One of the most common questions we’re asked is if Zesty’s stagers will decorate a home. They love Zesty’s fun, clean aesthetic and would like more of it in their homes. We have a zeal for design, but more importantly, we’re passionate about getting homes sold to help sellers begin their next journey. Even though both staging and decorating aim to create a beautiful space that people want to spend time in, there are some key differences between staging and decorating.
The client
Decorators work directly with the homeowner to design a space that they love. The design encompasses their style preferences and lifestyle. Stagers aim to please a different client–the home shopper.
Most stagers research the market and identify a buyer persona (e.g., a detailed description of the fictional home buyer) and gear the staging plan towards that person’s needs and desires. The ultimate client is, of course, the home seller, who wins when the home is sold quickly.
Zesty Stagers take both home buyers and sellers into consideration. We recognize that if homeowners are going to invest in furniture or accessories during staging, they should be items that they’d be happy to take with them to their next home.
The design
A staging design is likely to be more minimalistic than a decorating concept. Stagers aim to reveal a home’s best features and often, the first step is to remove items from the home if the home is currently furnished. The learner persona impacts the design as well. If the perceived buyer for a home is a young, hip couple employed in creative fields, then the design may incorporate fun patterns, house plants, funky lighting, comfy throw pillows, industrial elements, and more modern furniture.
The goal
The Real Estate Staging Association reports that staged homes spend 90% less time on the market than unstaged homes. The goal with home staging is to make the home appeal to as many potential buyers as possible so it sells quickly. Staging paints a picture of what living in the home might feel like. On the popular HGTV show “Fixer Upper”, the last segment of each episode shows Joanna staging the home for the grand reveal. Many people don’t realize that the client’s budget does not include this furniture. The furniture is brought in to showcase the home at its best. Once filming has wrapped, any furniture that the client does not acquire goes back into storage. This is staging. It’s Joanna’s vision to make the home appeal to the television audience.
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