will make sure to provide the manpower needed to do the heavy lifting and moving of furniture throughout the house, and if any damage happens in the process, the stager covers the cost of repairs. On the other hand, staging the home yourself could not only save you money, but could also allow you to put more of your own personality into the theme. Having lived in the home yourself, you are more familiar with its pros and cons, both indoors and outdoors. Like the need for more light in a certain room at certain times, or making sure that the lawn is treated for weeds to keep them from sprouting up overnight, you know your home best. Your goal is to gain the highest return on investment when your house sells. If you believe you can achieve this by staging on your own, then go for it; otherwise, spend a little extra on a professional upfront to reap the benefits at the sale.
WHAT TO EXPECT WITH A PRO
True staging pros can be expected to run a very smooth operation. Of course, anyone can make mistakes. Here are a few things to keep in mind: Ask around. Don’t just select a random name online and hire the stager sight unseen. Ask your agent, other agents, and friends about their experiences and ask for a referral. Then, interview several professionals, and select the one you believe could provide the best value to you. You get what you pay for. If the price tag is low, it’s probable that the quality of service offered will match that price. If your stager is a well-known expert in the field, your price tag will definitely be considerably higher than someone running a summer gig. Can your potential stager provide references and photos of successful past projects? If so, take a good look and make sure beforehand that you actually like how they set things up—and see if you can get any information about how well those houses sold!
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