Selling a furnished property? You may be wondering why you should bother renting more furniture for staging. The short answer is to make your listing the most appealing to your potential buyer. Sometimes, what they’re looking for is different than what you like. A professional home stager can help you decide.
 

There are times when a seller’s existing furniture and accessories suit the lifestyle feel that a potential buyer desires. In those cases, a Home Staging Consultation with a professional stager can help the home owner present their listing in the most marketable way. Small changes can help a buyer walk in and quickly see themselves living there.
 

But there are other times when existing furniture needs a little boost. In some cases, that means swapping out selective pieces of existing furniture, art, and accessories with rented ones to create a more updated feel or add a memorable touch.
 

Especially when existing furniture is older, some sellers choose to rent a storage unit for the items that will follow them to their next home prior to the actual move. That clears the space to rent furniture for staging the main rooms in the property in order to market the listing at its best.
 

You only have one chance to create a positive first impression. When it comes to your largest investment, renting furniture for staging – whether a few selected pieces or a full furniture rental package – could be worth the up-front cost for a faster sale – if chosen wisely.
 

Still sitting on the fence? Find out how your Calgary property can benefit from professional advice to guide you through the decision whether to rent furniture for staging and discuss the results Set Your Stage clients have achieved. Schedule your personalized Home Staging Assessment by contacting Jen at Set Your Stage today.
 

It’s the end of another successful year and that means it’s a perfect time for a roundup post! Here are six of our most popular staging tips, questions, resources, or ideas that seemed to resonate the most with realtors and home sellers in 2015.
 

1. Looking Like a Motivated Seller is an EXPENSIVE Mistake – This one is my personal favourite and a MUST READ for anyone preparing to sell their home.
 

2. Do Staged Homes Sell Faster? – Our staging results speak for themselves and, at Set Your Stage in Calgary, we couldn’t be more pleased for our clients who got the results they hoped for.
 

3. Before and After Condo Staging in Sunnyside, Calgary – Why wouldn’t you want to help potential buyers quickly fall in love with your listing?
 

4. Staging Checklists – Our very popular staging checklists include a general overall list, plus ones specific to kitchen, bathroom, and living room.
 

5. Home Stager Tip: Self Storage Rental – Selling can be stressful and sometimes the timing of the closing for the sold and purchased properties don’t coordinate. Self-storage rentals might be a helpful option for you to consider.
 

6. How Much Does Vacant Staging Cost in Calgary? – OK, this is from the archives but it still remained a hot topic in 2015!
 

Hiring a professional home stager as part of your property’s marketing team is a sound financial decision. These popular staging topics can help you understand why. In the end, it’s about sparking a powerful first impression that speaks to your potential buyer’s ideal lifestyle.
 

Curious? See more examples of my work and ask how the Set Your Stage team can help you meet YOUR Calgary real estate goals in 2016!
 

Who doesn’t love a great before and after photo? Most of us are inspired by the transformations we see. When it comes to home staging, those transformations can result in a faster sale. Here are four tips highlighted in Set Your Stage before and after staging photos in Calgary.
 

1. Furniture & Placement: Use enough but not too much. Consider traffic flow and key room features.
 

2. Accessories: Add life to the space. Be consistent with colour to tie rooms together. Highlight features.
 

3. Lighting: Light and bright spaces sell. Use various sources.
 

4. Photography: Professional real estate photography is a must. Angles matter. Stage before the photos are taken.
 

These before and after photos from a property we staged in Killarney, Calgary show the impact of following these tips. We turned a bare and vacant condo into an appealing space that potential buyers would be proud to call home. But first, most potential buyers would have viewed the listing online. That’s why staging before the professional real estate photography is so critical. The photos create a positive first impression that allows potential buyers to start imagining themselves living in the space before they view it in person.
 

That’s the power of professional staging. And it’s what sets listings apart.
 

For more examples of the power and impact staging can create in a space, take a look at the rest of the Set Your Stage Facebook albums featuring many before and after photos of the various homes and condos that we’ve successfully staged to sell.
 

“People. Food. Tradition. Farmers. Small Business. You. Community. Belonging. Future.” That’s what the Dairy Lane Café believes matters. How can you not love that! So when I was heading out for food in Hillhurst Calgary, I had to check it out.
 

Located in my beloved Hillhurst/Sunnyside/Kensington zone of Calgary, the Dairy Lane Café is eco conscious, community oriented, and has a super cute retro theme. It’s a little place that feels like home and a local shop that I’m glad I chose to visit.
 

As a small business owner who is also choosing more eco-friendly options, I love supporting other businesses close to home. I’ve written before about topics such as my eco conscious Valentine’s Day, must-do July activities, and one of my favourite local pubs. Now I’m happy to add the Dairy Lane Café to my list.
 

Have you checked it out? Maybe I’ll see you there – enjoying something yummy out on the patio! You’ll have a hard time deciding what to choose. For the latest, follow Dairy Lane on Twitter (I’m there too by the way @setyourstage).
 

I’m a professional home stager who happily lives in a Sunnyside condo, a popular area outside the downtown core which includes Hillhurst and Kensington. I know first-hand why this area is so appealing.
 

If you are planning to sell your Calgary home or condo, contact me (Jen at Set Your Stage) to find out the benefits of my staging services and neighbourhood-specific expertise.
 

In the meantime, share this post and tell your friends about this great area of Calgary. Invite them to meet you at Dairy Lane on 19th and then take a stroll around this great neighbourhood!