Designed by Tina Marie Singh
Principal Owner of Lionsgate Design
DO hire a professional.
Certified International Staging and Re-Design Professional, Professional Colour
Consultant and Design Specialist
Best of Houzz 2014 for Design and Customer Satisfaction
RESA Top 10 Best Re-Designs of the Year North America 2014
What would you say has been your most successful
project?
We staged a home that sold for $200,000 over asking price
within a few days. The homeowner invested $25,000 to get
the home ready for the market and my team and I spent that
money in the right areas to get the biggest return.
What is one thing you wish all homeowners knew
about staging?
Staging DOES work! The cost of staging is less than a price
reduction. Those who understand the impact of staging get
amply rewarded.
What is your favourite part of the staging process?
My favourite part is the planning after the initial consultation.
We style the home to target the right buyer and showcase
the home’s finest features. I love seeing the final product
come together and seeing the client’s reaction to the
transformation.
Home buyers want a home
that is ready to move into.
They don’t have emotional
attachments to your personal
items and they will notice issues
that you have overlooked. A
home stager will look at your
home the way a potential buyer
would and alert you to issues
that would cause a buyer to
lower their offer or skip your
home altogether.
DO ask for references.
References and testimonials
from past clients are one of the
best ways to judge the value
your home stager can bring to
the table. Ask for examples of
successful stagings. Be leery of
any home stager who is unable
or unwilling to provide you with
references.
DO view a portfolio.
Before and after photos
are important because they
demonstrate the real difference
the home stager made in past
projects. Some companies will
provide stagers with “readymade” profiles, so make sure the
profile you are viewing is actually
the work of the stager you
are hiring. Your stager should
be able to answer detailed
questions about the projects in
their portfolio.
DO pick someone familiar
with your area.
A home stager needs to be able
to do more than just decorate.
They need to target the right
buyer for your home and your
neighbourhood. A staging
professional with a proven track
record in your area understands
the local real estate market. They
can tell you what homes usually
sell for in your area and for how
long they are generally on the
market.
DON’T focus on price.
A home stager’s services can
raise the final selling price of
your home by $10,000-$70,000
or more. Choosing a home
stager based solely on price
may result in tens of thousands
of dollars in lost profit. Instead,
focus on the home stager’s
proven track record, portfolio
and references.