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Home Staging
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Home staging questions and answers are always a popular topic of discussion between professional home stagers, their clients and the general public at large. Home staging Q&A allows people to ask a specific question about home staging and receive a personal answer to their query. I offer my Q&A service to people who have inquiries about home staging strategies, costs or problems. I hope the Q&A section will help you to plan your property staging project better and provide you with all the tools you will need to succeed in selling your house for top dollar!
Home Staging Questions and Answers Rules
Please use the contact form to send in your question or comment. I read every submission and will answer you at the email address provided. MAKE SURE THAT YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS IS CORRECT AND FUNCTIONAL, OR YOU WILL NOT RECEIVE A REPLY.In addition, selected submissions will be published on the Q&A forum along with my answer. If you do not want to chance your submission being published, please do not send in a query. Before sending in a question, please check the Home Staging FAQ page to see if your question has already been answered there. Thank you!
ASK A QUESTION or SEND A COMMENT
A: Hi Dottie, Sure, it is certainly not only possible, but quite easy. There are many articles on this site about DIY staging and strategies for each area. This is a good place to begin. There are also television shows, articles and books about staging (including m own book) which give you detailed advice and technique tips. Learn first, them implement. Best, Adam Rostocki
Q: I am self staging my loft for sale in San Fran. I love the site and am using it to guide me in the process. Thanks! I do have a question. What can I do to depersonalize my very taste specific furniture (red leather). It is a modern space and mostly white and black, with these items being the accent color. I already painted earth tones to make the place more likeable for less severe tastes and now the furniture really looks out of place. Thanks again, Franny
A: Hi Franny, Depending on the style, you may be able to keep it and cove it with slipcovers. These foolproof solutions work well for many styles of furniture and can be had for under $100. Alternately, you might want to move the red leather into storage (or sell it) and simply rent appropriate new couches for a few dollars a month. Best, Adam Rostocki
Q: My husband and I are arguing over paint colors. We are selling our traditional style home in San Diego and I want to neutralize the living room with a more universal color, while he wants to keep the faux finish Tuscan we already have (pics attached). I think he just does not want to do the work or pay for it! What do you think? Margie
A: Hi Margie, Lose the faux using a good primer and neutral color. It will only take a day or work and I think the results will be much better based on the pictures you sent. Best, Adam Rostocki
Q: Hello, Thanks for a great website. I love the DIY section. Question: Should I invest in new appliances for my kitchen before listing the home. They are yellow from like 1980 and the rest of the home is great, with many updates including a new master bath. I want to sell, but also want to save! Thanks, Tammy Lynn
A: Hi Tammy Lynn, Definitely, kitchens sell houses! Get an inexpensive stainless steel appliance package (under $2000 usually) and upgrade the kitchen for a more appealing look and feel, not to mention functionality. You will get this money back and sell much faster. If the kitchen needs help in other ways, do it, but think refinish, rather than replace, whenever possible. Best of luck, Adam Rostocki
Q: Hi, I live in the UK and I'm very interested in pursuing a career in Home staging? I am planning to move and work in New York? But I want to a complete a course or training firstly, in order to pursue that career in New York? Please can you give me advise on what course or training I should choose? Be that in the UK or NY? and how I should go about pursing a home staging career in NY? I would really appreciate your feedback.Thank you so much, Kind Regards, Sofina
A: Hi Sofina, Some of the finest staging companies and schools are here in New York. If you intend on training in person, I advise you wait till you get here. If you are considering an online course, you can get it done in advance. Competition here is fierce in every industry and the real estate sector is one of the toughest. However, the rewards can be great for talented and hard working stagers. Best, Adam Rostocki
Q: Hi, I plan to become an apartment stager and I was wondering what college/major do I need to get a job? - Elizabeth
A: Hi Elizabeth, Most home stagers do not have college degrees and if they do, they are coincidental. No degree is needed. Studying design would be a big asset though... Home staging training is typically a non-college, trade school based educational program. Best, Adam Rostocki
