IN THE PRESS
From Lancaster Online by Margaret Gates
How a Denver Borough designer created a living room that perfectly suits her life
Through her Denver-based business, HOME by Melissa, Hess offers design, staging and renovation services, working with a team of area contractors.
Everybody lives differently, so she has to listen to homeowners, connect with them and understand their needs. Making a home look pretty is easy, she says, but there has to be more. It’s about maximizing livability and functionality, and showing homeowners the potential of their space so it becomes a place they love to be.
“The highest compliment I get is: ‘I can’t wait to get home.’ ”
Real estate staging draws new buyers in with clean primped, livable settings
Melissa Hess, a professional interior designer and real estate stager said, "Staging isn't just a professional service but very personal one." Think of staging a home for sale as putting your property's best foot forward. Sweep, wipe, light and hide, then take it a step further.
Jerry Lehman, a real estate agent with Coldwell Banker, wholeheartedly supports the use of a stager by the seller because it has proven to produce quicker sales with higher profits.
"I find that Melissa delivers a personal and comprehensive service that produces results," Lehman said. "If people follow through with all of the suggestions from the Realtor and stager, I have found that homes sell more quickly."
Hess noted that a recent study by the Real Estate Staging Association (RESA) has shown that a staged home spends 85% less time on the market, and 65% of buyers pay more for homes that are move-in ready. "The investment in staging a home the first time around," said Hess, "is far better than a forced price reduction later."