What do stagers do?

Most stagers offer two basic options.

• If you plan to do the staging work, they provide a Staging Plan that includes a Color Consultation. This is a step-by-step staging checklist/instructions for you to follow. Your Staging Plan is customized to your needs: how to change furniture and accessories if you are going to live in the house, how to rent and arrange furnishings if the house is vacant. Later, if you decide you need help, most stagers will return, discuss your needs, and give you a bid or estimate on what they will charge to provide that help.
  

• If you do not plan to do the staging work yourself, your stager will provide a Staging Bid, or Proposal. Instead of step-by-step instuctions, your stager tells you how much they will charge to do the work and how long it will take. Again, this can involve an occupied or a vacant house.
  

So, the basic format is a choice between DIY instructions and Stager-does-it bids, with the option to combine the two as needed later.

Beyond staging your house, many stagers offer additional choices: office staging, land staging, and staging to rent are some of the alternatives. Depending on location, your stager may offer many more choices.

One of the most important alternatives is Home Redecoration or Redesign.


Do All Stagers Do The Same Thing?

No, all stagers do not do the same thing.

Staging is not regulated, there are no formal standards.

Because of this, different stagers offer different options and specialties. One stager may only stage vacant houses. Another stager may only provide Staging Plans. Most stagers have websites that explain their offerings. When you look for your stager, check that website. Then plan to interview a few stagers, just like you would interview contractors, or electricians, or Realtors.

Now, let me briefly take that question in a different direction.

If you set up exactly the same room in three different spaces, then asked three good stagers to each stage one space, it is very likely you would get three very, very similar results. Each space would be greatly simplified. Each stager might chose to keep different furnishings in the room, but most of the decorations and some of the furniture would be removed. The furniture might be arranged somewhat differently. But all of the furniture arrangements would be welcoming, and would focus on the room's staging point. The walls might be painted somewhat different colors, but all of the colors would be neutral and would work well with the furnishings. With the slight differences, buyers would be impressed equally with any of the spaces.

Basically, there is room for creativity, but all good stagers use common rules and work to a common goal.

When I worked on a large house with another stager in the past, one thing that really impressed me was how we did not have to discuss a lot. We both knew where we were going and what it would take to get there.

I hope this helps. CYA tomorrow. Does anyone have any questions? Any requests for a topic?