Overland Park KS/Olathe KS Accredited Staging Professional Realtor

We Turn Great Homes into HOT Properties That Sell Faster & For More Money!

Ask the Stager

With the popularity of HGTV, home staging is all the rage. Melinda Bartling has been staging homes in Overland Park, KS since 2006. She knew the importance of getting the right training and enrolled in a course to become an  Accredited Staging Professional (ASP) Realtor. She trained with the master herself, Barb Schwarz, who created "home staging" back in the 1970's. Surprised? Most people first heard the term home staging on HGTV. But the truth is staging is what it's always been - it's decluttering, depersonalizing, and rearranging the seller's things so the house appeals to the largest number of buyers.

Melinda Bartling's proven staging techniques that she and her team use create a look that make buyers fall in love with a house so they don't want to risk losing it. Melinda believes that anyone can stage a home so it looks better but it's about the arrangement of the furniture and accessories that make her stagings stand above the rest. With staging becoming so mandatory and popular, stagers are popping up everywhere. But remember, if you're thinking about having your home staged, hire someone who understands how to stage it to create the right flow so it will attract the buyers versus turning them away.

So, what's your dilemma? What are your home staging questions? Send an email to melinda@melindabartling.com and put "ask the stager" in the subject line. Your questions will be answered and posted here!

From Aimee: Do I have to put all of my family photos away when my house is for sale? Nate (on Oprah) said it's not necessary!

From The Stager: By all means. Family photos distract your potential buyer from focusing on your home. I love Nate but Nate isn't a home stager and he doesn't work with buyers. Once again, staging is not decorating. Remember, I've been trained to use very specific staging techniques created by the Realtor who invented home staging back in the 1970's.

From Helen: I've been told by my Realtor to clear off my kitchen counters...they seem so bare. Is this the best thing to do?

From The Stager: I would suggest to leave a few things out...decorative and colorful. Larger works better than smaller.

From Wendy: My bedding is old and outdated. Should I buy new bedding when I put my home on the market?

From The Stager: Definitely! Your bedroom needs to be a luxurious retreat. Don't forget lots of pillows!