Susanne
I think this is a great question! However, am puzzled why you are asking...unless, of course, you were thinking of selling without professional representation...

A couple of suggestions:

Talk with a few Realtors compare their proposals. Staging works, the data is irrefutable. However, what you really need FIRST is market expertise...which stagers do not normally have. I would recommend interviewing a few REaltors and based on their recommendations look at staging as PART of your home's marketing. A great Realtor knows that it will take to help you make the most profit when you sell.

As an example, I had a client that got some bad advice, invest $6,000 on a bathroom remodel. Yet did not have enough funds to re-carpet and paint...which was much more important in the big picture.

I would be happy to provide you with a top Realtor to interview and analyze your situation. You can contact me via my Trulia profile.

Hi Susanne,

I know a great stager -- Jennifer Haniszewski. She does a fantastic job and I know one of the homes she staged last month sold in 6 days! (Pretty impressive in this market). She has all her own inventory, and has a great reputation with the Douglas and Elbert County Realtors Association. I'm sure she'd be happy to answer your questions. You can contact her at 303.918.3723 or homestagingbyjennifer@gmail.com. If you'd like to see her work, you can check out her website at http://www.homestagingbyjennifer.com.

As for your question about negative feedback from buyers, the goal of home staging is to change your house from a home to a product. A good home stager knows how to highlight the best features of the property and make the buyer see it as a place where they could live.

Give Jennifer a call, she is the best in the business.

Take care,

Ben Edgson
Mortgage Banker
720.280.0441
ben@bythebrookemortgage.com