Staging is hot, and there’s no one more qualified to provide you with staging training than Sandy Dixon.  

http://www.interiorarrangements.com/

Sandy teaches a variety of staging courses at her Evergreen, CO. studio, and I had a chance to address some of her “graduates” this Fall.

Thanks, Sandy, for sharing your article, entitled: ‘Dressed to Sell’: Staging Makes the Difference!

Within seconds of walking into a house, prospective buyers form an impression and know whether they want to buy the house or not.  In some cases they won’t even get out of the car after looking at the outside of the house. 

 This initial reaction can make the difference between a swift sale and a house that languishes on the market. To gain the advantage the home must be look superior to the competition.  It needs to be in ‘showcase’ condition, with all the architectural features shown to the best advantage. 

Home staging is a unique ‘decorate to sell’ technique using furnishings, artwork and accessories to create a visual experience and a feeling of emotional warmth that will appeal to the widest range of buyers.

Prospective buyers only know what they see, not the way it’s going to be—which makes staging or ‘setting the scene’ even more critical in marketing properties.  They want to imagine themselves living in the house, to clearly see the house and its’ features and not be overwhelmed or distracted by the current homeowners ‘stuff’.

Staging has become the secret weapon of real estate agents and their savvy clients because the ultimate goal of staging is getting the house sold at the best possible price in the least amount of time. Any house, regardless of price or location will show better when staged.

Homebuilders and retailers have been successfully using this technique for years.  Creative window and store displays generate interest, as well as increased sales and research shows model homes sell faster than vacant homes and typically sell for more.

Two fundamental things to remember when preparing a home for sale: #1 “The way you live in a home and the way you sell a home are two very, different things” and #2 “You don’t get a second chance to make a first impression”.

A simple Internet search highlights the huge visibility, as well as career opportunities in the field of home staging or preparing homes for sale.  The process is also referred to as restyling, redesigning, house fluffing and home enhancing.

 No matter what it’s called, the purpose is basically the same…de-cluttering, depersonalizing and decorating homes to sell faster and for more money. Today there are over 34 shows on television relating to home staging and redesigning which is prompting designers all across the country to add these income generating services to their businesses.

Sandy Dixon, owner of Interior Arrangements, Inc. is a Professional Redesign and Staging Trainer, National Speaker and Published Author of Insider’s Secrets to Skyrocketing Your Real Estate Staging Business; Vacant to Vibrant: Giving Empty Properties the FULL Advantage. She teaches a variety of redesign and staging certification courses at her state-of-the-art training studio in Evergreen, Colorado. She is often featured in redesign industry and real estate publications and is frequently an expert guest on television and radio. Sandy can be reached toll free at 1.877.674.8667 or visit her website at www.interiorarrangements.com