A Home Stager…

has the responsibility of transforming your home to sell fast and at the best possible price. They package your home into a marketable product and make every attempt to work with the furnishings you already own. A well-staged home will grab the attention of the greatest number of potential buyers. At the end of the staging process, you have a home that suits the personal preferences of your target market.

An Interior Designer…

has the responsibility of making your home functional and comfortable. They consult with you to get an understanding of your behavior and then develop a game plan that meets your specific needs and desires. To accomplish this the designer will bring in new home furnishings and change the layout of your home. At the end of the design process, you have a home that you love that suits your personal preferences.

Important Note: A Home Stager is your best option to sell your home quickly and cost effectively.

CERTIFICATION

An Interior Designer can choose to be certified by the National Council for Interior Design Qualification (NCIDQ).

The NCIDQ is an independent non-profit organization. They are completely objective and their mission is to protect the public. They establish the standards for required skills of an Interior Designer.

Home Staging is a growth industry and is an unregulated field. There is no organization comparable to the NCIDQ that sets rules for identifying qualified Home Stagers.

Some Home Staging courses do offer certification to their students.  As a result, there are many types of certificates out there. It is not necessary nor required by law for a Home Stager to have any of these certifications. Some Home Stagers are self-taught and others may get training. An individual’s level of expertise in Home Staging is dependent upon their motivation and devotion to mastering staging techniques.  My personal fave is The Academy of Home Staging…but as an instructor, I’m probably a little biased.

Stay tuned for the difference between an Interior Designer and a Re-Designer / Decorator / Interior Stylist….