Realtors® Reveal: 7 Staging Mistakes

PAR asked, “What would you never do when staging a home?” Realtors® answered. Here are the mistakes they warned of. 

1. Using Trendy or Loud Colors 

Jacqueline Ruddy, a member of the Greater Scranton Board of Realtors®, says she would never “use trendy or loud colors, leave the toilet seat lid up or have political preferences displayed.” 

Trendy or loud colors may not be for everyone, and displaying political preferences can deter potential buyers from imagining themselves living in the home. While leaving the toilet seat up may be a small detail, putting it down can help a bathroom look its most presentable. 

2. Insulting the Seller’s Taste 

“Never tell the homeowner you don’t like their decorations or the way they have the house set up,” warns Bette McTamney, a member of Tri-County Suburban Realtors®. “Carefully ask them to allow you to take the time to adjust some of the furniture and maybe add some colorful items that will make the pictures pop!” 

“I normally leave them there during the listing time, so it all looks the same as the photos. I explain that perhaps moving out some larger pieces of furniture and rearranging a few pieces will make the room look larger. You have to be very careful with the words you use and always allow them to reserve the right to say, ‘I don’t like it,’ and then say, ‘Okay, I understand. Let’s try something else.’” 

3. Taking the Reins 

Susie Holmes, a member of the Realtors® Association of Metropolitan Pittsburgh, says she would never “do anything without the seller’s permission.” 

This is good advice, as selling can be an emotional and stressful process. Making changes – even if only temporary – to a seller’s home without first talking about it can overstep boundaries and break their trust. 

4. Physically Staging a Home 

“I would never physically stage a home,” says Todd Van Horn, another member of RAMP. “I did it twice, but it cost a pretty penny to rent the furniture for a period of time, and I was a little underwhelmed by the furniture that was used. I truly believe virtual staging is the way to go. It’s much less expensive, and I have options as to what furniture and pictures I want to use.” 

There are many benefits to virtual staging. For some Realtors®, it can be the best choice to save money while still making the home look its best. Realtors® can help sellers assess their homes and decide which kind of staging fits their needs. 

5. Omitting Unaltered Photos 

That said, it’s important to remember that if using virtually staged photos, it’s a good idea to also include the unaltered versions.  

“I would never virtually stage a house without also showing the unaltered photos of the home, too,” says Bucks County Association of Realtors® member Scott Geller. “I think it is a better practice to ‘under-promise and over-deliver.’” 

“While altered photos may get more foot traffic through a listing, the result could well backfire, because they’ll see the property for what it is and leave feeling, at best, that the agent was disingenuous, and at worst, untrustworthy. But the decisions ultimately rest with the client, so discuss this with the sellers before posting any photos.” 

6. Ignoring the Unseen Factors 

“I would never ignore addressing the unseen factors that affect buyer impressions when they walk in the door,” says Kevin McPheeters, a member with BCAR and with the Mid Jersey Association of Realtors®. “Homes that smell of cigarettes or pets can be a real ‘turn off’ to people seeing the home, buyers and agents alike, so it is important to acknowledge them and strategize remedies ahead of time. And that does NOT mean scented candles!” 

“I would also add that the goal of staging is to broaden the scope of appeal to the greatest number of buyers,” he adds. “The process of depersonalizing and neutralizing can be difficult for homeowners, so it is helpful to set expectations up front to reduce any push back about removing family photos, deer heads and the like. This is especially true when utilizing existing décor. Sometimes bringing in new furnishings is unrealistic, so you need to work with what you have available.” 

7. Staging Before Contract 

Janet Rubino, another member of TCSR, says she would never stage without a written contract. 

“I have seen too many agents who get the home ready for the market by providing painters, stagers, etc., and then they never get the listing.” 

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