The Stages Of Staging.

The stages of staging.

   For the past 13 years I have worked as a Color Consultant and paint color expert, but that’s not all I do. Many clients want help making other decisions like choosing floor stains, tile, carpet and anything else that have a difficult time deciding on. If couples are renovating and fighting over these decisions, I also help to save a lot of marriages! 

                                                                      

   One reason homeowners call me to help them choose paint colors is because they are planning to sell their house in the near future. Not only do I help them choose paint colors that will sell the house, we also talk about removing wallpaper, painting kitchen cabinets, replacing light fixtures and which items to declutter. Occasionally I will return right before photography day to arrange items on shelves and fluff pillows, anything that will make the photos look better. (Eventually I got smart and got my Real Estate license.) 

   It seems I have been doing a lot more staging lately and I really enjoy it. When I first began doing this, the word “staging” wasn’t so widely known and wasn’t a “thing” like it is now. But now I’m getting calls from people who aren’t even moving but want me to “stage” their house. Since I do varying degrees in this area, I thought I’d share the different levels and types of staging that I do.

Pre-Staging.

A pre-staging consult is when the homeowner or Realtor calls me 6 months to a year in advance of selling their home. When I arrive we walk through the home room by room and I give them a “to-do list” including which furniture items to get rid of, lighting fixtures that need to be changed, and if needed will choose paint colors that will appeal to buyers. When I leave the homeowners do most of the work themselves. Usually the home owners call me for pre-staging. This typically takes 1-2 hours.  Visit my Facebook and Instagram pages to see photos.

Stage-in-Place. 

To stage in place means to stage a home using what the homeowners already have. This works if the furniture is fairly new, or neutral enough to look good in photos. Some homes look too empty and need more stuff to look cozier, and others have too much stuff, like too many books on the shelves, too many little knick knacks, and tiny little pictures hung too high on the wall.

 I will rearrange things, tell them which pieces to get rid of, where to move pieces to and I will tweak everything to make it look presentable for photos before the photographer comes. I will bring in a few accessories if needed. This is done a few days before the real estate photographer comes.Usually the Realtor calls me for this staging and it takes a few hours

.        Here is a video of large Stage in Place job I did recently that is a great example:

Partial Staging.

This is when a home is just really outdated. Everything about it is screaming “I haven’t been updated in 15-20 years.” I will choose new paint colors, rearrange things the best I can, and then have them remove dated furniture.

 I will bring in some smaller furniture pieces like dining room chairs, and accessories like area rugs, lamps and artwork that will give the place a fresh, new look. These are all items that will usually fit in my SUV so it doesn’t involve renting a truck or hiring movers. Clients pay for a couple hours of my time and to rent any items I bring in.



                                           Here is a video of a partial staging job.

Full Staging.

Up until now I have called myself a “Staging Consultant” because I didn’t bring in furniture and never staged new construction homes. However, this year I was asked to stage a few new construction homes so I have added this to my repertoire!  I rent the large pieces like sofas and dining room tables and I have amassed a collection of artwork, rugs, chairs and accessories that I keep in storage. Either the builder or the realtor calls me for this staging.                                                

 
        
               Chatham Staging Video.                                             NP Staging Video.                                      
I rent a truck and hire people to do the moving. Then I come in with accessories. This usually takes two days. Clients pay to rent furniture and accessories and they pay me for my time. The staging usually stays in the home anywhere from 1-3 months. After the house sells we return with the truck to remove the furniture. 

   Stay Staging.

This is a term I just made up. LOL It’s what I’ve been doing all along, doing Interior Design consults, but I just made up a new name for it. It’s when I “stage” a house for people who are not moving. I help them give their homes a quick, easy update by choosing new paint colors, and make suggestions for other things like window treatments, area rugs, lamps, and we simply shop on line while I’m there. It usually only takes an hour. I give clients a direction to go in, and then they go do it themselves. Occasionally I may go with them to HomeGoods or to a tile store, but usually we shop online because it’s faster and easier and cheaper.  

So these are the different stages of staging. Whether you're planning on moving or staying put, you may want to hire a stager near you to help you choose some paint colors and give the place a quick pick-me-up! Of course if you're in northern NJ, you can call The Paint Diva!