Turning houses into homes

Darlene Lacey of Style On Staging uses her impeccable taste and decorating skills to boost the value of local real estate

Lacey has a knack for bringing renewed style to homes. —

Photo courtesy Darlene Lacey

Always the go-to girl for home decorating advice, Darlene Lacey was honing her skills long before she became president of her new enterprise, Style On Staging, located in Cranbrook, B.C. She has chosen a line of work that fits in well with current trends, and meets the needs of style-conscious home buyers.

“Home staging may well be considered a modern trend,” said Lacey, “yet with popular programs on the rise such as HGTV’s The Unsellables and The Stagers as well as W’s Take This House and Sell It . . . (home staging) is not just a trend but an expectation that savvy buyers will come to anticipate if sellers expect to compete in today’s real estate market.”

Discovering her niche

After successfully revamping three of her own homes and selling them for a profit, Lacey started Kootenay By Owner Sale Services. This online business allowed independent sellers to connect with potential buyers.

“Soon after opening the virtual doors to Kootenay By Owner Sale Services, I came to realize that my own personal successes were due in large part to how well my homes showed,” she said. “But my real ‘aha’ moment came when my staging recommendations netted one of my ‘for sale by owner’ clients $25,000 more on the final sale of their home—and Style On Staging was born.”

An asset to the industry

Lacey's expertise benefits the real estate market by adding value to homes. Her role is an important one, and it makes her work that much more satisfying.

“The most rewarding aspect of running a home staging business is knowing that the information and expertise I provide has the awesome power to help home owners, realtors and developers better market their homes,” she said, “setting them apart from the rest of the market and ultimately boosting their bottom line.”

Through experience, Lacey has learned that buyers purchase homes based on emotion. The more sellers become aware of this fact, the more attention they will pay to the details that make each home individually appealing. Lacey's services can be a huge asset in bringing out the best in every living space.

“It’s no secret that today’s buyer is much more hands-on in their home search,” Lacey said. “They will peruse the Internet . . . but if a home does not show nicely in photos or appears unkempt or outdated it will often be overlooked. In comparison, a properly staged home will sell faster and for more money.”