Sanctuary Design would like to extend a warm welcome to Linda Powell of Olde Country Cupboard Antiques who recently joined the firm as our newest Assistant Home Stager extraordinaire!

Home Staging Services from Sanctuary Design

“Statistics show an average of a 3% minimum increase in final sales price on homes that had been staged, versus those who had not. On a $300,000 home, that’s a $9,000 increase-and well worth the home staging fees.”  Mortgage News Daily

When you decide to sell your home, it is no longer your home, it becomes a product that you are selling.  As with any product one sells, your goal is to sell it quickly and for the best return.  Home staging is not something to be considered but should be viewed as an integral part of the home sale process.   A part of the process that should be completed before you call a realtor.

It has been proven that staged homes sell more rapidly and with a better return to the seller.

I found this to be true with our own real estate sale.  Following my own rule of: Stage first.  Realtor second.

I staged our Vermont farmhouse first and then listed it.  I was diligent in maintaining its splendid and fresh showhouse appearance for each and every walk through and it was always pleasantly remarked on by not only the realtor but also the home buyers.    Our realtor was generous with the appraisal and our home immediately had many bids on it and was under contract within 10 days.  In the end we nearly tripled the money we purchased it for!

Needless to say we proved to ourselves that home staging was essential in moving our home in a rapidly declining buyers market.

Why Hire a Professional Home Stager?

Did you know that a buyer decides if your home will be a consideration within the first 8 seconds upon entering your property?

Home buyers shop with logic in mind, but eventually buy on emotion. Most house hunters begin their shopping with a list of their criteria, however in the end the home they actually buy is chosen by their emotions.

A professional home stager has the ability to look at your home through “Buyers Eyes” and objectively de-clutter, de-personalize and create beautiful curb appeal to potential buyers.

The theory behind home staging is to allow the buyer  to envision themselves living in the home. You want them to immediately feel comfortable, at ease and happy in the space.

If your home looks warm, appealing and spacious, the buyer can imagine living there and are more likely to make an offer faster and in many cases for more money.

The Internet and Staging

Nearly 95% of home buyers aged 25-44 use the internet to search for homes before contacting a realtor.   Sanctuary Design will make your house sparkle so that it looks amazing in photos.  Remember, you’re selling your house, not your kids toys.

If you want your home to make the short list, professional staging is the key to the best quality photos and could increase your showings and speed up the sale of your property.

When Should I Begin With My Home Staging?

While home staging has been around for years, it still is not always discussed between the home seller and agent.

Unlike the many realtors you watch on HGTV who seem eager to assist the home seller in the sale of their home, surprisingly enough, often times the realtor does not stress to the seller the importance of having your home show its very best and many opportunities to increase traffic and ultimately the selling price, are overlooked.

Staged homes are generally appraised at full market value because the realtor considers them to be “Buyer Ready” so it is advantageous to have your home professionally staged before you come on the market.  Don’t rely on your realtor to suggest home staging.  Like giving your home a good thorough cleaning before you put it on the market, home staging should now be considered a must, for the best return on your investment.

While there are no guarantees, we know staged homes do sell more quickly and for higher prices.

Occupied Residence Home Staging from Sanctuary Design

Home staging an occupied residences interior as well as exterior is essential for creating the utmost market value appraisal as well as curb appeal to the potential buyers.  It is considered to be truly one of the most effective tools a home seller can use in selling their home quickly and for the best return.

If additional furnishings or accessories are required to fill in a space, Sanctuary Design can happily provide all that you need either through purchase or rental.

The staging fee varies as every property is unique.  The fee depends on the number and size of rooms or areas to be staged, the style of furnishings that suit the home, location, accessibility, etc.

There are two or three fees for Hands On Staging for an occupied residence.  The first is the Consultation and Written Report Fee.  The second is a one-time only Hands On Staging Fee (Fees vary depending on the size of the property and additional factors) which includes design and hands-on staging with our professional staging team.  The third possible fee is a monthly Rental Fee based on the amount and style of furniture and/or accessories that we use in the home along with loading and unloading of furniture and /or accessories as well as de-staging the property once it sells.

