Those who say, "home staging doesn't make sense for properties below $100,000" will have those homes languish on the market unsold, racking up costs and eroding profit. You are better off spending a little money to illustrate the potential of a property UP FRONT so that it sells immediately and for top dollar! Seriously.

Those who say, "home staging doesn't make sense for properties below $100,000" fall into 2 camps:

Camp #1 -- People who don't understand what staging is

• Staging is simply illustrating what a property can be used for - family life, bachelor pad, couple's nest - and more
• Staging techniques can be applied using what a current occupant already has, and rearranging things for the best views, best photos for MLS, best flow for showing
• Staging can mean bringing in rental furniture to show room size, demonstrate lifestyle and create a warm, fuzzy feeling of "ah, now this is home!"

Camp #2 - People who think we are in yesterday's real estate market

Oh how I wish they were right! But their not. Today, there are a ton of homes for sale, lots of foreclosures, lots of rehabbed REO homes, rehabs a plenty. If you want yours to stand out, you have to make it be the "Best in Show'. Best way to do that is through staging principles:

• Mint condition
• Colorful and fun
• Certified Pre-owned, if you can get a home warranty for the appliances, etc.
• Showing buyers how the space in each room works - what fits, what works, what just feels right.

Those who say, "home staging doesn't make sense for properties below $100,000" are being penny-wise, pound-foolish. Let me ask you a question:

1. What are your monthly carrying costs?
2. How much will you lower your price if the property just sits there unshown, and with no offers?

What if I told you that staging can cost as little as $300 if it's just working with what the homeowner has and up to $3,500 for a small home's-worth of rented furniture and accessories... for THREE MONTHS!!! How much was your first price reduction again?

Those who say, "home staging doesn't make sense for properties below $100,000", are gonna lose their shirt.