Creating a memorable experience is the goal of any professional stager when staging a vacant home. Staging creates a lifestyle to capture the attention and tug on the emotions of the target market of the house. When that connection is made, the house is sold.

The staged house featured in this column is located in Greenwood Lake, NY. It was listed on 8/11/17 and had a multiple offer situation and had an accepted offer on 8/16/17. The Realtor, Cynthia Warner of Keller Williams Realty in Chester, NY, told the seller how staging would sell the house quickly and for more money. The seller saw the value and we staged it. Unfortunately Cynthia passed away before the house closed.

The house had amazing views of Greenwood Lake and was located a block from the beach. When making selection for this staging, I wanted the focus upon on entering the house to be the views to the lake not the staging. Light colors and water elements were used to compliment the views. There is a fine line between having a theme and creating a lifestyle based on location. Staging got the house sold.

In memory of Cynthia Warner

“Cynthia Warner was a consummate professional with many years in the business, and she knew that her listing would sell quickly if it was staged properly to provide potential buyers with the feeling of a home rather than a house. Cynthia contacted Claudia, who staged 6 Cascade Trail so wonderfully that the house received multiple offers from different buyers, and was under contract in only 83 days. Staging a house properly, as Claudia did in this instance, helps make each house more appealing to potential buyers than a house that is not staged properly or not staged whatsoever. Cynthia knew this, and she is sorely missed by our office for not only her quick wit and wonderful personality, but also her professionalism and expertise.” Walter Machnicki, Esq., CEO/Team Leader
Keller Williams Realty, Chester, NY

On a personal note, I’ve known Cynthia Warner for many years. She had a yard sale a few years ago and I picked up a bunch of items for my inventory. Whenever she saw a photo of a staging with some of her accessories, including this staging, she would comment, “I never made that looks so good”. In a very kind hearted manor, she would tease me about my height since she was much taller than me. At the Greenwood Lake house, floor to ceiling built in shelves were in the master bedroom. She noticed how the decorated shelves stopped at her eye level. Her comment, “I can always tell when you stage a house, nothing is placed too high. Would you like me move anything for you?”

In one of the photos looking down into the living room, one of the kitchen counter stools was moved because she was sitting on it during the photo shoot. In listing photos, a stager wants everything perfect. In this shot, I will always remember, Cynthia was here.