Home staging is continuing to increase in the UK market with more and more homeowners realising the value in using a stager to get the best results for their property. It is important that you find the right stager for you and your property. Stagers provide services right from the lower to upper end of the market, some specialise in occupied properties, others in show homes. Every property is different and requires different help. Remember, this will be the team you trust to prepare your home to look its absolute best for marketing. Does the quality of their work reflect the look you want?
We’ve put together some tips on things to look out for when choosing your home stager below.
How many years’ experience do they have in the industry?
In home staging, experience means much more than certification. It’s important that your stager can identify the areas of the property which need focus. You should expect them to have some background in property, remember staging is a property marketing tool not a branch of interior design.
Do they belong to any professional association?
In the UK this is likely to be The Home Staging Association of UK and Ireland (HSA). The HSA offer an extensive training and accreditation programme, is the stager you are thinking of using accredited?
How do they charge?
This may be by the hour, per project or linked to property value. They may charge up front or on completion of the sale. This should be very clear and if they work on an hourly rate you will want an estimate of the time involved.
What’s the average value of the properties they stage?
If you are selling a multi-million pound property you need to trust someone to handle a project in a property of this value. If the work they are showing from their portfolio appears to be at the lower end of the market they are probably not for you. The furniture and the rest of the solution needs to match the property value.
Can they offer the services you need?
Every property is different and particularly with larger properties there is a need for additional services when selling. Finding a stager who can provide trustworthy tradespeople will save you time in trying to source these. Some stagers offer additional services such as decluttering, removals, cleaning, decorating, moving-in service and much more.
Have you seen their past work and case studies?
The best way to judge someone’s work is through their past experience. Ask for before and after images so you can see the transformation. Make sure that the portfolio you are being shown is the stager’ own work and not taken from elsewhere. If you are being shown stock images then they likely haven’t done any jobs worth photographing. Do they have data to support their claims of the return on investment of staging. Is the data from their own projects or is it generic data from the HSA for example?
Have you read their testimonials?
A reputable home stager will have a number of client testimonials. These would usually be displayed on their website but if in doubt you can look for reviews on Google. That way you can make sure the company has a history of happy and satisfied customers.
Which estate agents do they work with?
Not all stagers work through estate agents but if they come recommended by more than one agent that is a good start
What is the typical lead time for a project?
We would expect a maximum of two weeks from confirmation of quote unless there is major decorating to be done. Neither vendor nor agent will want to wait for a stager to source the perfect sofa!
Can they explain their process for preparing a property for sale?
The process needs to be clear and focused on maximising the sale price. A good stager should be able to source decorators, general maintenance contractors, gardeners etc very quickly so that nothing delays getting the property onto the market. You don’t need a stager who waffles about how lovely they will make your home look, you need someone who is focuses on achieving the best sale possible for you through the work they do.
What is your initial feeling?
Is the stager well turned out and do they appear organised? You are about to sell your biggest asset, it is important that your stager is professional and committed to your project. You need to know that they are going to stick to timescales too to ensure you are not waiting to get onto the property market.
Find more information and questions to ask your home stager in our book, Sell High, Sell Fast available to purchase here>>
