Home Staging FAQ’s

I have decided to Professional Stage my home, now what?
First and foremost, be certain that the Home Staging Company you select to showcase your home, are professionals who are knowledgeable in the field of merchandising and design. Home Staging is an effective way to ‘merchandise’ or ‘market’ your home to potential buyers. There are proven methods using color theory, furniture layout, and other design techniques involved in properly staging a home.

Can you give me an estimate over the phone?
We get this question asked almost every day. Although it would seem a lot easier to give an estimate over the phone, it is extremely difficult to judge the amount of home staging your property will need unless we see it in person. You may find some companies give estimates over the phone, and I would caution the amount of detail they are going to provide during the actual staging process.

Let’s look at an example:

Land Park Home ~ 1400 sq. ft.			Folsom Home ~ 1400 Sq. Ft.
3BD/2BA			3BD/2BA
Living Room			Living Room
Dining Room			Family Room
			Dining Room

As you can see both homes have the same square footage, but the Folsom home has an additional room. This may or may not be staged, that should be up to the Home Stager to decide; however, it would require additional furniture none the less, increasing your estimate.

I’ve received multiple estimates, how do I compare them?
DEFINITELY NOT BY PRICE! Every Professional Home Stager sees a property in a different way. Their 'vision' for a room is how they determine what furniture pieces and how much furniture belongs in a room.

It is extremely important to look at the portfolio of each company that has provided an estimate for you. How full are the rooms they’ve staged? There are plenty of options when it comes to staging a living space. Lower bids typically reflect less furniture and/or accessories in the home which can sometimes affect the purpose and function of a room. Are there different styles of furniture, artwork and accessories represented in the Stager’s portfolio? You want to make sure the Professional Home Staging company you choose has the inventory and expertise to showcase YOUR homes architectural style.

I’ve chosen my Staging Company, what should I expect to happen?
There is prep time needed in order to coordinate the furniture and accessories for your home. We typically need at least 48 hours advance notice to get all items secured, packed, and set up your delivery date. Your home should be thoroughly cleaned and ready for these items to be installed. Cleaning the home prior to delivery of furniture and accessories ensures for a smooth installation. Staging can vary from a few hours to an entire day, depending on the amount of detail and number of rooms being staged.

My house has sold, when should I have the furniture and accessories taken out?
We always recommend that your home remain staged until closing, or as close to the closing date as possible. Buyers can change their minds, funding can fall out, etc. The last thing you want is for something to happen and be left with an empty home that ends up back on the market. Most Home Staging companies require 5 days advance notice to get a pick up scheduled. The Sacramento Real Estate Market is competitive and more homes are being staged. Be courteous and allow time for a smooth pick up.

Thank you for taking the time to read our Home Staging FAQ’s. Should you have additional questions about home staging services, please click here michelle@essentialstaging.com to email us directly or call (916) 402-6098 for more information.