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This Is Not Staging!
By marionduffy | March 28, 2008
I found a recent article about staging in the Orange County Register rather disturbing. While the author, Babara Ballinger, admits that staging is done to help homeowners sell a home more quickly, she gives the idea that many sellers do it to cover up defects in the home. I have earned the ASP designation (Accredited Staging Professional) and I found her article to be very insulting. The article cites scenarios such as sellers using an area rug to cover up damaged flooring or curtains to hide rotted window sills. Covering up defects and misleading buyers is not staging!!! It is wrong and a real estate professional, with or without the ASP designation, will advise a seller not to even consider doing such a thing.
In addition, the seller is required to complete the Real Estate Transfer Disclosure Statement and most agents are requesting that the seller also complete the Seller Property Questionnaire. The agents on both sides of the transaction are also required to do a visual inspection of the property. The purpose of all these forms is to make the buyer aware of any known material defects in the property. On top of this, it is always recommended that a buyer get a professional third party inspection.
One of the things staging does is to depersonalize a home. This not only helps to sell the house faster, it also makes it easier for buyers to picture themselves in the home.
Staging a home is a good thing. Covering up or concealing known defects is very bad.
Topics: Staging, Selling a house |
March 28th, 2008 at 9:48 am
I found your blog on MSN Search. Nice writing. I will check back to read more.
Eric Hundin
March 28th, 2008 at 9:52 am
Nice writing style. Looking forward to reading more from you.
Chris Moran
March 28th, 2008 at 6:37 pm
Marion, thank you for setting the records straight and keeping Staging high in the public mindset. I would not try to sell a property that has not been reviewed by a stager (at the very least). Enjoyed reading this post.
March 31st, 2008 at 9:24 pm
Marion.
I completely agree with your post regarding “Staging” and how it is not at all meant to “cover up” defects in a home. I am also an ASP Realtor. I actually got to take the class from Barb Schwartz herself..it was wonderful. I like how you mentioned how a seller actually has a duty to tell buyers of any material defects they may know about their home.
Good job
Kelly Evans
April 2nd, 2008 at 2:30 pm
Stagine also presents the home at its best - kind of dressed up. Just as we dress up when we go out to an event, staging does the same for a home. As homeowners we live with a certain amount of clutter and badly placed furniture. Having your home staged gives it a fresh perspective from an outsider’s viewpoint.
April 2nd, 2008 at 4:05 pm
Home staging is a necessity for some sellers especially in our current market. Not every home seller has the “eye” of an interior decorator, and many homes need de-cluttering and furniture rearranging for the property to look its best. Buyers are used to going through builder’s model homes which are staged. If re-sale homes are going to compete with new homes in the minds of a prospective buyer, then home staging should be an option for those sellers who need help in presenting their home in the best light.