You’ve decided to sell your home, and you want to get top dollar, so you look for a professional to help. But you’re not sure if you need a home stager or a decorator. I’m here to help you figure it out!

What’s the difference? A home stager is an expert at “setting the stage” of your home to attract and sell to your potential buyer. They redecorate and rearrange to sell the house, not for personal taste.

A decorator focuses on personal preferences and style when decorating a home because they work with clients who plan to stay in their home long-term.

Today, I’m highlighting 3 ways home stagers are different from decorators and how hiring a home stager can help you sell your home faster and for more money...

Home Stager’s Goal is to Set the Stage

When you stage your home to sell, the first thing you do is to remove everything in it that is personal to you. This is because the space has become a commodity for sale, and major decluttering allows you to move forward in the selling process.

For home stagers, our primary goal is to set the stage for the MLS photos-- for that specific buyer we know is looking for your price point.

On the other hand, when you hire a decorator, the exact opposite happens. Decorators encourage you to bring forward everything that holds a special place in your heart so it can be displayed for the world to see.

Home Stagers Choose A Style Based on the Sellers

When we stage for a sale, we strategically bring in exactly what the sellers want and expect to see. Our job is to make the home stand out with what’s trending and up to date in furniture, art, and accessories.

When decorating for a client, we get to know them and their style preferences. For example, they may prefer a mix of timeless pieces with modern touches. Then, we take a step-by-step approach to exceed what the clients expect from us in the design process.

Home Stagers Balance Seller and Client Expectations

While decorators can design for a client's wishes, home stagers must achieve a delicate balance of keeping the design neutral and welcoming for ideal clients. A task that is not as easy as most people think!

We recommend that a home seller reach out before they put their home on the market for home staging. Then, we can make recommendations that we know buyers are expecting to see when they tour your home.

One of the most important updates you can do to your home is to paint! We refer to paint as "easy money in the can" as it can literally change how a space is perceived. In addition, paint costs next to nothing and the right color will pull in your potential buyers through the MLS pictures.

Another tip I like to share is that most agents prefer to show properties that have been updated and staged. So if you are not strategically staging to sell your home, your neighbor may sell their home before you. Yikes!

Have a question about whether a home stager is right for you? Reach out to us, and we'd be happy to share our honest advice.

Warmly,

Theresa