What is home "staging" or "real estate enhancement", and what is its purpose?
Staging is simply preparing a house to be placed on the market for sale so that their best features are showcased and any problem areas minimized.

This is the art of creating a welcoming and inviting living space… drawing people in…so they feel comfortable and inspired…imagining themselves living there. This is accomplished by knowing where to add or subtract accessories and furniture…utilize color, texture and lighting…and improve traffic patterns in order to make the home appear more spacious, brighter, and inviting.

What does a stager do?
A stager is a design professional who assists a Realtor and home seller in identifying the home’s strengths. The stager’s objective is to make a house look as good as possible to as many potential buyers as possible.

Do I have to hire a stager?
No. Most real estate professionals agree that at least an initial consultation from a design professional enable the homeowners to take the task on themselves. Consultations are an in-depth look at the home (inside and out), addressing overall layout, furnishings, lighting, flooring, balance, flow, first impressions and much more. Generally a consultation takes one to two hours depending on the size of the home. website.

Why should I hire someone to "enhance" my property when I already have books, videos and a realtor who has made some suggestions?
Books, videos, pamphlets and general to-do lists are a good starting point. They are, however, too generic for optimal enhancement. Your property is unique and requires personalized attention and suggestions. Because you live in the home, you are probably no longer consciously aware of all the little details that need to be considered when preparing your home to appeal to the broadest range of buyers. It is almost impossible to be neutral about one's own living environment. Therefore, it is necessary to know how buyers perceive your home and then make the changes needed for broader appeal.

Many Realtors are good at making sellers aware of what is needed and how best to do it…however, most Realtors, even when they know how, don't have the time to do the in-depth analysis and consultation necessary to enhance the home and property for "maximum merchandising and marketing" purposes.

How much does staging cost?
You do not have to spend a fortune to stage your home for sale. It can be as inexpensive as simply removing clutter, or just hiring a professional stager, landscaper or handyman for repairs. Costs can vary from $97 for a consultation and up, depending on services rendered, scope and size of project. A number of recent articles (available on our website) provide some general statistics on the costs and benefits of staging.

Do I have to stage an entire home?
Absolutely not! A few carefully arranged vignettes or places to ponder can enhance the look of any home for sale. Consult with a local stager who can provide artwork, accessories, plants, lighting, furniture and more to elicit a positive emotional response from buyers.

What rooms should I focus on staging?
Experts agree that main living areas sell a home. We recommend focusing on formal living rooms, dining rooms and family rooms, master bedroom, master bathroom and kitchen. Additionally, you should address any room that the future homeowner may find difficult to furnish.

Can I stage my own home?
Sure, but first ask your real estate professional. He or she becomes your best advisor. (See answer #4.)

What should be done with an empty room?
Often the addition of plants, properly placed artwork, an entry table or a comfortable chair near a bay window can do the trick.

What do I do with existing color schemes, wallpaper, paint, etc.?
It is absolutely imperative to make your home as generic as possible. When in doubt go neutral. Often by neutralizing wallpaper and dark paint colors, a home actually appears larger, brighter and more appealing to a potential buyer.

Does it make any difference whether my house is already on the market or not, before I have my home Staged?
Ideally, you would want to Stage your home before it goes on the market. However, if your home is already on the market, Staging now decreases any additional time it could sit. Not to mention you can save thousands of dollars that are being chipped off the asking price with sitting time.

What if I am already using a Realtor?
Great!! Realtors love to show well prepared homes. Realtors know that a prepared home brings higher offers. Visually, the profile photos used in marketing your home in print and internet advertising is more appealing and attract more traffic at showings. In return more offers.

Why do I have to worry about all the little things? Can't I do the major things and then just keep the house picked up and clean? My home seems fine to me just as it is.
Of course you can and should do the major things…and keeping the house clean is a must. Most buyers don't immediately want to paint, change the carpet, redo the floors, or repair and stain the fence, etc. They want a place that sparkles…a home they feel is immediately livable (even if it is not exactly their taste) for three to five years without any additional expense or hassle. Taking care of the many "little" details completes the transformation of your home…making it the very best it can be. People respond positively to homes that look good, seem loved and are obviously well cared for. Your goal is for buyers to be both impressed and comfortable…who are able to imagine themselves living in your "For Sale" property.

Your home is undoubtedly "fine" for you and your every day living. You have it exactly the way you like it and feel comfortable with the way things are. Now, however, you have to look at it and experience it as a complete stranger would. That is what I mean when I say that homeowners have a hard time being completely neutral about their living spaces. When buyers come to look at your home and property, it is the first impression that makes them want to explore or not explore your home as a possibility for themselves. Your home is a stage set or a three-dimensional painting…which people either immediately like or not.

Why should I spend the time and money doing all the repairs and necessary upgrades when I may not re-coup my investment? Why not just give a small allowance to the seller and let them do it to their taste?
That works for the minority of buyers…those who can imagine exactly how it will look when finished, like to be "in-charge" of the changes, do a lot of the work themselves, or who want to buy at a rock bottom price. Most buyers, however, aren't able to imagine how the house will look when it is all spruced up, or may just not want to be bothered with fixing up other people's "left over" details. Buyers respond negatively or positively to what they feel, see, smell and hear. More often than not, that is what their decisions are based on. Owners of empty homes have an additional problem…empty homes do not sell as well as furnished homes. Developers of sub-divisions know this and that is why they spend a great deal of money on good decorators, furniture and accessories for their model homes…they understand the POWER of a home that looks good, smells good and feels good.

