Hello! I am so excited to be sharing my passion for staging with you all!
Let me introduce myself to those I have yet to meet.
I started out many moons ago dual majoring in psychology and economics. To this day, psychology fascinates me. I have also found it is applicable for staging, by exploring the underlying motivations of buyers, as well as how staging, and color can influence buyers. As for Economics, who couldn’t use an understanding of that in their businesses?
I began my professional career in the statistical field of branding and brand analysis, and pivoted into finance in Newport Beach, California. My world was turned upside down when my husband was killed in action serving in Afghanistan. It was best I step away from financial advising and end of life planning (super depressing for a newly widowed person) to embrace a more joyful career. (Still, not staging yet!) Yes, my first true love, owning property and creating rental incomeIt was during one of my first home sales that I realized I loved staging property. Vacant just doesn’t make it inviting, and a beautifully designed home customized for a certain taste might leave a bad taste to someone else. 90% of buyers need a little help, they cannot envision a space when they walk into an empty room, nor mentally rearrange an already furnished room to picture their own style in that space.
Fast forward a few years and I find myself on the beautiful southern coast in historic Wilmington, North Carolina. Once I was settled with my family, I became a Realtor®. By representing sellers and working with designers to present media ready homes and appeal to buyers, I began thinking more seriously on staging.
Finally, it was time I stopped fighting the dream. A dream I had been carrying around for decades from the first moment I fell in love with HGTV and realized this was a viable career. (My love for HGTV has not wavered by the way!) I was always inspired, and told myself if I could do it all over again designing home interiors would be it. I wondered with my background, combining my knowledge of the psychology of buyers, the economy of the real estate market, and the best strategy to entice a buyer and sell a home quickly, would it be enough to be a successful stager?
Thankfully, we have the internet. When I searched “staging in Wilmington, NC” there was nothing in terms of accredited professionals in this area. What I did turn up was Stagedhomes.com and an educational community of accredited home staging professionals.
I started as a Realtor®, and wanted to strengthen what I could provide for my clients, and that want created a company which offers services to sellers in an area thirsting for staging inspiration. This is how Staged to Sell, Inc. was born, and by following this blog, I hope to share that journey with you all.