A lot of people have been asking my opinion on the Calgary real estate market lately. Understandably, some sellers are feeling a bit nervous in this current buyers’ market. Speaking from my experience as a professional home stager, what I can tell you is that I’ve been busier with staging requests. That’s because sellers want to have a “one up” on their competition. Staging helps you to do exactly that.
 

I heard and felt the worry in the voice of a woman who recently contacted me for a staging quote. Preparing to sell, she was worried that it would take a long time to sell her house in this Calgary market. I understand worry. I’m a home owner too.
 

She wanted to know, is staging worth it?
 

What I told her was this: Owners of one of this recently staged vacant condos had two offers and our clients accepted the one that was OVER the list price. Plus, a house that we did a staging consultation for sold in 2 days after staging. These recent examples are not unique.
 

So just because it’s a buyers’ market, it doesn’t mean that properties aren’t selling.
 

The trick here is that you can’t really know whether staging is worth it, can you? I’m a big believer in the value of staging and have results to back it up. But there are no guarantees. There is some element of risk. After all, what’s the test?
 

You could take the risk of listing your home for sale without staging and see how it goes.
 

Or, you could take the risk of making the up-front investment to stage your home before the listing photos are taken and before the first potential buyer walks through the door and see how that goes.
 

I won’t tell you that every property needs staging to sell. But if your goal is to make the best first impression in the shortest amount of time, which approach are you willing to bet on?
 

At some point, after doing your research, you have to trust your gut and do what feels right to you, despite the worry.
 

I staging worth it? If you’re in Calgary and I can be of assistance in helping you to make that decision (including insight on how much the right home staging service for your property will cost – this could be as low as $249), I invite you to contact me to schedule your free personalized Home Staging Assessment.
 

Or, start online with Set Your Stage’s Home Staging Quiz before you make the call. No pressure.
 

Hiring a professional home stager as part of your property’s marketing team can be a sound financial decision. Sparking a powerful first impression that speaks to your potential buyer’s ideal lifestyle may cost less than you think.
 

Curious? See more examples of my work and reach out when you’re ready. Ask how the Set Your Stage team can help you meet YOUR Calgary real estate goals in a buyer’s market!
 

75% of homeowners think their décor is current. Are you preparing to list your home for sale and include yourself in that staging statistic? When it comes to staging your property to sell, you might want a second opinion.
 

Why does this staging statistic from a Royal Lepage House Staging Poll matter? Because you want your ideal potential buyer to walk through the front door and quickly imagine themselves making it their own home. Don’t underestimate the power of your furniture and accessories to influence that process.
 

Quirky or dated furniture that is also too large and bulky for a space makes it difficult for buyers to feel “at home” and therefore narrows your listing’s appeal. Even if your furniture is suitable, the way it’s arranged in a room can have a significant impact.
 

We like what we like. It’s natural to get comfortable with our own “stuff” and how we use it in our rooms. After all, it makes sense to us and suits the way we live.
 

Understandably then, sometimes, it’s hard to see through a different lens. The buyers’ lens.
 

So if you’re not sure how potential buyers might react, consult with a trained home staging professional. He/she can advise you on what changes will result in the highest return on your staging investment.
 

Whether your listing is furnished or vacant, renting staging furniture and accessories for the main rooms in the property can create an updated and seamless feel that will appeal to your prospective buyer.
 

When you make it easier for buyers to imagine your listing as their new happy home, it makes it easier for them to quickly say, YES!
 

Don’t let this staging statistic stop you from creating your listing’s best first impression. Want more of our home staging tips? Stay in touch. Follow Set Your Stage on Twitter.
 

Everybody loves a quiz. How about one for home staging? Answer 12 quick questions in this Set Your Stage home staging quiz to see if professional staging is right for your property when it’s time to sell.
 
Home Staging Quiz – Does My Property Need Home Staging?
 

There’s a lot to consider when you’re preparing your home before it’s officially ready to list for sale. The more attention you pay to the details in the preparation stage, the smoother the selling process should go. Sometimes a small and wise investment up front can reap big rewards in the end.
 

But what do YOU need to pay attention to when you want to create the most positive first impression for potential buyers? There’s so much information available on the topic of home staging, sometimes it’s hard to know where to start in your specific situation.
 

This Set Your Stage home staging quiz not only asks you questions about your property, it also shares valuable information that you should consider when making decisions about one of your most important investments.
 

That includes factors like:
 

• age and condition of the home
• how your property compares to the direct competition
• whether your property will be lived-in or vacant during active listing
• how you are marketing your home
• what type of buyer you will target
• staging budget

When you make it easier for the potential buyer to imagine your listing as their new happy home, it becomes easier to sell faster and at a higher price. That’s the power of home staging and it’s certainly an investment worth considering.
 

Want more of our home staging tips? Stay in touch. Follow Set Your Stage on Twitter.
 

When my work as a professional home stager in Calgary is done and the real estate photos have been taken, my clients have to prepare for the next step; to be open house ready. I love keeping things simple, so this tip I found on Pinterest quickly got pinned to my board!
 

Let’s face it. Especially when you live in the house while it’s listed for sale, having the place open house ready can be stressful. Most of us have enough going on without the added last minute stress of remembering where everything is and what we need to do to prepare so potential buyers get the best first impression of the home.
 

Our daily lives can be busy, messy, stressful, unorganized, cluttered. Sometimes we don’t get laundry done when we planned. Stuff happens. Obviously that’s not the impression you want to leave of your property.
 

That’s why I love the idea of an open house box.
 

It helps you quickly get open house ready by having everything you need, organized in advance, in one handy box (with a lid). The box itself doesn’t have to be fancy. Keep it tucked in a closet and ready to go for when you need it.
 

Suggested items to include in your open house box:
 

• Staging checklist for private showings/open house day;
• Cleaners, natural air freshener, etc. for the last minute wipe downs;
• Clean, new looking white towels for the bathrooms;
• Clean, new looking bedding or throw blankets & pillows for the bedrooms;
• A plastic bag to keep damp items separate;
• Any staging accessories that your stager arranged for you but that you don’t leave displayed in your daily life;
• Any real estate documents that will be left out during the showing.

By thinking this out and organizing your box in advance, you can quickly be open house ready (or ready for short-notice showings) quickly and without much added stress. Simple.
 

For more staging inspiration, check out the various boards we have at Set Your Stage on Pinterest.