Does Home Staging Work?

Curbed had a post on Bob and Bonnie's 'awkward floral staging'. The response was rather cruel I thought- but that's for (possibly) another post.

Some agents do attempt to stage, especially with older resale properties. And everytime you find an article about an exemplary agent in the Straits Times there's always the inadvertent mention of how s/he paid for a fresh new coat of paint for the re-sale home, new curtains and/or light fittings.

I've been blessed with clients whose apartments and houses are magazine spread-worthy (in the best possible way) every time I'm there. I've met homeowners too(typically investors) who do 'stage' their properties- Diptyque candles, Flos lighting, delightful trinkets like that doorstopper in that shape of a lilliputian man pushing against the door, the beautifully packaged Thai herbs in the kitchen and the various pieces of iconic mid-century modern furniture pieces. Great properties in and of themselves made better with excellent home staging.

I personally rely on candles and rotate between the vanilla(an all time favourite) and chocolate candles from Ikea, Comme des Garcons' Ouarzazate(which most home owners prefer not to have) and the latest being Jimmyjane's line of ember&saffron, coriander&quince, ginger&date and lychee&lapsang. Am not sure if it makes much of a difference but it does (I believe) enhance the whole viewing process. I find smells to be very definitive of an experience- which is why the Westin promotes its white tea scented hotel lobbies , the Met uses one scent that permeates the lobbies, the spa and every floor of the hotel and Famous Amos promises free smells(;p)

Photo above is from the CustomersRock blog which also makes a mention of how 'realtors burn vanilla scented candles in the homes they are hosting'.