If you will search the web using keywords such as “what to expect from a home stager”, or “advantages of hiring home staging services”, you’ll probably end up with hundreds, if not thousands of articles talking about the benefits of hiring a home stager.
The things is, some people tend to think that home stagers are supernatural beings from Middle Earth who can whip up some magic and turn an empty house into a 5-star hotel suite without them lifting a finger.
Yes, we can do wonders! But our powers are limited at some point.
For this week’s blog post, we want to tackle a topic that some service providers fail to elaborate on in their company websites or blogs.
At Prep This House, we value transparency and we don’t like our customers to assume that our team will cover everything for them.
So, what are the things that a professional home stager WON’T do for you?
#1 Recommend major renovations (except when the house has not been maintained and it calls for it)
Home staging addresses many issues but it doesn’t include major home renovations such as extending one’s house by adding rooms, like an extra bedroom or bathroom. However, if you have a vacant room, we would suggest converting that into a functional space, taking the guess work out of the equation for buyers.
Major home improvements that are better handled by the owners:
- Deck or Patio repair
- Upgrading plumbing and electrical systems
- Updating of heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems
- Concrete and masonry repairs to the foundation and chimney
- Roof tear-off and replacement
#2 Cover up issues within a home
A professional home stager won’t cover for you if you happen to have faulty electrical systems or plumbing issues or your flooring needs to be repaired, especially if that may cause harm to future owners. That’s it. Plain and simple.
Must read: Hiring a Home Stager – Top 3 Mistakes Sellers Make
#3 Ignore maintenance issues that a home has
While a home stager won’t cover for you, it is part of the job to inform clients about existing problems that needs to be taken care of.
If you have problems with retaining walls or other exterior issues or interior repair works that needs to be done, we strongly suggest these get fixed and not to be left for the new home owners.
Because in reality, honesty and transparency help homes sell faster and in every project, there is some “pre work” involved. Clients must understand that the more they are committed to selling a home, the more that they need to listen for what works and acknowledge what is required from them.
Do you have any questions about home staging? Don’t hesitate to email us (we read every email) or give us a call 250-212-0057 today.
