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Six of My Favorite Home Staging Props

<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/P1090315.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/P1090315.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>There are a few staging props that really earn their keep.  </i></span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Home staging that knocks the socks off buyers counts on many things: curb appeal, cleanliness, perceived value, move-in-readiness. <br /><br />But it’s often the details that make a home memorable.<br /><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">That’s why I’ve compiled this list of the home decor accessories that ought to be in any home stager’s bag of tricks. Consider them your dependable details that make a difference. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span><br /><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Sets of Books</b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">While a bunch of books on a bookshelf can look splotchy and distracting, a set of matched volumes looks rich, coordinated and deliberate. <br /><br />Generously-sized books are great, and leather bound ones are especially classy. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2011/06/stage-your-home-with-books-heres-how.html#.UzRlZKI3Ndg" target="_blank">Books used as a staging accessory</a> let you convey a sense of who lives in the home – interesting, educated people. <br /><br />Buyers on home tours <i><b>do</b></i> browse book spines, so for this reason, stay away from controversial subjects or topics that aren’t mainstream (Chinese erotica, history of the occult…). Also avoid obviously dated sets like 1980’s World Book encyclopedias. But, don’t put out anything valuable or irreplaceable, either.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">   </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Best source or stage-worthy volumes is at a local library sale. I recently helped sort books at my library’s annual sale and was surprised at the quality and selection of books – all topics and colors, just what a stager needs.</div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /><b>Bowl of Lemons</b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">I love seeing a glass bowl of lemons on a kitchen countertop or island. Whether you use a ceramic platter, a wooden bowl or a wicker basket -- the pretty effect is the same. <br /><br />Think of lemons as the default dining room centerpiece, the perfect prop for completing a staged beverage bar of glassware, or the easiest way to dress up a foyer tabletop. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">    </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">There are couple reasons why I rate lemons high for home staging. One is that nobody is tempted to try and eat them the way they would apples or pears. They’re clearly decorative. The other reason is that lemons represent freshness. They’re tangy and fragrant, and even if you’re staging with fake lemons, the message is the same: clean and fresh.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">The only thing that adds more life to a room is plants. But I'm keeping my list to six!  </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/P1090102-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/P1090102-2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>All these lemons are fake. Who's to know? Yellow lemons seem to compliment any color scheme.</i></span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>  </i></span> </td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Plush Towels</b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">New towels are a must for dressing up a bath. Face it -- towels age and although they work just fine for everyday use, when you’re aiming for that luxurious, boutique hotel look, you want fat and fluffy new ones. I always suggest white ones unless the entire bathroom is white. White towels will always work in your next home. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Although not every stager will agree, I don’t have a problem with tying decorative ribbon or cording around a towel, to let people on a home tour know that they aren’t to be used, especially if it is open house day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Large Landscape Paintings</b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">This prop might be a tad more difficult to locate and afford, but the results are dynamic. A landscape painting literally opens up a room. The most economical sources are the usual second hand places we all love (eBay, thrift stores, garage sales), but you can also buy budget-friendly new artwork that works fine. Or you can create DIY art suitable for staging. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Your landscape could be a beach, forest, city, mountain or rural scene. Make it match the mood of your home -- abstract watercolor you create yourself, one of your own photos blown up big and framed, a kitschy paint-by-numbers scene, a colorful travel poster, or a sophisticated black and white photograph. