Home Staging

I saw in the movie leap year that Anna( Amy Adams) is an apartment stager. Was that her actual job or just because she was going to sell their apartment?
Is Apartment staging an actual job or is it just when your going to sell your own apartment? I love the idea of decorating houses and I want to choose between apartment staging or being an Interior Decorator. Any tips on which I should choose, which one pays better?
Thanks so much!

Oh no, apartment or more often house staging is a real profession. Out here in California in the more high priced urban communities, the majority of vacant and unfurnished homes are being staged for sale (ordered by the Realtor). Staging a 1,600 sq.ft. house costs about $2,000-$2,500 for the first two months, and an extra $500-$600 for each additional month the furniture/decor are being used. These home staging services have their own warehouse with the furniture and knick-knacks, so there would be a substantial initial expense in setting up shop. You may get a job with an established firm and there gain enough experience to later help you set up your own business.

Some guy I know at college inherited a house from his grandparents and what he did was turn it into an unofficial music venue.

He tore out the basement and put a stage and sound system there and built a bar upstairs.

I want to emphasize that nothing is sold there. He doesn’t charge anything to get in and the food and alcohol are all BYOB; so he doesn’t get any money out of this idea.

Is something like this allowed?

It is his house so he can do what he wants. The only problem I would see happening is the neighbors might not like the noise and the number of people who go there. If they complain then the police would come and shut it down at that time for that night.

We’ve got a townhouse that is for sale and of course there are 5 similiar ones for sale on the neighborhood. It’s a beautiful waterfront community in a great area. We’ve recently:
* Priced below the competition and offered $3000 in closing costs and a $250 bonus to the buyer agent
*Listed it with a reputable real estate agency
*Given it a fresh coat of paint inside and out
*Cleaned till it can’t possibly shine any brighter
*Made sure there is No Clutter or personal effects in sight (and closets and drawers are almost empty too)
*Added new bed linens, new white towels, shower curtains and wash cloths
*Installed new stainless steel GE appliances

What else can we do to move this townhome quickly? I’ve got a health condition that requires one level living, and a possible surgery coming up in the next few months. Moving soon would be a huge plus. Your suggestions are GREATLY appreciated!

Often houses sell based upon how the home is decorated (or not decorated). The buyer compares their tastes to yours, or prefers a blank slate. Allowing as much light into the property is essential, thus if your have window treatments, you might want to rethink them. Another easy prep is the use of brass to get add to the shine, but this also is dependent upon your decorating. Buying the brass light switch covers are cheap and adds a subtle sparkle. Then there are the old Realtor open house tricks of putting slice and bake cookies or Pillsbury breads in the oven and have them cooking at a low temp during the actual showing to get the buyer to connect the the scent with the idea of home of another time. Another subtlety is to put a phone list of food take out on the fridge (decorated nicely) to add to the convenience of location, or other things a likely buyer would be attracted towards (babysitters, neighbors). You might want to up the bonus to the selling agent. Both buyers and their agents can see through an offer to pay for closing costs, but to them they see it simply as a willingness to sell for $3000 less. You may want to offer it as a decorating allowance instead.

Staging is getting a house ready when it goes on the market.

maybe, you’ll have to look around your community, I’m sure you can find a real estate agent who will give you some tips, and there are so many tips online. Theres everything from baking cookies to putting up family pictures to painting your walls white to decluttering your home.

Just google ‘house staging tips’ http://www.hgtv.com/real-estate/30-cant-miss-staging-tips/index.html

I am tasked with selling my mother’s house now that she has gone into a nursing home. The realtor is insisting that I complete a long shopping/decorating list to "stage" the house for sale. I had assumed it would be sold empty, after a few necessary repairs and upgrades.

The idea of staging completely throws off my timeline in terms of having an estate sale to sell furniture, etc., having the house professionally cleaned by a service, having the hardwood floors refinished, etc., etc., etc. It makes a really complicated, stressful job a whole lot worse for me.

Is staging really necessary or can I just tell her I want to sell it empty? I’m not looking to soak every possible dollar out of the sale, I just want to get it done.

Thank you.

They are only suggesting what they think will sell the house more quickly. You are the seller and in control and remember they are working for you. So do what you want to do, if they insist, get another agent.
Good luck.