All Staging Companies are Not Created Equal

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The popularity of home staging has brought out lots of new players eager to make their mark in the field. Overall the business of staging can be broken down into two categories:

1. Stagers with a background or training in the more complex field of interior design, and
2. Those who enter the staging field with no previous experience or who have been trained through an on-line staging course.

All of the stagers at Da Lusso Design have years of training and experience in the principals of interior design. This is an important factor when the staging job requires critical design thinking to make the most of the space and is the distinction between a stager who is also a designer and one who learns by an online course.

The accreditation touted by many stagers can be deceiving because it implies that they have superior qualifications. What it actually means is the stager has paid to take a 3-day course. They are then allowed to use the endorsement of the company from which they took the course. This certification is not an industry-wide indication of knowledge or talent in the field of staging but merely means the individual has been sold specific and to rather limited formulas for staging a space.

The 3-day-course level of home staging certainly has its place, especially when the job simply calls for a basic arrangement of furniture and accessory pieces to spruce up an  environment. However when the situation calls for a more unique design, one that elevates the space to a more sophisticated and outstanding level,

 

the professional designers at Da Lusso Design are always up to the challenge.

Below is an example of a property re-staged by Da Lusso.  This property was on the market for 8 months with no movement.  Da Lusso was called to do a new look and fresh feel.  After the Designers at Da Lusso were finished the home sold within the first 2 weeks after coming back on the market.

Photos Living Dining: Other Stagers put a sofa in front of the view.  When our Da Lusso designers arrived they arranged the room to take advantage of the view.  This was the selling point of the house but it required switching the dining are with the living area.  The pieces that were used were fresh and airy.

Photos Bedroom:  Other Stagers positioned the bed on the window wall.  When the Da Lusso designers arrived we arranged the room the opposite direction to open up the window wall and added fresher look with more drama.  Da Lusso also added a seating area in the bedroom to create an expanded use of the space.

Staging vs. Interior Design: What’s the Difference?

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There is no doubt that home staging and interior design share a number of common elements. Both involve decorating a space with furniture, art and accessories and both rely heavily on a designer’s ability to create a finished product that’s both stylish and visually attractive.

Despite these similarities, there is a strong case for saying that staging and interior design are two very different practices. These differences lie in their end application.  Interior design involves the creation of a highly personal space that revolves around the unique needs, wants and tastes of those who live there. Staging, on the other hand, is just the opposite, the goal being to create an impersonal atmosphere that attracts many and deters none.

Making a home market-ready can be a challenge when the current owners live in the house while it’s on the market, especially if they want to use as much of their own furniture as possible. In such a case,

it’s important for the homeowners to understand that their house is not being decorated to suit their tastes.

It’s up to the stager to suggest necessary changes that will take the house out of the personal realm and into the impersonal, and to do so in a way that helps the owners feel comfortable with the changes. From painting over favorite wall colors to removing family photos and editing out existing furniture pieces, the stager’s job is to keep two goals in mind: transforming the home into something potential buyers like and want to live in…and to always use tact when explaining how that will be achieved.

Staging and Design with Flavor

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Da Lusso Design has been working with local catering companies doing small catered events for your open houses.   A touch of flavor along with the interiors leaves a warm feeling with your potential buyers.

Call us today to discuss how we can help you make that special listing just a touch more delicious.

Why Should I Stage My House?

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With increased competition and thousands of houses on the market, house staging in the Bay Area is important to selling your home. From first impressions to possible layouts, home staging provides potential buyers with a visual representation of a home and can help you sell your home quickly and for a competitive price.

Why Should I Stage?

When potential buyers first enter your home, it is the first impression that will stay with them when considering purchase. With so many houses on the market, it is probable that they will be shown numerous homes within the same day or week. Making your home memorable can be done by careful staging.

By using staging, sellers can show buyers potential without making them use their imagination. It is a rare buyer that can imagine a home the way they intend to use it. If a home is empty and without furniture it can be difficult to see how comfortable the home truly can be. Without furniture, a house may seem uninviting. Staging showcases a home, making it easier for buyers to understand how they themselves could use the space.

Sellers should also understand that a home that is unkempt will give buyers negative opinions of the space. With clutter, disrepair, and general disorder, buyers may assume the home is not in the shape they expect when purchasing a new house. Clutter may suggest that there is not enough storage available. Disrepair can show that there may be other issues below the surface that have not been maintained. Disorder in a home makes it hard for buyers to see past the current state and into an orderly environment.

By using staging, sellers can show buyers potential without making them use their imagination.

In today’s market, making a great first impression is especially important. With most home listings available to view on a realtor’s website, the staging shown in the website’s photographs will either increase the buyer’s interest or eliminate the property from the options. The staging in the photographs can increase the viewings of the home, increasing the possibility of a sale.

Each home is different and requires different staging techniques. The location of the home is important, as well as a comparison of other homes in the area. If the street showcases homes with exceptional landscape, the seller may need to consider the addition of shrubbery or plants. If the sellers have pets or children, they may need to visually reduce the presence of pet or children’s toys to engage buyers without pets or children. House staging in the Bay Area is unique and many options should be considered.

Homeowners often ask, “Why should I stage?” The short answer is that it will help sell your home faster and for top dollar. Having a home on the market can be very frustrating and nerve-wracking. Your home will come under scrutiny by many different types of buyers, and it is important to know what your potential buyers are looking for in a home. Staging offers sellers the opportunity to view their home from a different perspective. By looking at a home from the viewpoint of a buyer, the strengths of a home can be highlighted, while anything the house may lack can be minimized. Staging affords homeowners with the opportunity to make their home and living areas more appealing to potential buyers.