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Buy frugally and plan to spend more on the framing than on the art, because the framing is what puts art over the top. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/BonesteelTroutHalllivrm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="420" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/BonesteelTroutHalllivrm.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">A landscape this large becomes the focal point of the room. Nothing wrong with that!</span></i><br /><i><span style="font-size: small;">Your landscape needn't be complicated, detailed, professionally done, expensive, or even </span></i><br /><i><span style="font-size: small;">include images of land. Seascapes are "landscapes."</span></i><i><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></i><i><span style="font-size: small;">Photo: Bonesteel Taylor Hall.</span></i> </td></tr></tbody></table></div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Matched Table Lamps</b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/TwolampsTobiFarley-1.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/TwolampsTobiFarley-1.png" width="432" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">This beautiful bedroom by Tobi Farley demonstrates</span></i><br /><i><span style="font-size: small;">how important a set of tables lamps are for a balanced look.   </span></i></td></tr></tbody></table>If you tour showhouses and study photos of professionally designed rooms, you’ll notice how often the savvy decorators who plan these rooms use pairs of lamps. <br /><br />Anytime a pair of anything is used as a decorating prop, there’s a sense of order and quality. Rooms done on a shoestring from castoffs lack the cohesiveness that twosomes add to a space.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Although you might be home staging on a shoestring, the last thing you want is to look like money’s a problem. That's an important point to remember! Buyers' perceptions of your financial<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> situation will influence the purchase price they offer you. Write that down! </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Look wealthy. Look generous. Look comfortable. Don't look needy or you'll attract "bottom feeders." <br /><br />A pair of table lamps in the bedroom or living room will help you pull off mismatched nightstands or side tables. <br /><br />Don’t approximate this look by using two lamps that resemble each other; they must be identical twins. <br /><br />The lamps should be placed close enough so that they are both visible in a glance, such as on either side of a couch or bed. Their shades should match, and they should both be on the same level. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Walk through your home to make sure you haven’t separated a matched pair of lamps, and then reunite them for staging.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">   </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Plump Pillows</b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span id="goog_1751948721"></span><span id="goog_1751948722"></span><span id="goog_572043644"></span><span id="goog_572043645"></span><span id="goog_1396375958"></span><span id="goog_1396375959"></span><br /></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/LaurenLiesslivrm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/LaurenLiesslivrm.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">This lovely arrangement by Laura Liess shows how having</span></i><br /><i><span style="font-size: small;"> matched pillows puts a finishing touch on the grouping. </span></i><i><span style="font-size: small;">  </span></i></td></tr></tbody></table>Pillows are one of the absolute best ways to add another layer to a room’s decor. <br /><br />I recommend pillows in colors that flow seamlessly with the color scheme of the room rather than oft-touted pops of color. <br /><br />You can still have fun with geometrics, textural fabrics, dressmaker details, and animal prints. <br /><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">What to avoid: Cute sayings on pillows, pillows flattened by age, stiff pillows that don’t look comfortable, and an excess of pillows on any bed, sofa or chair. <br /><br />Pillows add the custom details that give a room some interest and make a room look finished. They also suggest hominess and comfort. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>The Takeaway</b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">How does your staged home rate for having these essential decorating props? None of them are break-the-bank investments, yet they will all add value to your home and make it more inviting to people shopping for a new home. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">If you like these tips, check out my<a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/p/ebooks.html#.UzRkSqI3Ndg" target="_blank"> home staging eBooks.</a> They’re written to help you get a better price for your home on the market. At $5, they’re great investments. Guaranteed!<br /><br /></div>

