FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
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We understand the real estate market in our area, and are well-versed in what motivates a buyer to purchase one home over another. We have undergone specialized training in the fields of home staging and redesign, but more importantly, we have the experience of many staging projects behind us, giving us the required ability to determine what each individual home needs to help it sell most successfully.
We also have all the bases covered when it comes to delivering peace of mind for our clients. We are competitively priced, extensively educated and certified, fully insured, BBB accredited, and can offer adequate references and samples of our work. You can rest assured that you are hiring a company that embodies the highest standards of preparedeness and professionalism.
Can’t homebuyers use their imaginations 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 of the rooms so furniture helps to give them a frame of reference while creating a
more inviting atmosphere. And for occupied homes, that other 90% can't see themselves in your home. That's why we must make it universally appealing, utilizing our knowledge of what sells!
Why can’t I just stage my own home?
Home sellers are usually incapable of successfully staging their own home. Why? Because your home is like your child: you don’t always see all of its flaws. You’ve gotten used to the way it looks and it is emotionally difficult 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, so the chance that they can expertly transform their own home is unlikely. This is what professionals are for, and where the greatest returns can be expected.
My house isn’t worth being “professionally staged”…
Even spending a few hundred dollars on staging should net you thousands in return and speed of sale, based upon statistical data and average home prices in our area.
Does having my home staged guarantee that it will sell faster and for more money?
While we cannot guarantee how your home will sell, staging does give it a much better chance to sell successfully. The National Association of Realtors estimates that more than 80% of potential home buyers now start their search for a new home on the internet. Having photos that are a cut above the rest because your home was professionally staged will help get people through the door, and when the home delivers in person what it promised in those pictures, your chance of a successful sale increases again. When compared to other homes on the market, your home will be viewed as having more to offer and being in better condition due to the perceived value staging creates.
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*. That's at least enough to pay your Realtor! (and FYI: We're currently in a buyer's market in this area--so get your home noticed with professional staging!)
Will my Realtor pay for staging my home?
In most cases, the homeowner pays for staging their home. The homeowner is the one who stands to benefit the most if the home sells quickly or for more money, having at least a 93% interest in the sale proceeds. Additionally, the condition of the home when it is on the market is the homeowner's responsibility, just as it always was before it was for sale.
However, it is not uncommon for Real Estate Agents to supply their clients a paid consultation with a professional stager, or even other paid services, if it is to their advantage to do so. Many stagers offer Realtors discounted rates, or other incentives. It can't hurt to check with your Realtor to see what staging costs they may be willing to cover or share with you.
When should I have my home staged?
Preferably, you should stage your home before listing it for sale. You want your home to make its best impression from day one. You want Realtors you interview to perceive your home as market-ready, not in need of so much work that it influences their pricing and advertising decisions. You also want your first photos to be your best photos. You want your home to be more than ready for your first open house, which typically generates the most interest. However, even if your home has been on the market for a while, it's never too late to have it staged and make up for lost time. In fact, if your home is languishing on the market in its current condition, you should seriously consider the benefits of having a professional stager's help as soon as possible.
What is included in your home staging services?
Everything that is included in your staging services will be in writing before we ever get started. Each project is different, and depending on your home's requirements, your budget, and other considerations as determined in our initial consultation, you will receive a written proposal for services and all applicable contracts up front.
Typically, you can expect our staging of your occupied home to include all labor to reconfigure existing furniture and accessories, placement of new accessories from our inventory if you have previously agreed to this, and putting away any items we have removed from your decor to the storage place you designate, as fits into the time allotted for the type of service you have purchased. If we have reached the end of our contracted staging time allowance and you wish us to continue any unfinished processes, overtime is always available at a predisclosed rate. Inventory can either be removed after we take photos of the staged home, or can be purchased at an additional cost.
Likewise, a typical staging of your vacant home will include rental of all furniture, accessories, artwork, plants, bedding, rugs, etc. needed to create an open, yet warm and inviting feel in the designated rooms. Labor to transport and install this furniture and accessories, and to take it away once your home sells, is also included in the contracted cost of most vacant home stagings we perform. Rental fees are calculated as a monthly rate, and we require one month's deposit and a one-month minimum rental commitment for all vacant staging.
How long does home staging take?
The physical act of hands-on staging can generally be accomplished in a day, regardless of the size of your home. Once you've decided to go ahead with the services we propose, we require as little as one business day to prepare before we can stage your home, depending on our availability. Usually, we can schedule your staging within one week from receiving your deposit. If we have recommended tasks for you to complete before the home can be staged, we will work with you to set up a timeline for completion of these jobs so that the home may be staged as quickly as possible and be market-ready without unnecessary delay.
Does Dreamlight Design do all the work, or can I hire you as consultants and do the work myself?
We will do as much or as little as you prefer. We can prepare a comprehensive action plan, with all the instructions you need to do the work yourself. You can also hire us to do the entire job and you won't have to lift a finger ...or anything in between. It's always your choice, and we will work hard to meet your specific needs.
Still not convinced?
Give us a call or an email and we can answer any other questions you may have about these valuable services--you won't be disappointed!
How should I choose a home stager?
There are several companies and individual stagers in our area. Should you choose one based on things like affiliations, certification credentials, or website design? Check out our About Stagers page for vital things to consider when hiring a home stager... We believe the most important factor is how you respond to their work. We hope that our client testimonials as well as our before and after photos portray how seriously we take our work, and that we have the skills to quickly and inexpensively bring the best out of your home!
Why should I choose Dreamlight Design for my home staging & redesign needs?
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Is staging a home really as drastic as it is portrayed to be on shows like HGTV's "Designed to Sell"?
No, the average home does not require a contractor and crew to rip out walls, or a $2,000 budget for purchases! Most homes can be staged quickly and effectively using mostly, or only, items the seller already owns, and with little more than fresh paint, if that. Sure, many homes will benefit from some extra cosmetic work, but the goal in staging is actually to make the home look its best in its current condition.
Fellow Stagers:
We are for sale!
