Home staging companies forced to adapt as sellers pull back

Home staging companies forced to adapt as sellers pull back

TORONTO –


One walk through a home tells Rachael Stafford what adjustments are needed to pique the interest of potential buyers.


For Stafford, the founder and creative director of organizing and staging company Order in the House, changes can range from decluttering rooms to services like painting and repairs, or even bringing in furniture rentals.


It’s a service valued by homeowners, she said, especially in a hot market where sellers look to gain any advantage that can help drive up the price of their property.


But as home sales throughout much of Canada have turned sluggish, home staging services have taken a hit as sellers rethink the cost of a thorough revamp, Stafford said.


“We’re still supplementing with some (furniture) rentals where rooms really need it,” she said. “But I find that sellers are more so trying to scale back a little bit on the