Home staging is the strategic pre-listing preparation of a home. As stagers, we help Realtors and sellers prepare homes so that they launch on the market at their absolute best to lock in the right buyer.

Not at all. But, unfortunately, decorating is what most people think of when they hear the word ‘staging’. It’s really a much bigger, strategic 3-step process:

1. The pre-listing consultation is the initial walkthrough/assessment of the home (the end result is a detailed, pre-listing game plan so to speak and, arguably, the most important step).

2. The prep work represents the execution of the game plan by the sellers. This can be a small or large amount of work depending on the condition of the home.

3. The styling occurs once all of the prep work has been done to elevate the home’s look and feel for photos and showings.

Like any marketing strategy, there are no guarantees; however, there are plenty of stats to support the fact that staging translates to consistent, excellent results.

Homes sell quicker and often for more money.

The way real estate is being sold has changed. Buyers shop online first so photos matter more than ever (and expectations are much higher).

Having a selling strategy is essential. At the very least, every occupied home needs a pre-listing consultation to provide recommendations for prepping the home.

Once the prep work has been completed, styling is often done to elevate the look and feel for potential buyers. Styling ensures the space is neutral which allows potential buyers to envision themselves in the space (and creates a broad appeal for as many buyers as possible).

Vacant homes (without exception) need to be styled/showcased so that buyers can get a gauge on the scale of each room, feel a sense of connection to the home, imagine their own furniture placement in the space, etc.

De-cluttering is important but it's only one step. Addressing other condition items such as cleaning, painting and basic repairs are also critical. Depersonalizing is also key so that potential buyers have the opportunity to envision themselves in the space (and not see how the seller has lived there).

Yes. The majority of homes that we style are occupied by the sellers (with kids & pets!). That said, some care needs to be taken while our inventory items are onsite.

After we ‘set the stage’ so that the home is pristine (and then after photos have been taken), sellers simply remove our soft goods and place back once there’s a showing. This ensures our items are used for decorative purposes only.

If the house sells right away, we come and remove the inventory. If the house doesn’t sell within the first 4-week rental period, the option exists to renew.

Most staged homes end up selling for the listing price or close to it – sometimes even above it. A staged home has a higher perceived value, so you can list the home for what it’s truly worth. A non-staged home will look like it needs more work, which often leads to lower offers. Our goal is to ensure that the buyer has no reason to offer you once cent less than asking price.

As staging professionals, we have the ability to evaluate a home's condition, prioritize what we feel will be the most important items to address before listing, recommend contractors and showcase the home with our inventory of decorative items prior to photos. Having assistance and knowledge throughout the process is invaluable. For Realtors, we become an important part of the pre-listing process and ease much of their burden by working directly with the homeowner.

Pre-Listing Consultation Fee

We partner with local Realtors who include our initial consultation fee as part of their listing package. This is a great benefit for you!

If you are not working with a Realtor, our consultation fee is $350 + HST. We will visit, tour your home, take photos and provide formal recommendations via an emailed report. Our job is to put your mind at ease by providing a step-by-step plan moving forward.

Styling Fee

Occupied stages - broad range is $1,000 - $5,000 with a 4-week initial rental period and option to renew. Involves accessorizing and using seller’s existing furniture.

Vacant stages - broad range is $3-8,000 depending on the scope of project. Also includes a 4-week rental period and option to renew. Involves accessorizing and full furniture rental and setup.

Likely, but what money was left on the table as a result of NOT prepping the home? Even in strong markets, presentation determines price, speed, and negotiation strength.