In March of 2006, Trish Kim, a local interior designer, and her husband, Young Kim, began doing a new type of business: preparing homes for sale by making them more welcoming to buyers. They would rearrange furniture, add art and rugs, take down drapes covering lovely windows, and switch out worn furniture for new. They also de-cluttered homes so the few photos taken for brochures and newspapers would look great.
Little did they know that 15 years later, the total listing price of the homes they had staged would be in excess of $2.3 billion dollars. The growth was partially fueled by the growth of the Internet, which made online previewing of houses possible. During the pandemic, home staging got an even greater boost as potential buyers appreciated the clean, new look of staged homes. Home staging became a critical success factor in a top-dollar sale.
Since then…
The way Staged Interior stages has changed over time, becoming simpler and more like buyers live. The detailed look of 2006 has gradually morphed to the simpler look of 2021.
Will the trend toward simplicity and realism continue? Trish Kim makes a few predictions: “I think the style trend toward very modern will continue. Buyers seek homes that look sleek and easy to take care of, with no upkeep whatsoever. The pandemic need to work at home will change the way we work forever. People who can work at home will be doing so as much as possible, even when the pandemic is over.”
Staged Interior no longer makes elaborate floral displays. Small display furniture has been replaced with simpler, larger, and higher-quality furniture. Rooms are staged as entire lived-in rooms, complete with TVs and laptop computers, to indicate how a family could really live in a home.
More Predicted Trends…
What about future staging colors and styles? “Gray has been in style for so long. I’m not sure what the color will be, but it won’t be gray! And, globalism is here for sure. That will mean a more eclectic style in staging: styles from other countries will be more a part of the design of homes.”
How does this effect style trends in staging? “Every staged home will need an at-home office, as well as study spaces for children who will continue to do some learning at home. Those are just different uses of rooms, but need to be considered when staging,” concludes Trish.
Staging in a Low-Inventory Market?
Young Kim reports: “Even with this record low inventory, some listings are lingering on the market. A Realtor calls and says that the clients didn’t think staging was needed, but now they do. Then, we stage and the listing goes under contract in just a few days!”
As Staged Interior’s style of home staging changes over time, its high quality does not. Young Kim recently summed up the Staged Interior approach:
– Create the “Wow Factor” in every staged home
– Provide excellent customer service during the entire process
“If there is one factor that has contributed more to my success than any other, it is my association with this great company,” says a Realtor and longtime client.
Trish and Young Kim thank their production team and all of their clients, past and present, for making Staged Interior’s 15th anniversary possible!
