Occupied Staging
When you list your home with me I’ll bring in a team professional home stagers who specialization in staging homes that the seller will be living in until the house has be sold.
My Listing Preparation Process Includes Complimentary Occupied Staging done by a team of professionals to make your listing look fantastic.
What is Occupied Home Staging?
Typically when we hear a “staged home” it means a home that has been made to look as though someone (who is incredibly tidy and on trend) resides there.
Occupied home staging however is different in several key ways:
you’ll be living in the home while it’s on the market - the staging needs to be functional to how you live in your home for then next few weeks or even months
the majority of the items used to make your picture perfect will items you already own. Things will be relocated; furniture moved to different rooms, all wall art, display shelves, even your shower will be staged
the home staging professionals (not me) will stage and style your home the morning of photos so you don’t have to worry about getting everything just right.
it’s an enormous step in the pre-packing process - more on this below
The goal is to depersonalize the space so potential buyers can visualize themselves living there, while maintaining a warm, "contemporary" charm that feels like a home, not a showroom.
Initial Staging meeting - This occurs typically 4 weeks prior to going on the market.
The staging team will take photos and lots of notes, they collorbate with me to ensure we have the same vision for the positioning of your home to the market place.
We’ll all sit down for about 30-45 minutes and the team will share their suggestions.
I’ll provide you with a detailed plan including all of their suggestions and anything that’s needed based upon your pre-listing inspection report (more on that here).
You’ll pack 60% - 70% of your belongings.
The staging team will arrive at your home in the morning of the day the photos will be done. They’ll spend a couple of hours putting everything were it needs to go for you home to hit the market looking it’s very best!
The process of occupied home staging
Frequently asked questions about occupied home staging & styling
Q: Staging service typically cost thousands, do you (Carissa Holmes) increase your compensation fee to cover this cost?
A: No. Each seller (and buyer) are different and my compensation - like that of all agents - is negotiable. However, I thinking is: My listing clients have hired me to get their home sold (among other things, manage the transaction, etc.). Experience has taught me that staging sells homes, I don’t perceive the amount spent on staging as a cost - it is an investment. Regardless of list price of your property, I include this service as part the value I provide to you.
Q: What’s the difference between “staging” and “styling”?
A: “Staging” is the process of removing and relocating furniture to clearly communicate the primary purpose of the room helping buyers to picture themselves calling that house home. “Styling” is the process of making the staged home look “picture perfect”, often done with things like large and small decor pieces, wall art and rugs.
Q: Staging services typically cost thousands, do you (Carissa Holmes) charge a higher compensation fee to cover this cost?
A: They’ll be placed in a box and put in your garage.
Q: Will I need to purchase anything?
A: Most likely yes, there will be a short list of suggested items that will make your home Picture Perfect, but we’re talking about an expenditure of less than $200 in most cases.
Fluffy white towels in all bathrooms is the what I see needing to be purchased most often. Remember you keep anything you purchase, so select items that you’ll want to use in your next home. Consider it like a housewarming gift to yourself.
Q: What if I don’t have many decor pieces to be used for styling my home?
A: No problem, we will bring several items that can used and even remain in your home throughout the initial on market period.
Q: What if a suggestion just isn’t feasible, like removing the desk/workspace from what will be marketed as a bedroom?
A: The staging team and I are realistic, some changes just can’t be made and that’s okay. In nearly every situation there is a good, better, and best option for addressing it and the choice is 100% yours!
Q: Are you (Carissa Holmes) the professional stager that you keep referring to?
A: No. I hire a team that does nothing but staging. They’re amazing and I’ve worked with them for years.
Q: Why don’t you charge the seller for staging services like most agents do?
A: I know, with no uncertainty, that your home will sell for more and faster if it’s staged. It’s what is best for my client, that’s why I do it, period.