Staged to Sell

In addition, buyers struggle to visualize themselves and their belongings in an empty space. “People have a difficult time visualizing space or getting a feel for the size and scale of rooms unless there are some type of furnishings in it,” Palaikis says. “A lot of what staging does is help spark the imagination of the buyer. It gives people the visual aides that allow them to visualize the potential of the home—to get a feel for how the spaces can be used.”

Some stagers maintain their own inventory of furnishings and accessories. Others forge partnerships with furniture companies, who deliver new furniture to the home and then sell the items as lightly used once the home finds a buyer. The seller pays a rental fee for the furniture, which Erks says is a necessary investment. “Most definitely do not try to sell an empty house,” she says. “When people go to purchase homes today, they’re purchasing a lifestyle. A staged vacant home will offer buyers a lifestyle as opposed to an empty nest.”

Stage for life.

Many of Palaikis’ staging clients enlist her services when they aren’t planning to sell. “Staging shouldn’t be viewed as something that is exclusive to the selling process,” Palaikis says. “To me, staging is almost a continuum. I feel that one can appreciate the value of staging at all points in their life with the home.”

Such an approach, she says, enables homeowners to maximize their investment throughout their life with a home—and minimize the last-minute costs of preparing a neglected house for the marketplace.

“A little investment here and there throughout the life of a home is truly going to extend its life. And you’ll end up spending less doing the little things as you live in a home than you do if you’re trying to make a big, broad-based impact just to sell,” she says. “So don’t wait until you’re ready to sell your home to see what the opportunities are.”