Six of My Favorite Home Staging Props

There are a few staging props that really earn their keep. Home staging that knocks the socks off buyers counts on many things: curb appeal...

7:17 AM

How To Stretch Your Home Staging Dollars

<div style="text-align: right;"></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVWq7czq9H_pZu3-exvAesaPsvGLp9x2paLh_0wTYFUmCUCPaZr2NiL6hGGxtMrS2UwhN125eVVgho_29DrAnsYhzjR9Vds6Zz1gImBTqFUryxOPTRydQhVMCfBr9GP9RjOQA9FqhJxU0/s1600/competition+bhg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVWq7czq9H_pZu3-exvAesaPsvGLp9x2paLh_0wTYFUmCUCPaZr2NiL6hGGxtMrS2UwhN125eVVgho_29DrAnsYhzjR9Vds6Zz1gImBTqFUryxOPTRydQhVMCfBr9GP9RjOQA9FqhJxU0/s1600/competition+bhg.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">A DIY home stager needs to know her competition. Otherwise she<br />won't know if countertops should be granite and appliances<br />stainless, or whether laminate counters and white appliances<br />are just fine, as in this photo from Better Homes and Gardens. </span></i></td></tr></tbody></table>Are you worried about how much it will cost to stage your home? <span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">Do you dislike the thought of putting money into a home that you’ll be leaving?<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">I’ve learned that effective home staging doesn’t have to be expensive. Your home can attract good offers even if you don’t have a big staging budget. <span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><br />Or a mother-in-law who will loan you her antiques. <span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><br />Or an interior designer friend who will take your hand. <span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><br />Or a husband who loves fix-it projects and has the time to tackle them.<o:p></o:p></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">You can do your own staging and you can do it inexpensively. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">There are only two tricks to it.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><h3><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 18pt;">Prioritize: Decide What’s Important</span><o:p></o:p></h3><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Maybe you’ve already made that list of what needs tweaking, cleaning, organizing, or dressing up. My first trick is to separate the Must-Do from the It-Would-Be-Nice-To-Do. Ask yourself:</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><ul type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Left undone, would this task or purchase give me black marks on      an <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2010/02/advice-about-negotiations-and-home.html" target="_blank">official home inspection</a>?</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Is this something I have wanted to do almost from the time I      moved into my home?</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Can this be accomplished without a reconfiguring of plumbing or      electrical systems?</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Is this something family members, visitors, and others also think      is a good idea?</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Is it a change I can take with me when I move?</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Does it offer <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2012/04/home-improvements-that-deliver-most.html" target="_blank">good return on my investment</a>?</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Do these changes represent features many buyers want, such as an      eat-in kitchen, updated basement, or a modern outdoor living space ?</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Do other homes in my market, at my price point, offer this kind      of feature?</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Does the improvement expand usable square footage?</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Does the improvement make the home easier to maintain or conserve      energy?</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></li></ul><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdFSjA4fJWFVejzAYMaT08jw3QWhKGglfQmJ1LwHJWDKXfT7JHERpQNGfdeuE2eE2JbVjrfutnt0N4p90XHs04Mle2dsJgW91-hB-3K2fd3Gn5Jm9KHg1rBguLkB8jquYglMYrjbpxOto/s1600/narrowhomeoffice_zpsf54084c9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdFSjA4fJWFVejzAYMaT08jw3QWhKGglfQmJ1LwHJWDKXfT7JHERpQNGfdeuE2eE2JbVjrfutnt0N4p90XHs04Mle2dsJgW91-hB-3K2fd3Gn5Jm9KHg1rBguLkB8jquYglMYrjbpxOto/s1600/narrowhomeoffice_zpsf54084c9.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="background-color: white; color: #5b5b5b; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Trebuchet,sans-serif; line-height: 20.8px;">A home office is something most buyers want. If you can tuck one<br />into</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #5b5b5b; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 20.8px;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #5b5b5b; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Trebuchet,sans-serif; line-height: 20.8px;">a narrow space, you'll be ahead of the game. If you can do it<br />on budget, you'll get good return on investment. Photo:LampsPlus</span></i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: inherit;">Now, look at your answers. Bump to the top of your prioritized list the tasks you answered “yes” to. </span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">These are the projects that should take your time and money. Either eliminate or place low on your to-do list those items to which you answered “no.”</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">   </span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">But how much money should you spend? Real estate experts suggest spending one to two percent on improvements when you’re planning to sell your home. </span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">It’s always reassuring to know that statistically you’re within guidelines. That means if you plan to list your home for $250,000, your staging budget should be between $2,500 and 5,000. You’ll want to spend it wisely. That’s where the second trick comes into play.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><h3><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 18.0pt;">Source Right: Make Economical Purchases</span></h3><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><b>Get Discounts.</b><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Always inquire about price reductions. Don’t demand, just ask. </span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;">Ask <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2011/04/insider-tips-notes-from-blue-collar-gal.html" target="_blank">people who do work for you</a> if they give discounts for paying with cash, or if you pay an invoice within the first week of receiving it. </span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-P1070543_zpsb11b9888.