What’s the difference between staging and decorating?

Decorating is the process of personalizing a home to make it more comfortable and nurturing to a particular person, with particular tastes and needs. Decorating is based on a lifetime of experiences and preferences.

Staging is the process of depersonalizing a home to make it possible for a potential new resident to walk into a house and imagine their own lives taking place there. Staging provides an inviting backdrop so others can imagine their own belongings, personality and tastes being added to a given space.

• Decorating is an expense, Staging is an investment
• Staging isn’t about spending money, it’s about making money
• The cost of staging is far less than the first price reduction if your home doesn’t sell immediately

How much does it cost to have a home staged?

The cost depends on the current condition, size and the needed work on a particular property. It can be as low as a few dollars or as high as several thousand, depending on your needs and what you hope to accomplish with the staging. I will work with you and your budget.

Costs are lower for those willing to do the “heavy lifting” themselves and are higher for those who prefer that all the work be done for them. The cost of the staging will include such items as cleaning, moving, painting and furniture rental services.

What’s the difference between a bid and a consultation?

My bids are a one-page outline of what I will do to stage your home. Bids are for people who don’t want to do the staging themselves. Bid proposals are for homeowners, builders and real estate agents/brokers. Requesting a bid is free of charge.

A professional staging consultation involves me coming to your home and developing a personalized, detailed breakdown of what needs to be done in your particular home. In the consultation process, the client asks questions and the staging consultant offers ways to make the best of what resources are available or those that can be obtained. Once the consultation is complete, the individual can do the staging themselves, hire subcontractors to do the work or can request a bid for the staging professional to handle all the details.

Is there a difference between an ASP Home Stager and other designations?

As an Accredited Staging Professional, I attend continuing education classes. I’m also a member of the International Association of Home Staging Professionals, a group founded to support, educate and promote career home staging professionals. It was founded by the first home stager and industry creator, Barb Schwarz, back in 1972.

This original staging organization continues to be the industry leader. Both Barb and the organization have been featured in national publications on the topic of home staging. Barb is an author as well as a television and radio personality and she continues to teach classes to ASP Members.

Other designations may require only a membership payment or may be completed in a single online class. Before selecting your home stager based on designations or memberships, be sure to research what is required to hold the designation. Due diligence is always best when hiring any service provider.