Home Staging Hides Defects Washington DC

DeadlineNews.Com Special Report 3 of 3: Staging, designed to embellish the look and feel of a home for sale, can also be used to conceal what's real. Brokers advise buyers to look beyond the staging.

• See all the Stages of Staging

by Broderick Perkins
© 2008 DeadlineNews.Com

Deadline Newsroom - In the brave new money-tight world of housing, the growing inventory of homes is prompting more and more sellers to stage the deal so it stands out from the pack.

The same shrinking housing market that's putting lenders out of work, is cashing fat checks for stagers who transform houses full of drab rooms into model homes that rival those in a newly built development.

Those who ply the trade say staging is where art meets the real estate deal. However, a group of real estate brokers are warning buyers a blank canvas may be a better deal than a contrived masterpiece. Not only can a well-staged home put sparkle in buyers' eyes is can also be used to insidiously conceal defects, according to National Association of Exclusive Buyer Agents (NAEBA) whose members exclusively represent buyers. ...

Click to read this article from Deadline News