B U S I N E SS
Staging Basics
BY: RAE LYNN PAYTON
from Live Boho
Local design professional shares her tricks of the trade
L
ooking to sell your home and wondering if staging is worth it? Finding a professional that has both an eye for design and experience is often key to gaining the most value. Maggie Barnes, owner of Live Boho, a full-service design retail store in OKC, says homebuyers are more likely to develop an emotional connection to a staged home. “It used to be a luxury to have something staged and now it’s almost a necessity,” Barnes shared. Staging allows a homebuyer to visualize a space’s layout with a modern aesthetic and to really see how their furniture and style will fit within the space. She says staged homes sell about 80 percent faster and fees are minimal compared to how much the process could increase their value.
Barnes’ biggest staging success was on a project for a $1.2 million home that had been on the market for two 48 October 2020
years with no offers. After staging, the owners received an offer in just three days, and it sold. When staging, Barnes says it is crucial to know your market and who you’re selling to. Avoid using oversized furniture and outdated pieces, unless it’s an antique, and steer clear of personal items and dark spaces. Also, dust well and keep things classic, she added.
Live Boho offers full-service staging including furniture, accessories, artwork, rugs, lamps and patio spaces. They stage homes for realtors, builders, Airbnbs, executive long-term listings and for the Parade of Homes. The real estate market in the metro is hot right now and Barnes said she staged 32 properties this July with houses selling in hours with multiple offers. Barnes built her business from the ground up. She opened a home-décor retail store about eight years ago in a
warehouse that had belonged to her dad’s oil field company. Her dad’s struggles and successes in small business were an inspiration to her, as was her mother’s flair for design. “I’m a huge creative, but I also have a good business side,” Barnes shared. Live Boho was born from the love of many unique styles - bohemian, coastal, industrial and antique, to name a few. Barnes has items from all over the world. “I like to pull different looks in,” she said. “We didn’t want to pigeon hole the style or market toward one particular demographic. I appreciate everything, so there’s everything at my store.” Six years ago, a shopper, now great friend Robin Greenwood, visited Barnes’ retail store as a first-time house flipper. She asked Barnes if she’d ever considered staging. That first staging job sold in a week and led to two more referrals.