Lisa Ciofani Basham’s Helpful Home Staging can help you net more when it’s time to sell
By Patricia Nugent
No matter what your home is worth when you go to sell, master stager Lisa Ciofani Basham, founder of Helpful Home Staging, can transform it and earn you more money in less time.
“Anyone who doesn’t think they need a professional stager is leaving money on the table when they sell,” says Lisa, who is celebrating her 15th year in business. She’s uniquely qualified as a stager, with decades of previous experience as a Realtor and builder, and has spoken at conventions across the country, as well as local colleges, career tech centers and local events.
She says on average a typical staging should yield you a return of three dollars for every well-spent staging dollar.
What’s the Process?
“It’s best if people go to the company website, helpfulhomestaging.com and complete a contact us form and from there a call is scheduled,” she says. “If you need immediate answers then call us at 440-342-2006. We will have a discussion about your home and decide if it’s best to set up a consultation, which we call our Go to SOLD-Home Strategy Assessment. We stage both owner-occupied homes as well as vacant homes, and models and love to help with estates. When staging a vacant home we tour the property and take photos and measurements as needed.
“Then we come back to the warehouse and do pseudo-staging, putting different things together to see what would be perfect in a particular space,” she explains. “I study the home and am careful to create rooms that are in balance with the architectural flavor of the home and also consider who the targeted buyer is.
“Buyers form their opinion of a home within the first few moments of walking into it, so we make our ‘wow’ space one of the first rooms they see.”
In addition to interiors, she also consults with people on the best bang for their buck with “cosmetic updating.” Buyers prefer a home that is turn-key ready and do pay top-dollar for it.
“I work with a team of tradespeople who can get things done quickly and affordably so we can get a home to market,” she says.
Winning the Coppola Job
When Roman Coppola, son of legendary director Francis Ford Coppola, was ready to put his $2.3 million Gates Mills mansion on the market last fall, he interviewed several stagers. Lisa won the job. The 8,000-plus-square-foot historic home features large rooms with rustic wood finishes that she brought to life with colorful art and luxurious furnishings.
Another job, the staging of the former Shaker Heights home of a coach for the Cleveland Browns, needed updating and refreshing.
“We selected new paint colors in key areas and transformed the owners-suite bathroom,” Lisa says. “Taking out a glass block shower and a jacuzzi tub and installing a soaking tub and black vanity with mixed metal finishes. You can see it on our showcase page on the website.”
The home went into a bidding war the first weekend it came on the market.
What Local Realtors are Saying
Within the local marketplace, Lisa’s staging expertise has earned her a legion of fans among real estate agents.
“I was amazed by the number of furnishings and decorator items you have in stock to provide your home staging services and advice,” says Sheila M.
Homeowners at every price point appreciate her eye for detail. Mona M. says, “Her suggestions were absolutely innovative and interesting, hit the target for drama and elegance, and really did sell the home, in my opinion. She also helped me with expediting carpet and other remodeling services that I was having trouble getting done quickly and reliably and coordinated affordable professional photography for my listing. I wish I knew her sooner, as her partnership was priceless.”
Considering her jam-packed 7,500 square-foot warehouse, this year Lisa has launched a rental division for people who want to rent unique pieces of furniture for their residential or commercial events.
“Sometimes Realtors or homeowners like to do their own staging, and we also provide a variety of different styles of furniture, wall art, lamps, pillows, bed linens, show plants and other home décor items they can select from,” she adds.
Headquartered in Eastlake, Helpful Home Staging has added dollars to home sellers’ bottom lines all over Northeast Ohio. Lisa has won numerous Best of Houzz service awards over the years. Call 440-342-2006 or visit HelpfulHomeStaging.com.