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="333" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-P1070543_zpsb11b9888.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">The rocker is a thrifted deal find I painted white.<br />The side table is an old tv tray stand that <br />I upcycled by DIYing a mosaic top.<br />The planters are dollar store resin pots. <br />And the pansies are Walmart six-packs. <br />It all adds up to thrifty curb appeal. </span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: inherit;">Ask stores if they give discounts to military, ministerial, disability, AAA, students, or seniors if you qualify for those groups. </span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;">Ask if the item is going to go on sale. Watch for sales. Print or clip and use coupons. Even if you don’t have a coupon for a store, ask the salesperson if you qualify for one. </span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;">Stores will often discount the last item in a line of bedding, or the end of a bolt of fabric, or a chair that's been a floor sample, or a dishwasher missing a manual, or a lamp with a chip you'll never notice. But only if you ask! </span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><br />Shop where you have a discount or loyalty card, whether online or at brick and mortar stores. Shop discount stores and outlet stores.<o:p></o:p></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><b>Buy Direct.</b> Patronize the local stoneyard for granite. Hire a handyman from your own hometown or neighborhood. Visit the largest area discount nursery for landscape shrubbery. Use online companies like <st1:city w:st="on">Dalton</st1:city> for carpets. <span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><br />Sometimes buying direct means buying local, and sometimes it means shopping nationwide for the best deal. <span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">  <span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><b>Buy Second Hand.</b><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>Don’t turn up your nose at these kinds of outlets. Often you can find second hand places that sell appliances and furniture that look brand new. This could be scratch and dent merchandise, very slightly used, or come from a model home or manufacturer’s closeout.<br /><br />Furniture from places like Salvation Army and ReStore have frequently been donated by people with money and taste. <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2011/06/what-every-garage-sale-shopper-needs-to.html" target="_blank">Garage sales</a> are a source of deeply discounted furniture, appliances and accessories for staging because sellers are usually motivated. Your purchases may need minor repairs or just a coat of paint to make them perfect for staging your home.<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">    <span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/6af0630d-9de4-4130-94dd-edf2c5405dbe_zps684f67b3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/6af0630d-9de4-4130-94dd-edf2c5405dbe_zps684f67b3.jpg" width="332" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Mike Row has personally spoken to Congress and<br />trade associations about his mission to change<br />perceptions of blue collar work. His foundation<br />awards trade school scholarships to people <br />willing to pursue a trade. Photo:Listal.    </span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><b>Do Things Yourself.</b><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>Know <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2013/07/lets-get-real-about-diy-projects.html" target="_blank">when to say yes to DIY.</a> If you clean your own home as though you were detailing your car, if you paint your walls like a pro, if you mulch and prune your own landscaping, if you declutter and organize your own closets, you’ve put money in your pocket.<o:p></o:p></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><br />When I first began studying real estate, one of my teachers used to tell the class, “If you will do what others are not willing to do, you will have what others do not have.” It was just a new way of saying, “Work hard.” Or as Mike Rowe, one of my heroes, likes to say, “Work smart AND hard.”<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">But there are also times when not hiring a professional or a qualified tradesperson is shortsighted (or illegal according to building codes and local ordinances). If you decide to lay ceramic tile in your bathroom and you’ve never laid tile before, the results could actually detract from the value of your home.</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><b>Plan Ahead.</b><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Most trades and products have a downtime, a period when their cost is lower than usual. Although it may be difficult to plan much in advance when you are staging your home, and you don’t know how long you’ll be living in your home, this scheduling approach is still worth considering. </span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />For example, buy heating fuel in the summer. Buy patio furniture and grills in October. And hire the heating and cooling guy in the spring or fall.</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><h3><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 18pt;">The Lessons</span><o:p></o:p></h3><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Remember that if you spend $5,000, you can’t expect to raise your asking price $5,000. But you might sell your home faster, so fast that you’ll save more than $5,000 in carrying costs like insurance, mortgage interest, taxes and utilities.</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;">Keep the big picture in mind, and don’t expect to make a huge profit by selling your home.</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-ebook_cover1_zps9cb7beec.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-ebook_cover1_zps9cb7beec.jpg" width="272" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;">Selling a home is like running a small business, so think like an entrepreneur and make all your staging decisions cost effective ones. Time and money both have to be budgeted if you’re going to stay sane and get the job done. These are the simple techniques I’ve used and I’ve seen others use to make home staging cost effective, and you can do it, too.</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />There's more of this kind of sanity-saving advice in my<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/p/ebooks.html">home staging eBooks</a>. You can download them instantly and begin staging your own home today. They’re only $5 each!     </span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br /></span><i><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 10pt;">Top Photo: BHG</span></i><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>

