Why Hire a Green Stager?

by Joanne O'Donnell

Yesterday someone asked me why, as a stager, I thought it would be important to clients or real estate agents that I understood green.  It is funny, their question made me step back and I realized that the question never occurred to me because I just thought folks would automatically see the benefit.   But it is an excellent question, so I'd like to answer it. 

As a stager I work with realtors and homeowners to market properties.  The principles of professional staging create a story about the house and the lifestyle that comes with that house.  That story creates the emotional connection that we all want in the place we choose to call home - and that is quite magical when it is created in a place we don't actually yet live.  It is what makes staging a viable and indispensible marketing tool. 

So how does green come into that?  Today buyers are looking for green features.  In May of 2008, NAR published a report that indicated that 9 out of 10 REALTORS® said buyers are looking for green features and that interest would continue to rise.

• And, in a trend that could signal greater attention from institutional investors, Energy Star buildings are selling for an average of $61 per square foot more than their peers, while LEED buildings command a remarkable $171 more per square foot.

• According to a recent study, LEED buildings command rent premiums of $11.24 per square foot over their non-LEED peers and have 3.8 percent higher occupancy.

• Rental rates in Energy Star buildings represent a $2.38 per square foot premium over comparable non-Energy Star buildings and have 3.6 percent higher occupancy.

Obviously, hiring me as a stager is not going to give you a Platinum LEED rating, so what do I bring to the table?  First I can take a look at the home and review the already existing features that are green, and then give the homeowner a list of features they can market as green.   My knowledge of sustainability, green features and practices, energy and water efficiencies and conservation, and grants and tax credits available to finance eco-friendly repairs and upgrades will serve my client well as we go through the consultation phase of the staging project.  During the consultation I recommend repairs and upgrades that will help sell the property and I use my green knowledge to ensure they know the choices which will up their green quotient.  I can also provide them with the sources and resources to get this done through my knowledge of green products and relationships with service providers with a commitment to energy  efficiency, durability, sustainable products and practices, durability, value and healthier options for the home.  

The information we provide during the course of getting the home ready to sell and the environmentally sensitive choices we help the client make is only the beginning of the impact an EcoStager^TM can make for the seller.   Many clients use the information we give them during the consultation when they move to the next home to continue moving towards a more sustainable life.  And, the changes we help to implement and the information we help the seller provide the buyer can be the beginning or continuation of moving towards sustainability for the buyer as well. 

The service and knowledge we provide are invaluable and, for real estate professionals, making an EcoStager^TM part of your team is the best value you can provide for your clients. 

"Green construction is a construction project built to a standard higher than building codes, they last longer are cheaper to operate, sell for a premium, use fewer resources and have a lower impact on the environment."Source: Alliance for Sustainability, Mike Holcomb / 2007

Chic Home Interiors does Home Staging, Interior Redesign and Training in Staging, Color and Green Build Science. Our training arena is all of North America, while our design and staging is in the San Francisco Bay Area only.  Visit our new Green Website! 

   joanne@chichomeinteriors.com   ~   510-STAGING   ~   www.chichomeinteriors.com