Staging is not decorating

You have a beautiful home filled with wonderful antiques, amazing finds from trips to great
places and a wall of photographs showing generations of above average children (this is the
midwest).

Time to rent a P.O.D.

When a buyer opens the door of your house you have 15 seconds to grab that positive im-
pression. Do you want it to be on your great decorating or on the house you have for sale?
How to make a warm and inviting but impersonal home is the technique of staging.
But staging in the frozen midwest offers another set of challenges: light, cold, snow muck -
the dreaded winter buying season.

Let’s start at the front, when the agent pulls into the drive with the buyer close behind. Your
front yard is a cacophony of beautiful colors during the summer, but what about a winter
landscaping?

Colors are a wonderful hello from a dreary or snowy white canvas. Look for outdoor fix-
tures where colors can be added. Shutters, windows, lights can warm an entrance. The front
door is an important place to start. Add a deep rich tone to the door with a contrasting color
but similar tone to the surround. Paint shutters a deep tone to complement the door and sur-
round. Put out welcome mats only when showings are scheduled. Too many of us forget and
leave them out, rendering them useless when covered in snow and ice.

Add architectural items to the front of the house such as window boxes. Paint them to match
the trim paint and add plants that display winter texture and design. Evergreens are an easy
addition, but also think about plants that when dormant continue their visual elements.

Staging the key to success?

The average home staging begins at $350 for a 2 1/2 hour consulting and a 30-55 page analysis. More intensive staging can lead to bills topping out at $5,000 for painting and furniture moving.

Staged homes are on the market an average of 33 days less than non-staged homes, according to Barbara Schwartz, found of the International Association of Home Staging Professionals. She now estimates that 20 percent of homes go through some staging changes before hitting the market.

A well staged home may cost a little on the front end, but it is much cheaper than a price reduction.

Real Trends 2/08

Want to help the Economy? Buy a home.

Who will you call upon during your home buying - how much money will they then spend?
• Buyer's Agent
• home inspector
• pest inspector
• mortgage lenders
• appraisers
• title companies
• insurance companies
• handyman to do fix-ups
• moving company

Then when you move in it is estimated you will spend more than $6500 on home-related items in the first year.