How To Stretch Your Home Staging Dollars

A DIY home stager needs to know her competition. Otherwise she won't know if countertops should be granite and appliances stainless, or ...

2:30 AM

Questions and Answers About How to Stage

<div class="MsoNormal"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-P1060752_zps2b012a22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-P1060752_zps2b012a22.jpg" width="452" /></a></div><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b><b><span style="font-size: large;">Q:</span></b> I’m trying to stage an empty house. I have enough furniture and it’s looking good. My question is what do I do in the closets?<br /><br /><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: large;">A: </span></b>I would leave closets empty because they look bigger. But not entirely empty. I would add a few props to dress them up and give a little personality.<br /><br />In a bedroom closet I would place some pretty boxes on the shelves. In a linen closet I would stack a few fluffy towels, and perhaps a folded blanket. In a coat closet, I would add some wooden or <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2011/07/make-your-closets-memorable-to-buyers.html" target="_blank">padded hangers.</a>     </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">These little things will help buyers on tour remember your house as the one with attractive closets, where people (that's you!) live clean, enviable lives. Buyers buy the lifestyle when they buy the house, and women particularly are interested in closets. So, stage them to look gal-friendly. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Remember to clean any light fixtures in the closets and to maximize the wattage.      </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Q:</span></b> We’re planning to sell our home in a year. I know there are things I should be doing now, but I don’t know where to start. Any advice?</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: large;">A:</span></b> Start by getting rid of things you don’t love or need. Second, it’s not too early to get a home inspection so you’ll know what needs repairs. Then, educate yourself about the local real estate market and maybe interview some realtors. You should also get current about about <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2013/02/how-to-make-your-home-look-new.html" target="_blank">decorating trends</a> and what not to do so when you’re ready to stage you’ll be up-to-date.<br /><br /><div class="MsoNormal"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-P1060749_zpsc91a6cb0.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-P1060749_zpsc91a6cb0.jpg" width="516" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Yes or no to mini blinds? When you don't want to spring for the <br />the pricier versions, how can you make them work for staging?    </i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><b><span style="font-size: large;">Q:</span></b> Should I leave mini blinds in my windows when staging? I know they aren’t super-stylish, but I still like them for light control and privacy.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: large;">A:</span></b> I’m with you on the mini blinds, because they are inexpensive and functional. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">You could leave them up but layer a window treatment over them, one that lets you cover them to soften the look. Just sheers might look good, or draperies that you open every day when you want sunlight entering the room. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Remember that buyers respond well to bright rooms, so make sure both the blinds and any draperies are open wide when you expect a showing.<br /><br />And if your mini blinds are showing signs of age, replace them with new ones. <br /><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b><b><span style="font-size: large;">Q: </span></b>The rooms on one side of my home are dark, even though they have enough windows. What can I do to make these rooms look brighter? I’ve already done what I can with lamps and overhead lights.</div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: large;">A: </span></b>If the walls aren’t a light color, can you repaint them? Can you add a large mirror to each room? Can you remove lower limbs from trees that might be creating too much shade? Can you make your <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2012/01/no-sew-window-treatments-why-stitch.html" target="_blank">window treatments</a> cover less of the window opening? Can you remove or <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2012/06/painting-furniture-dont-make-these.html" target="_blank">paint any dark pieces of furniture</a> that might be soaking up light?<br /><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-ancestraloilpainting_zps3edbc068.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-ancestraloilpainting_zps3edbc068.jpg" width="496" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: start;"><i>Make a portrait part of the room's decor instead of its <br />focal point. In this photo by Jeffrey Hirsch, costume designer <br />William Ivey Long, clustered attractive props and furniture near <br />the framed art instead of isolating it on a blank wall.   </i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Q: </span></b>I have your eBook so I know that when staging you suggest avoiding artwork with faces in favor of landscapes, abstracts, and still lifes. I have a large painting of my great, great grandmother. I think it looks cool. Should I store it away when I list my house? </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: large;">A: </span></b>I agree, ancestral portraits <b><i>are</i></b> cool! Even ones that aren’t your own relatives add a certain dignity or importance to a room. I’d definitely leave it in place, as long as it isn’t the focal point of the room. How about somewhere unexpected, like in a hallway, bedroom, or on a stairwell?<br /><br /><div class="MsoNormal">That said, some old portraits look a little creepy or just too engaging to be used in a staged room. If your ancestor appears sad, mad, or stares out of the canvas in such a way that makes visitors talk about the art rather than your house, store the painting. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">I hope your great, great grandmother brings you good luck selling your home!  </div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Any Questions?</span></b> Do you have any problems about your DIY home staging? If my <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/p/ebooks.html" target="_blank">eBooks</a> don't solve them, <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/p/contact.html" target="_blank">email me your question</a> and I'll try to solve your home staging dilemma.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">  </div></div><a href="http://www.cubesmart.com/blog/weekly-roundup-best-content-on-the-web-3/"><img src="http://www.cubesmart.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/BestOf_Nov2013_horiz.png" /></a>

Questions and Answers About How to Stage

Q: I’m trying to stage an empty house. I have enough furniture and it’s looking good. My question is what do I do in the closets? A: I woul...

2:00 AM

DIY Craft Project: Upcycled Tin Tray

DIY Craft Project: Upcycled Tin Tray

I used my DIY autumn-themed tray to anchor a group of props suggesting a small beverage center. To be safe, I stage with empty liquor bottle...

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Five Rules for Staging a Mantel

Five Rules for Staging a Mantel

It's that time of year when a fireplace mantel needs an autumnal dress-up. What's yours wearing? Make it easy to do by following my ...

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Make This Simple Outdoor Fountain

Make This Simple Outdoor Fountain

The pleasant sounds of water splashing is one fine way to introduce buyers to your home for sale. I was hypnotized once. Really. By a train...

