10 Years Strong - What I Know For Sure

2026 marks a decade of transforming homes, supporting Realtors, and helping sellers maximize their return.

Like any journey, there have been some highs and lows but ultimately I’m grateful for the trust, partnerships and beautiful spaces that made these 10 years possible.

What I know after 10 years:

1. Every occupied listing needs a pre-listing consult.

2. Stagers are pre-listing marketing experts (who can also decorate).

3. Sellers deserve the truth about their home’s condition.

4. It’s never a good idea to list a vacant home.

5. Today’s sellers appreciate Realtors who provide a FULL game plan (both before and after listing).

6. Sellers never regret prepping their home.

7. The staging process is an essential part of the home’s overall marketing strategy.

8. Sellers never regret investing in styling their home for photos and showings.

9. Not all Realtors fully understand the value of our role. Let’s change that :)

10. Staging is here to stay.

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2026 GOALS:

1. Continue to help Realtors and their Sellers achieve their collective goal - a quick and profitable sale

2. Add more Realtors to our Partners list - www.flairstyleco.com/partners

3. Continue to expand our reach into the Bruce Peninsula

4. Heather and I will continue to train Janice and Sarah so that they can confidently take on more styling projects (and we need a new team photo !!)

5. Launch and expand on our ‘Homes Show Better Here’ campaign (stay tuned!)

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Choosing the Right Type of Staging

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If you are trying to sell your home quickly and for the most money possible, there is no question that you should stage your home. Staged homes have been proven to sell faster than unstaged home (often above asking price). Staging helps your home appeal to the most buyers possible and gives prospective buyers a chance to envision themselves living there.

So, now that you know you should stage, you need to ask which type of staging is right for you. There are a few different options for you to choose from, depending on your budget and specific situation.

Traditional Home Staging

1st choice - Traditional home staging provides the most value by presenting your home in the best light. It includes placing everything from furniture to home décor pieces inside your home in a way that makes the best and most efficient use of the space. It can include furniture removal, rearranging, neutralizing existing colours, etc.

Traditional home staging can even extend to your outdoor spaces to help you improve your home’s curb appeal to attract more showings. This may include items like outdoor urns, patio sets, etc.

In today’s market, more people are expecting fully-staged homes thanks to the success of home makeover and design shows. Staging can make your home look bigger, brighter, and less cluttered. Properly staging your home can help you avoid feeling like you need to make major renovations. Instead, it will complement your home as it is now.

Soft Staging

2nd choice - Soft staging is another type of staging that can help you sell your home faster. It is similar to traditional home staging but does not include furniture and is a great option for homes that already have furnishings that would appeal to most buyers. This type of staging focuses on making the home feel a bit warmer and more inviting through the addition of artwork and accessories. This can also include adding greenery, pillows and bedding. It’s amazing how simple details can transform a space.

For example, adding small details (like a cookbook) can make the place feel more like home in the eyes of potential buyers.  Although not as impactful as a full stage, soft staging will still help your home stand out from the competition. It’s a more affordable option if you don’t have the budget for a full stage.

Virtual Staging

3rd choice - Very simply, virtual staging is the art of editing photos of your home to add furniture and accessories digitally. Like traditional staging it creates a vision of what life would be like in a home; however, unlike traditional staging, there is no moving of furniture or accessories. Since virtual staging is a digital process, all you need are professional photos of your home. Obviously, this means it’s more affordable and more convenient than traditional home staging. The biggest downside is that buyers may be confused or disappointed when they see your home in person (and it doesn’t look like the pictures). And, your home will not have the in-person “wow factor” that is so important for showings.

Virtual Staging - Yes? No?

The quickest way to sell your home for top dollar is via professional staging. Nothing compares to the experience of walking into a beautifully-staged home. That said, there are some situations in which you may want to consider virtual staging instead.

What is virtual staging? Very simply, it’s the process of editing photographs of your home to add furniture and accessories digitally. Virtual staging, like traditional staging, creates a vision of what life would be like in a home; however, unlike traditional staging, there is no moving of furniture or accessories. Since virtual staging is a digital process, all you need are professional photos of your home. Obviously, this means it’s more affordable and more convenient than traditional home staging. But there are some caveats …

The Benefits of Virtual Staging

1. Virtual staging offers more versatility when styling room.

2.  Virtual staging makes it easy to “change” paint colors and window treatments.

3. Virtual staging allows you to showcase both existing features and potential features.

The Drawbacks of Virtual Staging

1. The biggest downside is that buyers may be confused or disappointed when they see your home in person (and it doesn’t look like the pictures).

2. Your home will not have the in-person “wow factor” that is so important for showings.

So, when should you consider virtual staging?

1. If your home is in a less populated area that doesn’t get many in-person showings.

2. If your home is being renovated or remodelled - it would then allow you to show buyers what your home would look like upon completion.

3. If you don’t have the budget for traditional home staging services. Virtual staging is better than no staging.

When to Avoid Virtual Staging

1. Don’t stage your home virtually if you have a lot of in-person showings. Buyers may feel confused or tricked when the home doesn’t look the same way it did online and you want to avoid losing trust from potential buyers. Note: If you choose to stage your home virtually, make sure it’s clear that the photos have been virtually staged.

2. Also, avoid virtual staging if you have a luxury home. Buyers of luxury homes have higher expectations. They almost always expect to see a staged home.

Choose the Right Staging

No matter which type of staging you choose, remember:

1. use neutral furniture and decor - style and design choices should appeal to the broadest audience possible to elicit the most offers.

2. make sure that the person is a certified staging professional.

3. make sure that you aren’t wasting your resources on a cheaper service. Although staging your home virtually can be a good low-budget option, you should also consider traditional staging in a few key rooms.

If you’re considering selling, book a consultation - I would be happy to help ~ Julie Brown, CCSP - Flair Style Co.