Why can’t I just stage my own home?

Home staging is a decorative ART and expertise that most people do not have.  We can all recognize when a room doesn't feel right, but we are usually not capable of finding the solutions.  Even if you had the expertise, as a home seller it is almost impossible to be objective about your own home.  Why? Because our homes are like our children, we don’t always see all of its flaws. We’ve gotten used to the way it looks and in fact, it is difficult emotionally to change it. If you can’t view something objectively then you are unable to market and package it effectively. Not to mention most home sellers don't "stage" homes everyday for a living.  That’s what professionals are for and that is where the greatest returns come in.

My house isn’t worth being “professionally staged”…

Even spending a mere $500 for a day of staging, should net you thousands in return and speed of sale based upon statistical data and common sense.  Staging is pure economics...improve upon a product and you will increase the demand, thus speed of sale and price!

Can’t homebuyers use their imagination and look past the décor?

Only a mere 10% of homebuyers can actually visualize the potential of a home. This is why having a vacant home professionally staged is so important. Buyers cannot visualize size and scale so furniture helps to give them a frame of reference.

The housing market is good and my house doesn’t need to be staged to sell…

You’re right. Every house will sell…it’s a matter of when and for how much. Even if your house sells quickly in a good market, it doesn’t mean it sold for the amount it would have sold for had it been professionally staged. Remember, professionally staged homes sell on a conservative average for 6%+ more*. If your home sold for 400K unstaged it probably would have sold for 425K staged.