Hiring a Home Stager or House Fluffer

There are no official credentials for this line of work. There is no independent organization that monitors whether a Home Stager or House Fluffer deals with their clients professionally or the quality or effectiveness of their work.

While some home stagers or house fluffers claim to be "accredited" there is no independent organization that grants such accreditation. They have essentially purchased their "credentials" by taking a weekend course which is open to anyone. There are no exams or criteria for being "accredited" other than paying for a course. And worse yet, these courses give their students a portfolio of before and after photos to claim as their own work!

If you are planning to sell your home for $200,000 or more, and especially if you have limited time before your house hits the market, anyone you hire should have a track record of homes they've staged.

Ask for references and photos of projects they've actually worked on (not photos they got from a course).

Try to determine whether they are recognized as experts in their field. Are they quoted by the media? Do they speak at events? Have any of their projects been featured on TV or in print? Do they teach courses or publish articles on the subject?

Have they worked on houses in your price range and in a variety of styles? Do they have reliable suppliers that they can refer you to?

More than "decorating" or "de-cluttering"

House Fluffing or Home Staging is more than just "decorating" or "de-cluttering." Done properly, it is merchandising a home's best features, down playing its flaws and understanding the psychology of what makes a person fall in love with a home.

Real estate knowledge critical

Before you hire a home stager or house fluffer, find out how much they really know about real estate.

Have they bought and sold their own homes in a variety of market conditions?

Do they really know what it takes to turn a house into a "hot property"?

Preparing to Sell Your Home is a Very Stressful Time

As with any major life change, preparing and selling your home can be very stressful. Undoubtedly, many fears are triggered.

Which real estate agent should I list with?
Will the house be ready on time?
Are we making the right decision?
What if we get stuck owning two houses?
Where can I put all this stuff?
What will the home stager think of me when she sees this mess?
Why didn't I decorate before now?
Who can I get for repairs, gardening, painting and cleaning?
Do all my rooms need to be furnished?
How will I cope with showings?

When you hire a professional home stager or house fluffer, part of their role is calming these anxieties and answering your questions.

Before hiring anyone, ask yourself:

Does this person seem organized, calm and in control? Do they listen to my needs?

If you're thinking of hiring Six Elements to stage or fluff your home, email company president Debra Gould or call 416-691-6615.

Ask lots of questions. This is your chance to see if you would feel comfortable working with her.

It's also Debra's chance to learn more about your needs and explain how she can help.

Penny wise and pound foolish

Beware of hiring a Home Stager based on price alone. You may save yourself a couple of hundred dollars only to lose the tens of thousands you could have earned if your home was staged properly from day one.

Staged by Six Elements and sold for $100,000 more

Sold in one day for $100,000 more than client expected to list for. See testimonials.

House staged by Debra Gould sold for $71,000 over asking.

Sold in days for $71,000 over asking. Read what the client said.

Debra Gould staged this home to sell for $40,000 more

Sold in 6 days for $40,000 over asking. Read client comments.

House staged by Debra Gould sold for $30,000 over asking.

Sold in days for $30,000 over asking. Read client testimonials about our various projects.

Staged by Six Elements and sold for $19,000 over asking.

Sold for $318,000 on an asking price of $299,000. This was an empty house staged with rental furnishings provided by Six Elements.

New wall color, drapes and rental furniture provided by Six Elements Inc. create a pleasant family room in what was previously a depressing and cluttered basement.

This client was under immense pressure from her real estate agent to re-tile the bathroom and put in new fixtures. Debra insisted that an acceptable alternative could be accomplished with paint, mirror, towels and a new toilet seat.

It's hard to believe this is the same corner of the bedroom! Similar techniques were used throughout this home which sold for $818,000 in three days on an asking price of $799,000.

If I decide to hire Six Elements, then what happens?

Once you decide to work with Debra (or one of her associates), the next step is a 2 to 3 hour Staging by Design consultation in your home. This initial consultation is both an information and working session.

Many of your rooms will be transformed during this initial meeting. You choose how much of the remaining work you want to do on your own and how much you want to leave to the professionals. Either way, you will have a very specific action plan and less anxiety about getting your home ready to sell.

If items need to be rented or purchased to finish your home, you will get a planning budget at this first meeting. Too busy to shop? With your approval to the budget, the Six Elements team will source all the items and be there to put them in place— right down to floral arrangements, hanging art and placing accessories.

If you need furniture or clutter storage, painting, repairs or even minor renovations, we have suppliers who give Six Elements Clients priority service. This is critical when you have little time before your house hits the market.

Home Staging expert Debra Gould of Six Elements Inc.

Home Staging expert Debra Gould, (also known as The Staging Diva) has staged hundreds of client homes ranging in price from $190,000 to $1.5 million. She fine tuned her Staging By Design process through buying, decorating and selling 6 of her own homes in 8 years before tackling her first client project.

From room by room makeovers to organizing your home to be seen at its best— services are tailored to your budget, experience and comfort level. The guiding principle is always determining which efforts will make the most significant difference in the actual sale of your home. With the right home staging or house fluffing, even a modest bathroom can be transformed in a day!

Here are more Before and After photos on what house fluffing can do for your home. Done right, home staging or house fluffing provides an amazing return on investment — helping you sell your home more quickly and for top dollar.

Our clients have earned anywhere from $10,000 to $100,000 more for their homes— often in a matter of days. Check out our client testimonials.

One client suddenly found herself mortgage free for the first time in her life. "I feel like I've won the lottery thanks to you," she said!

Call 416-691-6615 today and find out how we can help you too, what have you got to lose?

"This has certainly been an interesting voyage. The wisest of all our decisions was to engage you as early as we did.

We acted upon the majority of your Home Staging recommendations. Even though we were decorating to sell, with each passing week our house became more of a pleasure to live in as we made the changes you suggested.

There is no doubt that I'll want to meet with you again once we sell this house and take possession of the new condo. Thanks for all your help!"

Zora C., Toronto

Read what other clients say.

Outside Toronto?

Through her Coaching Service, Debra Gould offers Home Staging advice by phone and e-mail to clients all over North America. You can purchase sessions in 20 minute increments, allowing you to check in several times during the course of getting your house ready for sale. Photos can be mailed or emailed for her review prior to your calls, so you can have your specific questions answered.

You may also want to visit the new Staging Diva Directory of Home Stagers!

Call Debra at 416-691-6615 to put your pre-listing fears to rest and start getting your home ready to show.

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Six Elements ~ Designing New Possibilities for Your Home and How You Live™

Six Elements Inc. president Debra Gould is an internationally recognized home staging expert who provides tons of free information on the industry as well as offering a home staging directory, training courses, books and more. Six Elements Inc. provides home staging, colour consulting and interior redesign services in Toronto, especially in the Beach, Beaches, Cabbagetown, Leaside, Etobicoke, Bloor West Village and downtown Toronto areas. Virtual home staging services are also provided by Debra Gould who will work from photos to help home sellers stage their own homes following her advice.

Phone: (416) 691-6615

E-mail: debra@sixelements.com

®Staging Diva and the Staging Diva Logo are registered trademarks of Six Elements Inc.
™Empowerment by Design, Staging by Design, Color by Design, Rooms by Design, Pattern by Design are trademarks of Six Elements Inc.

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