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’re more familiar with its pros and cons indoors and outdoors — e.g., the need for more light in a certain room or ensuring the lawn is treated for weeds to keep them from sprouting up overnight. Your goal is to gain the highest ROI when your house sells. If you believe you can achieve this by staging on your own, then go for it; otherwise, spend the little extra on a professional upfront to reap the benefits at the sale.
WHAT TO EXPECT WITH A PRO
True staging pros 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 from online and hire the stager. Ask your agent, other Realtors®, and friends about their experiences and ask for a referral. Then, interview several pros and select the one who could provide the best value to you. • You get what you pay for. If the price tag is low, it’s likely 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? • They ask you many questions. Just like a doctor, the staging pro wants as much information from you about your needs as possible. On your part, you also need to ask many questions during the initial consultation to make
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