DOES THE WORLD STILL NEED PROFESSIONAL HOME STAGERS?
Dear Alicia:
With the market demanding better online photographs, it seems that all of the detail work that used to define the home staging industry is no longer necessary. Most Realtors, and Sellers are aggressively decluttering their homes. They're revealing the value of their home which is in granite surfaces, hardwood floors, and pristine walls, and spacious rooms that aren't burdened by too much furniture.
It seems to me that most home stagers are in the business of selling or renting their decorative items, and that seems to be the last thing we really need in a well-staged home. So, do we still need, or will we still need professional home stagers?
Signed:
DIY Dolores
Dear Dolores:
You bring up an interesting topic! The inventory of residential property in North America is quite different from the inventory that we had ten or fifteen years ago, when most home staging techniques were developed. Home staging technicians that have kept up with the emerging trends will always be in demand, however, the majority of North American home stagers remain entrenched in 'old-school', 'old-fashioned', staging techniques that have left the clients and Realtors wondering about the value of the stager's services.
The emerging market for the home staging industry is in homes that are located in cookie-cutter, master planned communities, that are often less than 15 years old. These homes boast the amenities that you describe, and although somewhat worn (and not the ever-so-desirable-brand-new) a nicely polished, well-lit, and clean countertop (with an attractive backsplash) is all that the camera (and the potential buyers) are looking for!
- Gone are the canister sets, roosters, and knives-encased-and-entombed-in-ten-pounds-of-heavily-lacquered-pine that used to grace our countertop photos.
- Gone are the bathtub stagings that boast more candles than the altar during high mass!
- Gone are overworked dining room, breakfast room, and countertop tablescapes that feature more layered china and glassware than a White House dinner.
Houston Home Staging launched a counter revolution (actually, a countertop revolution) a few years ago. HHS uses countertop accents to add a little 'life force' to the photograph (generally a little fern, or basket of fruit tucked into a corner). Visit their Pinterest boards through their website to see how their staging techniques have changed to meet the demands of the market that they service.
It doesn't take a genius to declutter, but it still does require an experienced stager to put the icing on the staging cake. Home staging fees have been dropping in the past few years, and now, professional home stagers can generally be found for $65 to $100 an hour. Frequently, a two hour hands-on consultation will get the listing headed in the right direction, and that two-hour consultation will be all that is needed to attract a full-price buyer, or start a bidding war for a well-photographed property.
Many professional home stagers will scream at the notion that their billable hours won't include sales, or rental fees for their merchandise. The market really doesn't want, or desire that additional expense. The market welcomes stagers that don't present a fluctuating fee schedule. Our clients don't want to spend $145 on a consultation that includes a fifteen minute sales pitch for goods and services that they don't want - or need.
I can tell you, that offering a merchandise line is a complicated, and generally unprofitable part of my business plan. I've found, that I'm booking more hours, more consultations, and delivering a service that results in great online photographs, that bring in highly qualified buyers to our listings. I suspect that the future of home staging lies in talented staging technicians who (through experience and education) know what to edit out, and what to keep in.
It was fashion designer Coco Chanel's theory that before going out the door, one should remove one accessory from one's outfit. Professional Home Staging technicians who will thrive in the coming years, will know what to bring in to a staging, but, more importantly, they'll know what to leave out!
Thanks so much for your question Dolores! It's an important topic!
Warmest regards: Alicia
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