Home stagers in San Francisco busier than ever

From today's Examiner (their 'revamped' site still sucks, btw)...

As the housing market slows, more home sellers are turning to professional home staging for the help they need to get their property in shape for showing and selling, according to the San Francisco Association of Realtors, a trade group of more than 5,000 local members.

“It is becoming more common to stage homes and property as owners realize the value and benefit of the service,” said Matthew Borland, president of the association and managing partner of Zephyr Real Estate. “It’s a strategic move that helps compensate for flaws in the home and helps present the property at its very best."

“All properties should be staged, and it need not be expensive. Utilizing a client’s existing furnishings and presenting them in a clean, simple manner which optimizes the property is important. I often tell clients that the way you live in a home and the way you show a home are completely different,” Borland said.

Staging can include everything from painting and minor repairs, furniture and artwork to landscaping, cleaning and hauling; whatever it takes to set the stage and get a property looking good with mass market appeal.

The process can result in higher purchase offers with less time on the market.

In the interest of full disclosure, I will disclose that Mr. Borland is my manager and I do work for Zephyr, although I did not have anything to do with this article being published...

First impressions play key role in real estate sale [SFHomeBlog]
Jon Carroll on Home Staging [SFHomeBlog]