2:00 AM

What You Should Know About Mid Century Modern Furniture

<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-P1040782_zpsaa8962a6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-P1040782_zpsaa8962a6.jpg" width="356" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal">I thought she was crazy when my friend Becky started collecting 1950s furniture in the 1980s. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">I grew up with those armless sectionals and amoeba shaped coffee tables. Maybe that’s why as an adult, I saw zero appeal.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Crazy ole me. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Now I envy how Becky has decorated her <st1:city w:st="on">San Francisco</st1:city> home. Funny how the passage of time gives you a better perspective on design. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">That furniture is easy on the eyes. It’s well-constructed. It’s colorful. It’s unique. And it’s on-trend now. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Mid Century Modern furniture designers were recognized as rule breakers at the time. The novel concept to design furnishings where form followed function began in the 1930s. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">In the 1940s when furniture makers discovered what could be done with new materials like plywood, fiberglass, wood veneers, molded plastics, and synthetic pigments, they set off on a new and exciting path. And the rest is history. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">If you are staging your home to sell it, here’s what you should know about MCM furniture.   </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Plays Well with Others.</span></b> You don’t have to have a glass-walled ranch house to use MCM furniture. These streamlined pieces mix with most décor and furniture styles, from <span id="goog_1205258200"></span><a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2010/10/what-home-stagers-can-learn-from-shabby.html" target="_blank">shabby chic</a><span id="goog_1205258201"></span> to ornate Asian. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">I've owned the chair you see above for twenty years. I rescued it from a house being torn down. It's solid teak and weighs about 30 pounds! I took the seat apart and replaced the old tweed fabric with an animal print, stitching it to the original vinyl part of the seat.  No mater where I live or how I decorate, it looks at home.  </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Prices Are in Reach. </span></b>MCM furniture is accessible. Sure, the pristine originals and the high quality reproductions are pricey. But you can often find vintage pieces on Craigslist, in thrift stores, and at other second hand sources. If the piece is in excellent condition and the seller is knowledgeable, the price may reflect the value that collectors place on 50s furniture. But often these pieces come onto the market because someone is cleaning out grandma’s house, or the piece needs repair, and that’s when you can score a bargain.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p><br /></o:p></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://images.meredith.com/content/dam/bhg/Images/2011/08/101495022.jpg.rendition.largest.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://images.meredith.com/content/dam/bhg/Images/2011/08/101495022.jpg.rendition.largest.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">The sleek lines and spider legs of this cabinet make it a<br />perfect candidate for home staging. BHG photo.</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Color Palette is Delicious.</span></b> The colors typical of MCM design are usually fine choices for home staging. Wall colors tended to be dusty tones of pinks, greens, tans, and blues. But the palette also includes today-colors like <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2012/06/why-cyan-could-be-your-go-to-color-for.html" target="_blank">cyan</a>, lemon, tangerine, and <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2011/10/the-trends-that-can-update-your-home.html" target="_blank">lilac</a>. Home staging welcomes the natural woods and plastic woods, the pastel colors and black accents that are integral to these furnishings.   </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: large;">The Lines are Perfect.</span></b> Another element that makes MCM furniture great for home staging is that it can make rooms look more spacious. Chairs have open arms. Some chairs are made of wire. Bookcases have pencil legs. Tabletops are glass sheets on aerodynamic bases. Credenzas hide clutter.  </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-1-Downloads1_zps9a8a644e.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="612" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-1-Downloads1_zps9a8a644e.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Mid Century Modern examples like these can help home stagers with their <span id="goog_1178630420"></span><a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2011/08/how-to-arrange-furniture-most-common.html" target="_blank">furniture </a></span></i><br /><i><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2011/08/how-to-arrange-furniture-most-common.html" target="_blank">arrangement.</a> These pieces will create a clean, comfortable and edgy look in most homes.    </span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Creates the Right Mood. </span></b>MCM can manage to look comfortable and warm, and at the same time industrial. The original designers turned to mass production because they wanted to produce “democratic furniture.”  As a result, many pieces do have an industrial vibe to them. But because of the use of light toned woods and playful geometric textiles, these pieces stop short of looking cold. That’s a perfect prescription for home staging success, a style that appeals to the masses. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://images.meredith.com/content/dam/bhg/Images/2011/11/101466628.jpg.rendition.largest.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://images.meredith.com/content/dam/bhg/Images/2011/11/101466628.jpg.rendition.largest.jpg" width="576" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Vintage 50s furniture doesn't have to look spare. Combined with slipcovered pieces <br />and floral drapes, they stay true to themselves yet look fresh. BHG photo.  </span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p><br /></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Nostalgia Gets Attention. </span></b>If your MCM furniture is in good condition, it will evoke memories for some of a more innocent era, when home ownership was easy by comparison to today, and when people were happy with a slower, simpler life. For young people who appreciate vintage, the charm is still there, without the grandma ruffles and florals.    </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Mid Century Modern pieces have made their way to collections in <st1:state w:st="on">New York</st1:state>’s <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placetype w:st="on">Museum</st1:placetype> of <st1:placename w:st="on">Modern Art</st1:placename></st1:place>. They will never lose their value. Incorporate some MCM to increase the value of your home on the market by making it look more attractive, tasteful, and comfortable.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">You can learn more tips on furniture styles, demographics, decluttering, <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2011/08/how-to-arrange-furniture-most-common.html" target="_blank">furniture arrangement, </a>curb appeal, and all things home staging related, if you download my <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/p/ebooks.html" target="_blank">eBook</a>, <i>DIY Home Staging Tips to Sell Your Home Fast and for Top Dollar. </i></div>

