All the home is a stage

Bill Wehrman had never heard of it.

But decided to try it.

At the advice of his Realtor, Wehrman had his home staged.

“Staging is the new school in selling property,” said Shelli Novotny, real estate broker and partner in Design Chix LLC, a Fremont staging company.

Staging strives to present a home in its best possible light.

Wehrman lived in Fremont for 50 years. But now, he’s selling his home.

In Wehrman’s case, he was putting a vacant house up for sale. Professional stagers arrange furniture and accessories to enhance the presentation of a house.

“To a certain degree, the jury’s still out,” Wehrman said.

He said he doesn’t yet know the impact staging will have on selling his home.

But Novotny knows.

Staging a home can help sell the home quickly — for top dollar, she said.

For vacant property, it’s important for several reasons.

Potential buyers often see the imperfections in empty spaces, explained Novotny.

“If there’s furniture and accessories, it’s easier to visualize,” Novotny said.

Typically, buyers will spend more time in a furnished home. And once furniture is in, it shows how much space there really is.

New construction can benefit from the addition of furniture, Novotny added.

“There are so many houses on the market. Make yours the best in the price range — so they want to take a second look,” Novotny said.

“It’s really easy to live with the cobwebs. Homeowners typically look down. We (stagers) look top to bottom,” explained Novotny.

“But you can’t do that by (just) vacuuming and dusting,” added Novotny.

That’s where professionals come in and critique a home objectively.

“We take the emotion out,” Novotny said.

But there are steps sellers can take on their own, Novotny noted.

Decluttering is imperative.

Look at the property as though you are the buyer. From the floor up — from floor vents to ceiling fans.

Say goodbye to personal photos, Novotny said. Those tend to have buyers talking about family, and not the house. The same applies to personal collections.

“Less is more,” said Novotny, who suggests picking a few key pieces and building around that.

Putting your home in the right light might include changing a light fixture.

“Lighting can be huge,” said Novotny.

Start your home inspection at the curb. Then, look at the front door. Step inside.

“If the carpet is bad in the entry, replace it with tile or vinyl flooring,” Novotny said.

For pet owners, there are additional considerations. Buyers are sensitive to pet smells, Novotny said.

“Invite friends over and ask their opinion. Clean the area (where cats or dogs roam) or even consider changing the carpet and pad,” she said.

Furniture might need rearranging or refurbishing.

So for the sofa?

Something as simple as a slipcover or adding pillows can change the look of the room.

But professionals cover everything from potential trouble spots to possibilities.

Novotny, along with partners Kamie Boltinghouse and Stacey Strong, created Design Chix because they saw a need.

Fees for staging vary. But it’s for all budgets, Novotny noted.

Sometimes, it means renting furniture, but rearranging sometimes works.

Wehrman said his home has a new style.

“It looks different. It now has contemporary, modern furniture,” Wehrman said.

Strong said first-time buyers may even wish to purchase some of the displayed furniture or accessories.

Typically, staging is a small investment on return, Novotny said.

Taxes, insurance, house payments and maintenance can quickly add up on unsold property.

Staging isn’t only for selling a home.

The service is sometimes utilized for special events.

Whatever the need or the budget, professional stagers can increase your home’s positive points and selling price. Staging also can decrease the negatives and the number of days your home stays on the market.

“It’s really caught on in the Omaha market,” said Novotny.

“We’re excited to see it grow.”