The 4 Unwritten Rules of Home Staging

As professionals we work tirelessly to make sure that our staging is of the highest quality." says Trisha Roe Owner of Designing Impressions and industry veteran. "But we know that the quality can’t stop with us. The photographer has to do their best and the Realtor needs to do their best. When this team is top notch then the entire selling process is more successful. -Trisha Roe, Owner / Designing Impressions

As professional home stagers, we are often asked for advice from home owners about the RIGHT ways to sell their property. So, we thought we’d share a helpful Advice Article, to point the way toward your successful home sale!

Designing Impressions understands that you only get ONE chance to make the first impression with any prospective buyers – your home is never more valuable than that first day on the market. You’re going to get lots of advice about selling your house – we thought we’d tell you the Four Unwritten Rules of Home Staging.

Rule 1: Don’t try to sell your home without it being professionally staged.

This is a guarantee that your home won’t make that best first impression, it won’t sell as quickly as you’d like and it won’t net you the profit you’re hoping for. Instead, work with a qualified real estate professional who will put together the right team for your home’s needs. That team will include contractors, photographers and a professional home stager.

Rule 2: Don’t assume watching HGTV or DIY can teach you how to stage your home.

Real estate is not an a-la-carte process. Doing work yourself that should be done by a professional (or outsourcing work to friends without the proper training and experience) is the NUMBER 1 misstep that can result in an unsuccessful experience for any home owner. Trust the professionals.

"As professionals we work tirelessly to make sure that our staging is of the highest quality." says Trisha Rowe Owner of Designing Impressions and industry vertaran. "But we know that the quality can’t stop with us. The photographer has to do their best and the Realtor needs to do their best. When this team is top notch then the entire selling process is more successful.”- Trisha Rowe, Owner / Designing Impressions

Rule 3: Don’t rely on your real estate agent to stage your home for free

Would you go to a mechanic for a root canal? A professional is also a specialist – they don’t try to wear too many hats. They’re going to be very good at what they specialize in. A professional stager works with many realtors in their region. That gives them a good understanding of the real estate business, but they wouldn’t try to convince you to let them sell your home. As Amanda Mosness of Designing Impressions explained, “We would never attempt to be a Realtor. They have their expertise and we have ours.”

Rule 4: Don’t hire a professional stager and then assume you can sell your home yourself (FSBO)

Professional stagers build partnerships with hundreds of realtors, brokers and property managers in your community because they understand that Real Estate is a team sport. If you need a referral for a realtor, professional stagers will likely have a list of several agents that they work with professionally that they are happy to share because they know that it’s working with their Realtor partners that will help you have the most rewarding and successful experience.

Designing Impressions has been staging homes since 2004 and primarily serves the Black Hills of South Dakota and the Greenville, South Carolina metro markets. In 2019, Designing Impressions staged homes went under contract in less than a quarter of the average local days on market. Learn more at www.Designing-Impressions.com

To find a professional stager near you visit www.RealEstateStagingAssociation.com