Staging Dreams

I was privileged to share some time (and dinner) with Barb Schwarz, the lady who started the whole concept of Home Staging, in March when she visited Nashville to speak at the ERA Realtors national convention.  It was so wonderful to share stories with her and members of our Nashville Regional Chapter of the International Assoc. of Home Staging Professionals (IAHSP).  Her joy, true caring, and enthusiasm were inspiring.

It was through reading Barb’s book Home Staging, The Winning Way to Sell Your House For More Money that I realized I was ready to change careers and embark on becoming a Home Stager.  I had helped out friends and acquaintances through the years who were trying to sell their home, or who were just wanting a makeover of their space, but I hadn’t known what Staging really was until I read this book.  It re-affirmed what I had done for people in the past and opened up a whole new life for me.  I left my prior job, took the Accredited Staging Professional Class, and started Staging Dreams here in Murfreesboro, Tennessee.

When Barb started Home Staging, she did so because as a Realtor she realized how important it was that a house show it’s best assets for buyers, rather than just reflect how the seller has been living in the house.  By “Staging the scene” a house that was once cluttered, outdated, too personalized, and crowded becomes a showplace where buyers can envision themselves living.   Buyers tend to only see the way a house is, not it’s potential.  Through her training program and continuing education programs our IAHSP Chapter offers, I have gained better understanding of Home Staging, it’s benefits, and how to incorporate those ideas into my business.  I have become an active member in our IAHSP Chapter, and in fact am the Chapter President for 2010.

I love what I do and how what I do can really make a difference in selling a house.  Not many jobs have the reward of such visible results of your work, but “before” and “after” pictures really show what Staging can do when selling a house.  We all have different talents, and this is one of mine.  I know some sellers or Realtors think that by placing a scented candle in the bathroom or setting a plant in the corner they have Staged the space, but it is much more than that.  You have to take into consideration the style of the house, the demographics of the potential buyers for this property, and how to play up the best features of the house.  Decluttering, neutralizing and depersonalizing are the big three Staging concepts.  Explaining these keys to sellers helps them realize Staging is not a repudiation of the sellers style, but rather a marketing tool to make their home a competitive product in the real estate market.

Thanks Barb, for not just putting a name to what I help sellers do, but for creating a professional field that is national recognized among real estate professionals!