Recently we were asked to participate in a vendor fair located in the beautiful new 295 Church condominium building in downtown Salem Oregon. This vendor fair showed off these beautiful units with real estate agents and public invited to meet vendors who set up their information within the units.
These model units had been staged by the owner, and we didn’t want to represent that it was our company’s work. Our company’s information was in one of the model units along with a slide show reflecting some of our staging work and model homes. What could we do that would be of interest to the real estate agents and people that came to this model? We decided to implement a contest and offer $50 in prizes to the closest guesses!
Our Challenge? Guess the cost of staging for a one bedroom model home – whether renting or buying the furniture. We had some baffled contestants!
Many had no clue they said, and the guesses confirmed it!
- Guesses for the real estate staging fee ranged from $75 to $2,700.
- Guesses for the monthly rental for furniture ranged from $35 per month to $4,500 per month!
What’s involved in a staging a home?
- Initial consultation with owner or real estate agent
- Plan a design that optimizes floor plan
- Submit plan to owner and obtain a home staging agreement
- Shop for furniture with the correct size and style for the home
- Make sure lighting is added correctly in each room
- Art, rugs, bedding, and decor is added
Once everything is purchased (or pulled from our inventory) it is:
- wrapped and packaged
- loaded onto our truck
- moved to the staging location
- unwrapped
- set up in the home
- things that looked great on paper or in the store, don’t always work!
- ironing, hanging, cleaning
- take pictures and analyze how it looks in photos
- adjust decor, furniture placement if needed
- take pictures again
- edit photos and submit to agent if professional photography is not hired
Once the home is set up we frequently help:
- create video tours
- help with agent tours
- promote the property with our blog or a youtube video
And when it is sold we:
- wrap and pack everything up
- load it into the truck
- move it back to our warehouses
- unwrap it
- repair and clean it if necessary
- put it back on shelving or in totes until the next time it goes to work!
Whew! I probably forgot a few items but yes real estate staging involves a LOT of work, planning, and coordination.
This service couldn’t be done profitably for $75 and also wouldn’t be affordable at $2,700!
We had lots of fun with this contest and the closest guesses came from John and Cindy Reis of Windermere Pacific West Properties!
— Neither were exact so we chose Cindy’s as the closest (I’m sure John would want her to win the $25 gift card aren’t you?)!!!
Another option for model homes is to have a home stager purchase all the furniture and decor, set it up, and rather than renting it, you purchase and you keep the furniture. We’ve prepared model homes using this technique so another question we asked was:
How much does it cost to hire a home stager to create a one bedroom model home?
Costs ranged from $1,000 to $16,500 and the closest guess came from Bob Reynolds of the Gysin Realty Group!
A special thanks to Chris Stewart who organized this fun event and for giving us the opportunity to show what’s involved in staging a model or vacant home.
About the author:
Margaret Oscilia, Professional Home Stager has a passion for showcasing homes beautifully so they attract potential buyers and quicker offers. With a background in real estate investing and owner of a successful Home Staging Company in Salem Oregon, she’s a savvy choice when it comes to investing in home staging.
If you are moving or improving, her staging firm, Creative Concepts and Contracting has the expertise to showcase your home’s full potential, stretch your budget, and maximize your time.
Professional Home Staging – Reliable Contractor Repairs – Beautiful Results!
