provide you with a list of happy clients who can attest to their quality of work. Make sure to read the testimonials section on their website.
- How long are houses that you stage usually on the market? You want to see a number that’s 30 days or below.
- Have you won any awards? Having won awards from companies such as Houzz is a good sign. Seattle Staged to Sell has won both Houzz’s Best in Design and Best in Customer Service awards for 9 years as well as other awards.
- What is your typical staging style? You want the interior of your home to match the expectations for homes in your community. Otherwise, buyers may be turned away. At Seattle Staged to Sell, we custom design all of our stages in a style that best fits with the home’s features and architecture. Some of the styles that we use in our staging include: transitional, modern, eclectic, mid-century, and traditional.
This list isn’t exhaustive, either. The key is to find out what a stager has in mind for your home and if they can successfully implement it. Therefore, it is important to ask as many questions as you can think of.
Getting Ready to Stage Your Home
Home staging is important if you want to sell your home fast and for top dollar. Asking the right questions during your home staging consultation is key to ensuring that the process goes smoothly and that you’re happy with the final results. By asking about things like services offered, fee structure, past work, and timeline, you can get all the information you need to make an informed decision.
A good home stager will be able to answer all of these questions confidently. They should also give you a detailed plan for how they will stage your home. Ready to get started? Hire a reliable home stager today!
Guest Article written by Adriano Tori. With over 15 years of real estate experience, Adriano Tori is now the owner of RexMont Real Estate. Adriano and ReMont pride themselves on their thorough understanding of the regional marketplace.
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