Staging FAQs

What is staging?
Staging involves preparing your home for the market by accentuating its best features and downplaying the negatives.  It immediately gives your home the advantage in the beauty contest that is real estate.  It is part design, part marketing, and a big part theater – you are setting the scene for a potential buyer to simply unpack their bags and move in. Here are some facts:

1. •The average increase in selling price for a staged home versus a
   non-staged home is 6.9%.
   

2. •The average return generated by a staging investment of 1-3% is 8-10%.
   

3. •Realtors prefer to show staged, de-cluttered and de-personalized homes versus non-staged homes to potential buyers.
   

4. •Cleaning, de-personalizing, de-cluttering, adding curb appeal and staging has an average 449% return.
   

5. •The longer your days on market, the more price reductions: a minimal investment in staging will get those agents and buyers in the door faster.
   

Why should I choose First Impressions?
Erin Shaw, principle designer, was an award-winning visual merchandiser for one of America’s favorite sportswear brands.  Responsible for several major department store accounts and tens of millions of dollars in product, she was trained in design, brand development, demographics, as well as trend and market analysis.

First Impressions offers a variety of staging services, and has a warehouse filled with beautiful furniture and accessories.  We bring experience, high energy, style and effective solutions to help you sell your home.

I hired an interior designer for my home; do I still need a stager?
Absolutely.  Remember, interior design and home staging are two completely different concepts.  The designer creates a home based on the personality and tastes of the homeowner.  The stager removes the personality from the home, thus creating a welcoming, neutral space that buyers can envision themselves living in.  Simply pack up those favorite personal treasures for your next home!

When should I stage?
It is absolutely critical that your home is staged prior to photographing and listing on the MLS.  94% of homebuyers will search the internet before they attend an open house.  When a buyer enters a zip code and a price range, literally hundreds of homes will pop up, and if your photos are less than spectacular, they will keep on surfing.

Why can’t I just watch an HGTV staging show and do it myself?
Unfortunately, however staging savvy you are, it is extremely difficult for people to detach themselves emotionally from their homes.  The minute we enter your home, we see it as a product, and our sole purpose is to help you sell it as fast as possible and at the highest price.  You may have a hard time letting go of certain personal objects, or convenient furniture placement.  80% of buyers can not see past your décor, paint or wallpaper choices and furniture arrangements!   In this tough market, do you really want to reach only 20% of buyers???  When you hire a stager, you increase the potential buyers for your home to 100%.  Buyers will immediately appreciate the terrific features and purpose of each room in your home. 

We give each homeowner a plan of action, a list of priorities, and a time frame for execution.  Once you set your goal for a fast, profitable sale, staging your home is easy.  We can devise solutions that can help your family live comfortably throughout the selling process, while still presenting a beautiful, neutral, and organized home.

Is staging expensive?
Depends on who you use!  First Impressions can help you get your home market- ready with minimal expense.  Often, a consultation is all that you need.  Most of our clients simply need assistance with color correction, de-cluttering, furniture editing and placement, and a thorough scrubbing.

It is essential to stage a vacant home in this difficult market.  Furnished rooms look larger, more welcoming, and give buyers an idea of how they will place their own belongings in the space.  Think of it as a map – sofa here, queen-sized bed here, grandmother’s sideboard there…..remember, many people can not visualize spaces, and require the basics in order to envision themselves in your home.

First Impressions will work with any budget and time frame to get your home beautifully furnished and ready for market.  We offer flexible rental agreements, and can rent anything you need; from a sofa, to a complete home staging.

What are the key rooms that I should stage?
Remember, First Impressions are everything!  That means that curb appeal will immediately put your home ahead in the game.  Regardless of the season, keep the drive, paths and front porch spotless.  A new mat, potted evergreens or flowers, polished, cleaned and updated light fixtures, and fresh paint on the door say “Welcome home”.  The key rooms inside the house are the entry, dining room, living room, kitchen, family room, master bedroom and bath.  Other rooms must state a purpose, so if you are living in your home while it is listed, take the junk out of the spare room and return it to its original state as a bedroom.  The same goes for any other room in the house not serving its intended purpose.   

What can I expect when First Impressions stages my vacant home? 
What is included?
After a brief consultation, we will devise a design plan, time frame and budget.  First Impressions offers a variety of rental terms and discounts.  The final amount includes delivery, product rental, design time, and removal at end of term.  We only provide current, on-trend furnishings selected to enhance the architectural style of each individual property.  In fact, we shop for every home we stage!  This gives you a fresh, updated look unique to the market.

Can you guarantee that my house will sell once it is staged?
Unfortunately, staging is not a guarantee.  However, staging instantly gives you an advantage over other properties.  You can be sure that after a staging by First Impressions, you are market-ready by showcasing all of your home’s fantastic features to potential buyers.