Popularity and Use of Professional Home Stagers on the Rise

Lori Elswick, 2010 President, Lorain County Association of REALTORS®

Lori Elswick 2010 LoCAR President

In today’s real estate market, real estate professionals and their clients are increasingly aware of the importance of, along with proper pricing, how the home presents itself to potential buyers. This is where the emerging profession of home stagers comes in. Many REALTORS® and home sellers today are looking toward the advice and services of professional home stagers.

Home staging is an exciting concept that can directly affect the sale of your home. These accredited professionals are different from interior designers. One of the main goals of an interior designer is to create an interior environment that reflects the taste, personality and style of the homeowner. Whereas the goal of a home stager is to broaden the appeal of the home. They are specially trained to furnish and accessorize the home in order to focus in on and call attention to the home’s best features. These features will most likely attract the interest of a potential buyer, which in turn has proven to mean faster sales.

DesAnn Collins of Design by DesAnn ® says, “One of the best reasons to hire a certified professional stager is the fact that they are not emotionally tied to the house and therefore bring a ‘third party perspective’”. DesAnn is an Affiliate member of the Lorain County Association of REALTORS, Society of Real Estate Staging Professionals, Charter Certified Member of The Society of Decorating Professionals, and One Day Decorating.

A properly and professionally staged home ensures a smooth traffic pattern throughout the home, gets rid of unnecessary clutter and maximizes the home to it’s greatest potential.

“Although relatively new to Ohio, home staging is recognized more and more by REALTORS® as a smart investment, home staging can help the home sell for the best possible price in the shortest possible time,” explains DesAnn. She adds, “Staging can save thousands of dollars in marketing a house. Statistics prove that a home will sell quicker if staged, therefore a shorter advertising period.”

“Statistics are proving that stagers understand how to "draw" people through the house, plant seeds of "What could be" to perspective buyers” says DesAnn.

Home stagers know how to add the “wow” factor that will separate the seller’s home from the competition. Preparing the home for sale properly, regardless of location, makes a tremendous difference.

Buying a home can be one of life's most exciting experiences - and one of the most challenging. The more prepared you are at the outset, the less overwhelming and chaotic the process will be. Be sure to utilize the services of a professional -- a REALTOR® -- who can help guide you through the home buying and selling process. A REALTOR® with your local Lorain County Association of REALTORS® is trained to help you make your housing dreams become a reality.

The Lorain County Association of REALTORS® is one of more than 1,200 local boards and associations of REALTORS® nationwide that comprise the National Association of REALTORS®. The National Association of Realtors®, “The Voice for Real Estate,” is America’s largest trade association, representing more than one million members involved in all aspects of the residential and commercial real estate industries.

The Lorain County Association of REALTORS® offers a website that provides a complete listing of REALTOR® and industry Affiliate members (such as title companies, banks, home inspectors, etc.). If you are a first time homebuyer or a repeat buyer consider www.MyNewCommunity.net or www.LoCAR.org as a good source for information.

REALTOR® is a registered collective membership mark which may be used only by real estate professionals who are members of the National Association of REALTORS® and subscribe to its strict Code of Ethics. Not all real estate sales agents are REALTORS®. All REALTORS® are members of NAR along with their State and Local Associations.