We've got 2 waterfront acres for sale in Edenton, NC. 

Here's a challenge to all you creative stagers...how can you stage land?  Yes, we're keeping it mowed, and yes, there is a bulkhead.  Here's the tour for it: http://tours.justsnooping.com/2294116/?b=false.

Susan

Have you noticed the sudden influx of TV attention on home staging lately?  The Today Show did a series, 20/20 is airing a segment on June 22^nd, and of course, the latest HGTV series Secrets That Sell. 

As a stager, I am thrilled with the newfound awareness that staging is receiving.  However, there are a couple points I'd like to clarify, if I may:

• Stagers do not talk to clients they way you see it on TV.  We are polite and gently deliver our message to the seller in a way that brings them into the process.  True, it doesn't make for great drama...but it makes for happier clients!
• Not every home needs renovating.  Everyone loves before and after stories, and yes, they tend to be more dramatic when there is a demolition involved.  But most staged homes achieve their objective without tearing anything down.
• You can't completely renovate a kitchen for $500.  Get real...when they quote costs, they are only quoting materials, not labor costs. Good stagers pride themselves on their resourcefulness and creativity while focusing on the seller's ultimate objective.
• Staging is NOT decorating, it's marketing.  Personal taste of the seller, agent or stager has nothing to do with it.  The décor should highlight the homes assets and minimize any negatives while creating an emotional connection between the home and the potential buyer.

So enjoy the programs, relish in the drama, but remember that "real" staging is not entertainment...it's all about selling a home faster and for more money.  Thanks for listening!

Susan Smith

Rooms That Work
Your home, only better.