one of our recent Staging projects - in Denver, Colorado!  You can see more examples of our work at www.SensationalHome.com

Staged house sells for $45,000 MORE and the Sellers are super excited!!

Staging helps houses sell at the very BEST price even in a hot market. This property was full of things, cleared out, cleaned, Staged and listed for sale. The house was not updated, has some conditional issues, and it still sold at 10% MORE than list - and the list price was at the top of the range to begin with. This shows the power of proper presentation with Staging and professional marketing by the listing agent who did an awesome job getting the most $$ for her clients! The Staging was in line with the price of the house and the budget for Staging. It does not have to be over done to get an offer - as Staging is NOT decorating!

Sensational Home Staging - the power of Staging to help add visual appeal - Centennial CO property

Sensational Home Staging took this property from plain to pizzazz with Staging!

Staging Success - Sensational Home Staging! House under contract 1 week post Staging after sitting on the market over a month prior!

One of our recent Staging projects - on the market for over a month prior to Staging and under contract in a week after Staging!

Denver Home Staging - Highlands area - Sensational Home Staging

One of our latest Staging projects - vacant house in the Highlands area of Denver.

Staged and Under Contract in 1 day - over list price offer! Sensational Home Staging Success!

This property was Staged and listed - and went under contract in 1 day - at above list price!! Staging works! Stage it before you list it!

Downtown Condo - City Park - Bef & Aft Staging shows the difference Staging makes to attract a Buyer

Custom downtown condo near City Park with views of downtown Denver and the mountains! The Staging helped this place get SOLD because buyers don't have an imagination on how to place furniture in a wide open space.

Staged and UNDER CONTRACT in 1 day - Highlands Ranch Staging and Listing Success!

This property was on the market last year and did not sell. New year, new Realtor that brought me in as the professional Stager - and new look for the property that included tasteful furniture and décor to highlight this home's features. Result: This house went under contract in 1 day! THAT is the power of proper marketing of a house even in a hot market!

Investor Remodel and Flip - Staged to sell to attract today's buyer

Check out the before and afters of this investor flip of a property near the High Line Canal in Centennial. The property tuned out nicely and the Staging is the icing on the cake to help really showcase the features of the property.

Westminster Staging - Cute House that needed visual appeal for Buyers to appreciate the rooms and potential in this house

Cute property in Westminster - twice under contract and fell through prior to Staging - and now Staged and prepared for serious buyers who want to make this property their home.

Denver Custom Home Staging - Sensational Home Staging

Our latest Staging project - vacant house that needed Staging to help it show its best.

Staging Custom Home in Lakewood - Sensationally Staged for sale!

This custom home has been on the market and after a switch in Realtors the house is Staged for sale! The Realtor values Staging so much that she paid for it - which is a smart choice to ensure that the house looks its best!

Cloverleaf Way - Staged and Ready to Sell! Boulder Beauty totally remodeled.

One of our latest Staging successes - this beautiful house is ready to sell. Totally remodeled inside out this house is near downtown Boulder and has all the updated and modern amenities a buyer wants.

Boulder CO - Remodeled, Sensationally Staged and Under Contract in 1 Day!!

Who Determines the Price for Staging? by Jennie Norris, ASP Master, IAHSP-Premiere, SRS, REO - Owner, Sensational Home Staging

Who Determines the Price for Staging?

Price. Cost. Money. Expense. Budget. Fee. Spend.

Who Determines the Price for Staging?

Price. Cost. Money. Expense. Budget. Fee. Spend.

Lately something that troubles me is the perception that the Seller (and/or Realtor) gets to dictate the Staging budget and comes to the Stager telling us what they want it to be.  The Stager has not even seen the house yet.  This is not the right way to think about the Staging because the person stating the price has no idea what goes into Staging a house properly to get the desired results - a sale.  Unless you run a successful Staging company, you do not know what it "should cost."

Staging is an INVESTMENT - and the person best equipped to determine the Staging price ...is the STAGER.  Just as you Realtors reading this don't like it when your Sellers tell you at what price they think they house should be listed for sale, we don't like being told what our Staging costs "should be."

My favorite clients are the ones that let me see their house, allow me to price the Staging properly and agree to get it done realizing I am pricing my services to cover my process and what I do will help their house sell.

This is not I only want to spend $$ on the Staging but I want all of this done type service.  This is a You want the results Staging will give you - so you need to pay for that service, time and talent.  No champagne tastes on a beer budget.  Beer budgets get you poor Staging or surface Staging ...neither of which actually helps the house sell.

Who knows the RE Market?  The fact is in order to get the proper price to list and sell the house, Realtors have to do market comps, see what sold, and what is listed and come up with a range that works.  When a Seller tries to tell a Realtor what their house is worth, they are basing it on information they might get online, but only a Realtor can get access to the details on MLS that gives them an educated and informed position on pricing the house.  I know it is annoying to Realtors when a Seller tries to tell them what they want - especially when it is not based on valid information.  Who knows the RE Market?  The Realtor or the homeowner who has not sold a house in 10 years?

Same is true for Staging.  A Seller might wish to spend a certain amount to prepare their house for sale, and yet they really don't know what all is involved in getting a house Staged because they are not running a Staging business.  Realtors are not either.  It is not wise for them to talk pricing with their client before they have spoken with their Stager because once that dollar amount is tossed out there it hangs in the air and the Stager is left to try to make it work.  Very few Stagers I know operate on a cookie-cutter pricing system that allows any client to figure out what the pricing will be.  We operate on a project-by-project basis and base our pricing on a number of factors.