What You Should Know About Mid Century Modern Furniture

I thought she was crazy when my friend Becky started collecting 1950s furniture in the 1980s. I grew up with those armless sectionals and a...

2:00 AM

Should You Stage Your Own Home? Or Hire a Pro?

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-selfstagefrontdoor_zps2e19e9de.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-selfstagefrontdoor_zps2e19e9de.jpg" width="422" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">An inviting front entrance like this colorful one -- so important <br />for curb appeal --  is easy to stage by basic staging principles. </span></i></td></tr></tbody></table>So I was reading on this online forum for professional home stagers, when I stumbled across a comment that annoyed me at first and then amused me.<br /><br />Here's the quote:<br /><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">“One can certainly tell the difference between real staging and self-staged. The latter range from bad to appalling. Anyone looking at self-staged listings has to look past the fuchsia/avocado green walls and swagged drapes and dark green wall-to-wall carpeting and flowered sofa and chair that don't match -- indeed, they don't match anything in the room.”<span class="apple-converted-space"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">That’s pretty harsh. But not true.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">I maintain that most homeowners can stage their own homes. </span></span><br /><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><br /></span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">Many of them will need to bring themselves up to speed, but that process can be an enjoyable learning experience. And most certainly a smart financial experience. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">  <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">It’s no secret that most of us stage our own homes to stretch our budget. </span></span><br /><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><br /></span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">Hiring a professional stager will cost some money, understandably. A trained and accredited stager is an entrepreneur in business to make money, and cranking up and running a home staging business demands capital investment. She’ll have to pay for her training, for furnishings and warehousing, insurance, website, cell phone, laptop, camera, transportation, day laborers, tradespeople, office expenses, and advertising. She has to </span></span>calculate these costs into the estimate she gives you. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Why Do It Yourself</span></b><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Besides the obvious economic advantages of staging your own home, let’s look at some other benefits.  </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white; color: #333333;"><b>Pace.</b> You have the flexibility to do it on your schedule. Unless you have a tight deadline for moving, you can afford to make some mistakes and then fine tune things with time. Perhaps family and friends will give you feedback for what looks best. You’ll be educating your eye. You might even be making purchases for your next home and using them for staging this one. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white; color: #333333;"><b>Safety.</b> Most people have a horror story about movers or other workers in their home. Something was broken or stolen. Private information was taken. Do you know the “helpers” a stager might bring in to move your antiques around? Only you know exactly what you have that is valuable, delicate, or private, and how things are packed, labeled, and stored. Staging your own home could mean no surprises down the road. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white; color: #333333;"><b>Familiarity</b>. If you’ll be living in your home while it is listed, you have an understanding of exactly what you and your family can tolerate in the name of an uncluttered home. It’s unrealistic to stage a playroom all cutesy and expect it to stay that way when you have three boys who prefer the room with wall to wall Legos. Can you keep your countertops free of small appliances? (I can’t!) Put away hair styling equipment and cosmetics every day? You might as well stage your home so you can still function comfortably.  <o:p></o:p></span></span><br /><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white; color: #333333;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-MC8014454_4_0_zps6b997006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="442" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-MC8014454_4_0_zps6b997006.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Julie, a reader of this blog, staged her home herself. This is her <br />dining area. I think she did everything right!</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: large;">On the Other Hand</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">A professional brings advantages of her own to the home staging process. Here’s my list of the advantages I see, along with some tips for you if you are considering hiring one.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">She’s been schooled as a professional and knows what the market insists on, what the trends are in your area. You should ask to see her credentials and view her portfolio.  You can ask your real estate agent to recommend a stager. </div><div class="MsoNormal">    </div><div class="MsoNormal">She has the furnishings and manpower necessary for staging. Ask if she pays any furniture rental fees or if you do. How about the cost of tradespeople like an electrician or a plumber?  Ask about the total cost for staging, how it is determined, and how it might vary. </div><div class="MsoNormal">     </div><div class="MsoNormal">Professional staging can be done relatively quickly. Depending on the extent of the job, the stager will probably be in and out and have you photo-ready in less time than if you had to do everything yourself. Ask how long the work will take. Ask what your responsibilities will be during the project.  </div><div class="MsoNormal">     </div><div class="MsoNormal">A stager has an unbiased viewpoint and can evaluate what should stay and what should go in your home for showings. She’ll see problems and solutions you haven’t thought of because she has the fresh eye.  Do you sense a <i>sympatico</i> with the stager you’re interviewing, so that communications are likely to go smoothly?</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-MC8014454_18_0_zps5781a37b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="468" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-MC8014454_18_0_zps5781a37b.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Here's the bedroom Julie staged. Would a professional have done better? I don't think so. </span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white; color: #333333;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">You Could Flip a Coin</span></b><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white; color: #333333;">What’s a homeowner to do when it’s time to sell? It’s possible that a compromise might deliver the best of all worlds.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">You could pay for a plan, and do the labor yourself.</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #333333;"> </span></span><span style="color: #333333;">Many stagers will work as consultants, touring your house and offering suggestions on how best to present it. For a fee that varies according to where you live and how experienced the stager is, she will tour the property completely and then present you with a printed report.  A more casual, more economical arrangement might be a walk-through when you can take notes or record or video what she suggests. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></div><div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">Some stagers will offer an initial consultation and a follow-up visit to make suggestions about <span id="goog_469709624"></span><a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2011/03/finishing-touches-department-where-to.html" target="_blank">finishing touches<span id="goog_469709625"></span> </a>or tweaks. </div><div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></div><div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">A cooperative arrangement like this means that you do the cleaning, the decluttering, and make the necessary trips to Goodwill, the landfill, or storage facility. </div><div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-selfstsagekintyrelivingroom_zps66f87e9f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="478" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-selfstsagekintyrelivingroom_zps66f87e9f.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Celeste, another blog reader, sent me this photo of the living room she staged herself <br />after reading my <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/p/ebooks.html" target="_blank">eBook</a>.  Her house sold for close to asking price in two weeks, <br />and I think it was because she did such a good staging job.</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table>Whether you hire a pro or not depends on -- </div><div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"></div><ul><li><b>Schedule</b>. How much time you have to do the work yourself. </li><li><b>Market.</b> What the competition is like in your local real estate market, how other homes go to market. In larger cities, it’s more likely that staging is expected. </li><li><b>Specifics.</b> The price, size, and age of your home. More expensive homes, larger homes, newer homes benefit more from a professional’s touch. Even if you have had your home professionally decorated, a home stager has a different set of priorities than a decorator. </li><li><b>Nostalgia.</b> How much emotional detachment you can muster. An outsider will be more objective, and help you understand typical consumer reactions to your décor and belongings. You may adore your cherry red dining room walls, but a stager may see that they make the room look smaller and older. </li><li><b>Imagination</b>. How much vision you have. If you’ve never been one to pay much attention to home décor, if you haven’t redecorated in a couple decades, if home improvement bores you, and if you can’t even imagine alternative colors or furniture arrangements for your home, perhaps you need outside advice. </li><li><b>Money</b>. How much money you are able and willing to spend on staging. If you are underwater with your home, it’s understandable that investing more money is painful. But an investment is what it is. Done correctly, staging pays for itself, because staged houses sell faster and for more money. </li><li><b>Desire</b>. How motivated you are to sell. If you want to sell quickly and move on, staging with a pro can speed things up.  </li><li><b>Stress.</b> How able you are to cope with stress. Some people seem to thrive on chaos, drama, and deadlines. Others are easily overwhelmed. Even a simple <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2010/10/tips-for-cleaning-and-organizing-closet.html" target="_blank">closet cleaning</a> can be stressful for some, while someone else can take a complete kitchen remodel i<span style="color: #333333;">n stride.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"> </span></li></ul><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">Whether you do all your own staging, turn it over to an accredited home stager, or go with some combination, only you can decide. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">If you stage your own home and use my <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/p/ebooks.html" target="_blank">eBook</a>, <i>DIY Home Staging Tips to Sell Your Home Fast and for Top Dollar</i>, as a guide, I guarantee your results won’t look anything like the way the online poster described self staging. You’ll be on our way to staging like a pro. I’ll give you your money back if you are not completely satisfied with your purchase. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">Avocado walls and swagged drapes, indeed! </span></span><br /><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><br /></span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">Top photo: Better Homes and Gardens</span></span><br /></div></div>

Should You Stage Your Own Home? Or Hire a Pro?

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