Do I need a decorator to completely "redo" my home in order to sell it?
NO! Most homes do not need to be "redone" by a decorator. Many beneficial and noticeable changes are made by…de-cluttering all spaces (including the garage, basement, closets and attic)…the addition and/or subtraction of accessories and furniture… enhanced placement and use of the above…and better use of color and improved traffic flow…all of which impact the overall ambiance of the home. Existing accessories and furniture can often be used in different ways, thereby changing the entire effect of a given space. Or, if necessary, one can purchase inexpensive accessories that enhance the overall feeling of the home.

Will I be able to increase the price of my property if I make these suggested changes?
You may not be able to tack on the additional "enhancement" expenses to the price of the house. Since the goal is to make a home IRRESISTABLE to the broadest range of buyers…they really are necessary expenses if you want to be competitive. It stands to reason that if a house is the best and most appealing in its price range, it sells more quickly and for more money.
Sellers have to realize that, in the long run, they may not be saving money by allowing their listing to linger on the market…"stale" listings do not sell as well or for as much money. Living on "high alert" is stressful. Most sellers want to get on with life and regain a relaxed state of mind. Only you can decide whether "to stage or not to stage".

Are you a home inspector? If I hire you will I still need to get a home inspection?
NO, I am not a home inspector. My analysis and consultation is for cosmetic and merchandising purposes only. Some of the things I may point out, such as peeling paint or a roof that looks like it might have seen better days, may overlap with what a home inspector tells you. However, I do not analyze or know anything about mechanical, structural, electrical, roofing or plumbing issues, etc. I do not know if you need a home inspector, and I do not take the place of one.

What is your background?
I graduated as an interior designer from Colorado State University. I have done computerized drafting for residential homes.
Since starting Home Staging Made Simple, I work with clients (and their realtors) in "staging" and enhancing properties. (See Testimonials)

How much time is required for a consultation?
It depends on a number of factors…the size and overall condition of the property…i.e. paint condition and color, carpeting, flooring, etc…how much clutter is involved… whether there are too many or too few accessories…too much or too little furniture and how it is placed…and other factors that are unique to each property. The analysis and consultation of an "average" property takes approximately two hours. Larger properties take longer, as do those with more issues that need to be addressed.

How can I remember all your suggestions?
For the verbal consultation, I explain all my suggestions as we go.
For the written consultation, I also write everything down and prepare a copy of all recommendations. If a realtor hires me to do the consultation, s/he also receives a copy.

Do you give free estimates?
I offer a complimentary half-hour, in person consultation (in my local area) if requested.

This service is a one time visit to preview your home before we stage or redesign your property. This visit is done to assess the property, both inside and outside, to complete a proposal/bid for a project, and to determine whether the homeowner needs to complete anything prior to the project.

Do you move furniture, hang pictures, paint, move stuff around, clean out closets, basements or garages, etc.?
Not for a "marketing and merchandizing" analysis and consultation. I leave the suggestions and recommendations with you. You then choose what you are going to do or have done. Depending on where you live, I can sometimes recommend people to do the work for you. If you want assistance with shopping for carpeting, paint and/or accessories, I do that for my hourly fee. For a fee, follow-up visits are available for fine-tuning the changes you have made.

What range of services do you offer?
I work with home sellers (with or without Realtors)…Realtors who give you my services as part of their "listing package"…owners of rental properties that need sprucing up…people wanting a "face lift" for their homes (even though they are not moving)…sellers of empty homes in need of temporary furnishing and accessorizing.

What locations do you service?
Our marketplace is the Northern Colorado Front Range, it includes: Fort Collins, Loveland, Windsor, Wellington and Greeley.

What are your fees?
My rates depend on the job(s) I am hired for and where you are located. Please fill out this form for specific information.

How long does the average redesign or staging take?
On average, 3-5 hours. The amount of time spent redesigning or staging depends on the size of the house, the number of rooms to update and whether or not an assistant is brought in for the project.

Do I need to be home during the redesign or staging?
We prefer that the homeowner is not home during the project for the following reasons:
    1) to heighten the excitement and anticipation,
    2) to allow us to completely focus and concentrate on the project,
    3) to minimize cost with efficient utilization of our time, and
    4) the process may be emotional to watch.

Are your redesign and staging services cost effective?
Yes. Interior redesign is an affordable alternative to interior design. In a redesign, we are using what you already have so there is no need to purchase additional furniture or accessories. In staging, our goal is to use your existing furniture and accessories to achieve the model home feel that appeals to buyers. This is much more cost effective than reducing the asking price thousands of dollars and staged houses typically sell faster and for more money than houses that have not been staged.

How do I know if a redesign is right for me?
Redesign is the perfect solution if you:
    1) like your furnishings but are tired with the existing room layout,
    2) are confused as to how to pull a room together,
    3) would like your room to be more spacious, warm and inviting, and
    4) keep buying accessories or furniture to complete a look, but it just isn’t working.

Do you stage vacant properties?
Yes. The larger items (sofa, loveseat, dining room sets, bedroom sets, etc.) are rented from a local furniture rental store. Home Staging Made Simple has an inventory of accessories to complete the project that are also available for rental.

When should a property enhancement consultation occur?
This should occur as soon as you decide to sell your house. This allows you time to complete the items suggested during the consultation so your house is ready for photographs for the listing, for virtual tour filming and before any open houses – all key items in the marketing of your house for sale.

Can a professional stager add even more to your home’s appearance and appeal?
Absolutely!! Stagers use a proven, professional set of guidelines to evaluate your home.  Recommendations are designed to maximize your home’s appeal.

Simply by rearranging furniture, the illusion of more space can be created, making rooms appear larger.
Adding different accessories from other parts of the house can give rooms a fresh, updated look.