As an example, in order for a Stager to give an accurate price to Stage a vacant house we have to look at the inventory that is needed and time it takes to get the Staging installation done.  We consider the square footage of the house and the price-point to make sure the inventory reflects the type of house being sold.  We look at who is part of the Staging process... does it take 1 person or 4 people?  A 900 square foot condo will not be priced the same as a 2,500 square foot house.

There are real estate agents that will list a house at either an inflated price to get the listing (or as some would call it buying the listing) or lower their commission to get the listing. Realtors who don't believe in that strategy to get business will quickly dismiss that type of agent as one that does not do as good of a job or have as quality a marketing plan as a full-service Realtor.

Yet the same situation that a Realtor will say produces a low quality agent and lower results (low baller, discounter) is somehow expected in the Staging world.  I am here to say - stop the hypocrisy. 

There is VALUE in working with a quality Stager - because their work ultimately reflects on YOU and your ability to get that property sold - whether you are a Seller or Realtor.

It's true that each market is different - and prices for Staging vary around the nation.  However, what is consistent is that the STAGER is the one that needs to determine the price for the Staging. 

Here are some points I am asking Realtors to consider:

1.  Please do not give a seller an idea of price - let your Stager quote any pricing.

2.  Allow the Stager to properly price the Staging and share with the Seller directly so that if your seller has questions, the Stager is the one answering them. 

3.  Any negotiations on price should be between the legal owner of the house and the Stager.

4.  Realize that at some point if the Staging cannot be done properly it should not be done at all.  Throwing some decor and a few pieces of furniture in house is not Staging.

5.  Understand that the Staging helps YOU get the results you want with selling the house.  It is a team effort, so please do not undermine the Stager's pricing.  And by the way, when the house sells at a better price, YOU make more commission!

6.  When a Seller asks you about price, simply say, I will have my Stager get in touch with you to get you an accurate price for Staging your house.

When a seller limits the ability of the Stager to do the staging properly but coming up with some arbitrary dollar amount they hope to spend, they will not be happy with the results.  When the house does not sell, the Seller rarely takes responsibility for not allocating the proper Staging budget and points fingers at the Stager and the Realtor.

As the market normalizes - this practice of dictating a budget to a Stager without even receiving a pricing proposal will hopefully stop.  The old adage of "you get what you pay for" is true.  I am not in the practice of making it work to the point where I barely net a profit on the Staging and cannot stand proudly behind my product.  I am a business owner and here to make an income and profit on my time, talent and creativity.  You want the Staging done right - you need to pay for that service.  You would not be happy if you hired a schlocky mechanic to fix your car only to have it break down two weeks later.  You will not be happy limiting the Staging by reducing the budget as the buyer experience will still not be enough to entice them to make an offer.

Remember this:  If the investment in Staging is less than a price reduction and Staging can help your house or listing be priced BETTER than the competition from the get go - don't you think it's worth doing it properly?  Staging saves or help the seller make 10-20X their Staging investment - and that is something they can take to the bank.

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For help preparing your house or listing for sale in the greater Denver region, give Jennie Norris a call at 303-717-7918.  She has Staged over 2,500 properties, and is a top educator in the Staging industry.  Go to www.SensationalHome.com for more info.

Before & After Hands-on Staging Transformation

Check out the before/after photos for this Staging project.  Each room looks MUCH better with the personal things removed, furniture rearranged and appealing visuals created.  Next - seller has to PAINT the walls in all the rooms to brighten, neutralize for buyers, and update the look of the house.  Other updating could take place depending on the seller's budget and timeframe for listing the house for sale.

Anything they can do UP FRONT to invest in the Staging process will come back in a better offer and faster sale!

Sensational Denver Bungalow Transformation

Check out the before and afters of this cute Denver bungalow - Staged and SOLD in less than 10 days!  Notice how the inclusion of furniture and decor not only adds needed color - it makes the rooms look larger than when they are empty.  Remember - people looking at photos online have no idea how large or small a room is - and so it's imperative that furniture is brought in to help define the room and size.  In person - a buyer also needs to emotionally connect with the house - and the furniture and decor does the job!!

Sensational Transformation - SOLD with Staging!

This house was in desperate need of Staging help.  The Listing Agent met with them before they met with me to get their Staging Consultation with specifics of what to do to make their house sellable in today's market.  Knowing how much a project this house was - and the time it would take to hand-hold the Seller to make sure things got done - the Realtor wisely had me come in as part of his team.  The Staging consultation was specific room by room - and included updating, remodeling and Staging tips for each room. 

As you will see, the custom paint colors were too much and the house had 17 years of accumulation inside that needed to be purged.  Thankfully the Sellers were motivated and did most all of what was recommended for Staging.  The end result was when the house finally came on the market - it SOLD in a matter of weeks!  Job well done and ANOTHER Sensational Home Staging success story!!

4711 Raven Run - Staged and Ready for SALE!

If you want to live in a new home community in Broomfield with a beautifully upgraded property you need to check out this listing! Listed by Monica Bennett, Keller Williams Realty - (303)748-0295.

Price: $310,000
Bedrooms: 3 Bathrooms: 3
Property type: Multi-Family Home
Size: 2,467 sqft
Lot: Ask agent
Price/sqft: $126/sqft
Year built: 2008
MLS/ID: 1103506
Zip: 80023
Provided by: Keller Williams Executives Realty, LLC
This info was not provided by this listing source.
Ask an agent for more details about this home.

Listing agent: MONICA B BENNETT
Broker: Keller Williams