Q: Hello. I have 15 years experience as a floral designer, my question is would a home staging co. be interested in giving me a opportunity to work for them.I live in Las Vegas.If you think I HAVE chance would you be able to recommend a company out here. Thank you for your time. Corazon
A: Hi Corazon, If you decide to pursue staging, I recommend that you take some training first, in order to add to your skill set. The combination of floral experience and staging techniques is valuable, but just floral design, not so much...too limiting. I am based in NY, so you probably have a better idea of the companies out there! You can contact a local stager's association for some possibilities. I send you my best, Adam Rostocki
Q: Staging home for sale. Bathroom has good quality stainless steel grab bars installed in the master bathroom tub surround (4" ceramic tile around standard 5' steel/enamel tub). [Two 12" ones mounted vertically at chest height at either end, and a 18-24" one mounted diagonally on the back wall.] As we're having the tub and tile reglazed to white, it's an opportunity to remove the grab bars and fill/refinish the holes in the tile. Is it better to remove the grab bars for staging, or leave them? - Chris
A: Hi Chris, Definitely remove them. This is a special interest feature which will not appeal to most buyers. Best, Adam Rostocki
Q: HELLO, I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IS IT BETTER TO SHOWCASE YOUR HOME WITH OR WITHOUT FURNITURE IN IT WHEN YOU ARE TRYING TO SELL IT. THANKS. LORI
A: Hi Lori, It is always far better with furniture and art.I have written 2 articles addressing this common question here:
http://www.home-staging-home-stager.com/staging-an-empty-house.html
http://www.home-staging-home-stager.com/vacant-home-staging.html
Best, Adam Rostocki
Q: Hi Adam, Nice website. Thanks for the effort! I am a good amateur designer and am thinking about selling my home soon. Do you think I can do my own staging? I am pretty confident and have some nice furnishings to use. Thanks, Cath
A: Hi Cath, Sure, why not. You can certainly try it. There are so many resources online, in book form and on television to help. Take your time and get the design right before listing. Try to retain a real estate agent with a good sense of design as well and have them approve your look and feel before marketing. Best, Adam Rostocki
Q: Should you leave children's removable decals on walls when selling your home? Thanks. Kelly
A: Hi Kelly, I would advise removing them and transforming their rooms into a more classic version of a general purpose bedroom in every way... Best, Adam Rostocki
Q: I am staging my one bedroom apartment myself. SO far so good, but the bedroom looks cluttered and too small no matter what I do. The set is king sized and the room is 12 feet by 14. What should I do? Thanks for any tips, Eva
A: Hi Eva, If the rest of the furniture is not too large, you can save it and simply replace the bed with a queen size. You can buy a cheap air mattress to use, if it is just for show or rent a mattress if you are actually sleeping on it. Consider removing one of the nightstands, if there are 2, for added room or losing either the dresser or the chest. Hope this helps, Adam Rostocki
Q: i live in north carolina and was wondering how much i should charge as a home staging consultant? bobbi
A: Hi Bobbi, You must research your competition's fee's. market conditions and the amount of competition you have. Using this data, you should be able to come up with a fair price for your services. Start lower, you can always raise the price as you gain clients. Best, Adam Rostocki
Q: I was wondering if you had a suggestion for me- my career has been in Visual Merchandise. Recent years, the focus has been on Showroom and Special Event installations. This has involved furniture rental, prop sourcing and overall layouts. I would like to shift out of fashion and more into home staging, but I don't have any contacts in this field. Can you recommend a company I can approach? I take pride in my work and would like to be able to utilize my skills. Any advice is appreciated.Thanks! Carolyn
A: Hi Carolyn, I do not align myself with any particular firms, but suggest approaching all of them in your area. What do you have to lose? Apply for a position and bring your best skills to the table. See what they can offer you and go from there. Alternately, you can go out on your own and build your own business. Just make sure you receive any training you might need so that you are prepared to fulfill your client's most lofty expectations. I wish you the best of luck and hope you can make the transition into a new and challenging career. Best, Adam Rostocki
Q: How much will it cost me to stage my house? Billi
A: Hi Billi, It really depends on many factors, including the size of your home, the geographic location and the type of staging design you require. Of course, the type of staging you choose, be it professional or DIY will also be an important consideration. I advise reading my section on "home staging costs" for detailed information. Best, Adam Rostocki
Home Staging Questions and Answers to Home Staging
