‘Staging’ can sell a house

I recently spent the morning with Julie Fost, owner of Divas of Decorating, an interior design and home staging company in the metro. She let me follow her as she "staged” a home for sale. The home at 5804 Wilson Drive is huge — more than 5,000 square feet — and it was completely empty when Fost and her stagehands swooped in.

Because the home’s architecture is contemporary, Fost made the staging decor more traditional so more families could envision being there.

Fost and her crew lugged in a sofa and loveseat, dining set, rugs, decorative floral arrangements, glassware, dishes and other items to make the home look lightly lived in. The trick to staging this home was to combat its empty feeling. With mostly beige walls and carpets, the home also needed some splashes of color.

If you live in your home while you’re trying to sell it, you still can use the help of a professional home stager. From adding curb appeal to the little details, professional help can make or break a potential buyer’s interest.

Here are some tips from Fost for prepping your home for sale:

→Remove family photos, at least most of them. When potential buyers walk into your home, you want them to be able to see themselves there, so replace the family photos with big mirrors.

→Find your focal point.

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