Please Note:  All occupied property Hands On Staging services staged by Sanctuary Design require a Written Report Consultation through Sanctuary Design prior to the start of any staging work.

Verbal Consultation Reports -D.I.Y. are available for agents or homeowners who wish to handle their own staging of occupied property.

*see below for details on Consultation Reports

Vacant Home Staging from Sanctuary Design

Statistics prove that vacant and empty homes are very difficult to sell or rent.   They appear cold and uninviting.  In my experience I have found that most people have a very hard time to see a rooms full potential when it is without furnishings or lacking color.  Even if the selected furnishings are not their own personal style, having vignettes within rooms helps the home buyer to visualize what the room can be used for and it also helps to give the room depth and will actually increase the size of the room.

For vacant houses Sanctuary Designs staging will add style and grace and create warmth with personally selected furnishings and décor so buyers will feel at home and can see themselves living in the space immediately.  We generally stage the common rooms in the residence including the living room, dining room, kitchen, master bedroom, and master bath.  However, we do recommend staging additional rooms such as guest bedrooms, the family or great room, guest bathrooms and home office.  This will create more curb appeal but additionally show buyers the full potential of the home.

Sanctuary Design can stage your vacant real estate property or lease through rental of our extensive  inventory of furniture, lamps and accessories to suit your needs.

The staging fee varies as every property is unique.  The fee depends on the number and size of rooms or areas to be staged, the style of furnishings that suit the home, location, accessibility, etc.

There are three fees for Hands On Staging a vacant residence.  The first is the Consultation and Written Report Fee.  The second is a one-time only Hands On Staging Fee (Fees vary depending on the size of the property and additional factors) which includes design, loading and unloading of furniture and accessories, hands-on staging with our professional staging team, and de-staging the property once it sells.  The third is a monthly Rental Fee based on the length of time,  amount and style of furniture and accessories that we use in the home.

Please Note:  All vacant property Hands On Staging services staged by Sanctuary Design require a Written Report Consultation through Sanctuary Design prior to the start of any staging work.

Verbal Consultation Reports -D.I.Y. are available for agents or homeowners who wish to handle their own staging of vacant property.

*see below for details on Consultation Reports

Home Staging Consultations

For occupied or vacant properties we are here to help you prepare your home for sale with our specialized tips and recommendations.  We have two consultation options:

1)  Verbal Consultation Report – D.I.Y.:

We will visit your residence and during your two hour Home Staging Consultation we will conduct an extensive interview with the listers or agent while walking through to determine how we will stage the space.   At this time we will also discuss any challenges that we see.  We will tell you our recommendations (while you take notes) of how best to present your home, inside and out, including the steps to be done in each room. The suggestions may include cleaning options, furniture and room layouts, cosmetic repairs, and ideas for fresh color schemes to enhance the space, if needed.

• The fee for the Verbal Consultation is $150.00 for up to two hours of time.

2)  Written Consultation Report:

The Written Consultation Report is handled in the same manner as the Verbal Consultation Report and contains the same information as the Verbal Consultation Report, but we will prepare a detailed Written Consultation Report with photos and recommendations for your interior as well as exterior.

• The fee for the on site Home Staging Consultation and Written Consultation Report is $250- houses up to 2,500 square feet for up to two hours of time.  Add $50 for each additional 500 square feet.

All Hands On Staging services performed by Sanctuary Design require a Written Report Consultation through Sanctuary Design prior to the start of any staging work.

With our Written Consultation Report in hand, you can complete our recommendations on your own or choose to complete some tasks and ask us to help with others.  Once the major steps in the Report have been completed, we typically return to perform Hands On Staging of the home and provide the finishing touches.  We can rent additional furniture pieces and décor to enhance the overall look of the property if needed .  The fee for the Hands On Staging varies depending on the amount of staging to be done.

We look forward to speaking with you about your home staging and interior design needs!  Please contact us for more details and to set up your first consultation.

1-207-215-2178 / cell

Be well,

Priscilla O’Kelly Wilkinson- Owner Sanctuary Design