Over the past 15 years, I’ve staged several hundred houses. When I started in 2004, most homeowners would challenge many of my suggestions. They complained that they didn't like the paint color I suggested, or wanted to keep the crazy, bold artwork.
Now staging has become the norm and homeowners welcome me with open arms. Sometimes I get a little pushback on moving a few things but most of the time people are motivated to sell and want to make it happen as fast as possible.
Even though real estate staging has been around for almost 50 years, homeowners generally don't know what to expect. I explain that staging is similar to decorating because it is beautifying a space using design techniques. HOWEVER, the big difference is STAGING is about decorating for the potential BUYER NOT the homeowner.
When making my staging recommendations I usually do not consider the homeowner’s personal taste. This may be a tough pill to swallow but it’s critical to successfully stage a home. Most of us (including me) decorate our homes to suit our personal taste and how we function or live. That includes furniture arrangement, paint colors, organization, personal touches and so on.
BUT if your home is on the market, you need to start thinking differently. If you want to make your home more appealing to potential buyers, it’s time to start thinking about what they would like – neutral colors, organization, simplicity, space, coziness, and cleanliness.
So don’t be stuck in this common staging dilemma of wanting your house to be decorated “your way” while it’s on the market. Remember, you are selling your house NOT your home.
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