Staging is part science and part intuition. The science of staging can be taught in a class but the intuition of what to do in challenging rooms or coming up with a critical staging element created out of…well… basically nothing, is where inborn artistic talent makes the difference between the professional and the semi-pro.

Intuition is the right-brain part of the job and the best stagers and realtor/stagers I have met usually have past experience in some art form.

Just as I go nuts when I try to understand spreadsheets and bookkeeping, I believe a lot of people are challenged when it comes to artistic projects.

When a Realtor doesn’t function well with right-brain tasks and does not have the high visual acuity it takes to stage a home properly, that is the time to call on a professional.

One example I see frequently that demonstrates questionable artistic perception is “stretched” pictures of homes for sale, uploaded to the RMLS by agents. We see them time after time but how many of us even notice?

I have my doubts that people who CAN’T see the difference between “landscape” and “stretched portrait” shots will be able to stage skillfully and intuitively. If they don’t see what is wrong with those really bad pictures they have uploaded onto the internet to market their clients’ homes, how can they stage those homes properly, and then take pictures that will compel potential buyers to come take a look at the home in the real-world?

I’ve re-staged properties before when clients are not satisfied with their initial staging. This is not a good situation for a realtor whose client has a more highly developed sense of style than the realtor. When this happens, the client may have lost that critical window of time when the home first goes on the market with sub-standard staging.

In a nutshell, if a realtor has great right-brain skills, is fond of hauling furnishings in and out of homes every month, if they like to exercise their project management skills in organizing bins, scheduling furniture rentals, power shopping at 1am at Walmart, dealing with movers, UHaul trucks, and then doing all the things they need to do on the real estate end of things, by all means, they should take a class and become a Real-a-Stagent!

If, however, they think that the main things they will be doing are placing some towels in the bathrooms and sprinkling silk plants around the property to “warm things up a bit”, they might want to think again….

…then look for a stager who has a portfolio that impresses them and a website that demonstrates that the stager has been in business long enough to be a professional at what they do…just like the realtors they serve!

I think this is an interesting article about the designation. I have heard comments go both ways. Ultimately I feel that there are enough businesses out there for everyone, we all cater to many different clients. More healthy competitions ultimately is better for the economy and industry.

Just my 2 cents,
Cindy, Staged4more
http://www.staged4more.com/blog

There are TONS of different types of staging courses out there now. I previously worked for Barb and StagedHomes as their director of marketing. I left in Sept 2006 and started the Real Estate Staging Association. We are the trade association for professional stagers in North America.

Staging has come along way from the original classes promoting wicker furniture and sheets over kitchen tables. Staging has grown into a viable industry that has concrete value to the agents, sellers and buyers.

In a market when everything sells staging will draw in multiple offers and often sell over asking price. In a slower market or a completly dead market like where I live in Stockton CA staging will get your listing exposure on the internet, and yoru flyer boxes will empty every single week. Un-staged listings will not get that kind of attention.

I strongly encourage agents to work wtih professional stagers and stage all their listings. Most agents dont have time to stage on their own and it can be difficult to wear both hats as agent and stager. Many listings just need the agent to provide check lists and advice to the seller and many need the agent to work with a stager. Stagers do this for a living and have access to everything that is needed to make the transformation and they have ways of getting the homeowner to make those changes without offending them.

Staging Works!