Stagers will put your home's best look forward

“We thought we had the perfect house,” said Thurston, the mother of three. “We were shocked that it didn’t sell.”

House hunters found the home tired, and the furnishings dated. Thurston, who prefers antiques, found the comments surprising.

“They could not look past the furniture and other things,” Thurston said. “They could not visualize the home’s potential.”

Discouraged, they took the home off the market. When the Thurstons decided to re-list their home recently, a Realtor suggested they seek the advice of a home stager.

Home stagers help prepare your home for a sale by making it a look bigger, brighter and cleaner. They focus on space, flow, light and color. Focal points, like a fireplace, are important. So is furniture size and placement. Stagers work to depersonalize and neutralize a house to make it appeal to a broad range of buyers.

“I wasn’t convinced a stager would make a difference,” said Thurston who hired Pat Shankle, owner of Georgia Home Staging. “But I figured it was worth a shot.”

Since most house hunters search online for a home before they step foot on the property, a house needs to make a quick first impression and be picture-perfect for real estate Web sites and YouTube videos.

“We educate sellers that the home is a product, and staging is product marketing,” said Barbara Heil-Sonneck of Design2Sell.

Many sellers don’t have the time or know-how to prep their property. Still, others lack the eye -- and objectivity -- to do what is necessary in today’s market, where priced-right, move-in-ready homes with a Pottery Barn look, are in demand.

That’s why staging an occupied or vacant house is a popular option for busy homeowners, investors, banks and real estate agents in the Atlanta-metro area.

Take Crystal Sloan, an agent at Keller Williams Realty in Atlanta. For years, Sloan, like other Realtors, advised sellers on fixes and updates. No more. She now leaves the job to the stager.

“It’s a beauty contest out there,” Sloan said. “Staging a home can give it an edge in a crowded market. It has changed the way I do business."

According to a 2009 national survey of Realtors by HomeGain, home staging is one of the top home improvements for sellers after cleaning and decluttering.

Soon after a walk-through of Thurston’s house, Shankle went to work.

In the open family room, nearly all of the furniture was removed. Shankle refilled the room with a more contemporary, cream-colored rug and furniture. Once the books were boxed and stored, she rearranged the shelves.

The family room rug went to work in the living room, where Shankle used Thurston’s large mirror and coffee table.

In the dining room, the table stayed. However, Shankle changed the table’s centerpiece, added different chairs and removed the rug to show off the newly refinished hardwood floors.

On Shankle’s suggestion, Thurston removed the wallpaper in the downstairs master bathroom and repainted. In the bedroom, the drapes came down and some new bedding was added.

In the kitchen, counters and cabinets were cleared. Some decorative canisters were added to make the counters look used, but uncluttered.

“Clutter is a problem,” Shankle said. “We all have too much furniture and other stuff.”

Thurston is pleased with the makeover and hopes the neutral but warm, model-home look will attract buyers.

“I’ve learned that the way you live in a home and the way you market a home are different,” Thurston said. “I just hope people can see themselves living here and buy it.”

Staging fees

Fees vary. But generally, stagers charge $75 per hour and up. Some may offer packages with fixed prices, such as $249 for one hour on the job a detailed, to-do report.

Find a stager

Check with friends, neighbors and area real estate agents, or contact:

- American Society of Home Stagers & Redesigners. www.ashsr.com

- International Association of Home Staging Professionals, www.iahsp.com

- Real Estate Staging Association. www.realestatestagingassociation.com

Home staging tips

Inside

- Declutter, but don’t leave rooms sterile.

- Clean (Q-tip clean) everything from windows to floors.

- Paint rooms in light, neutral colors. Consider tan, green or gray.

- Remove dated wallpaper and drapes.

- Pack away family photos, trophies, books and collectibles. Remove anything that makes the house “yours.” Buyers need to visualize their belongings in the house.

- Update light fixtures, faucets and cabinet hardware.

- Remove excess furniture to make rooms look more spacious.

- Store furniture and clutter off-site. Don’t pile everything in the basement or garage. Buyers want to see these spaces uncluttered.

- Arrange furniture for an easy traffic flow. Consider placing a major piece of furniture, like a bed or couch, at an angle. Angles add interest and create a more open feel.

- Dust and clean lighting fixtures and overhead fans. Remove cobwebs from recessed lighting.

- Clean fireplace and prepare with logs for display.

- If house is vacant, rent or leave some furniture for key rooms. Or, consult a stager, who often has furniture and accessories on hand. When a house is empty, buyers can’t connect to it or visualize how to furnish it. Furniture helps define the room and purpose.

Kitchen/dining room

- Clear countertops. Leave a few accessories, like a coffeepot.

- Set the dining room or breakfast table with placemats, dinnerware and napkins.

- Keep a few, neatly arranged canned goods in pantry. Add some bottled waters.

Bathrooms

- Remove toiletries from countertops, window sills and sides of bathtub or shower.

- Hang new towels.

Outside

- Paint the front door, shutters and mailbox.

- Update outside light fixtures and welcome mat.

- Add a colorful potted plant or plant seasonal flowers near the front entrance.

- Clear leaves from beds and add fresh mulch.

Sources: georgiahomestaging.com, homedesign2sell.com and lowes.com.