As I prepared to put my home on the market, and purchase a new one I started shopping my competition via the Internet. We live in the age of the computer where you can virtually take a tour of a home without ever setting foot in it. This is why it  is so important to create a good first impression!

I was shocked at what I found. Not only did I see photos of homes for sale with dishes in the sink and clutter on the counters, but I also noticed that rooms were not showing well because the color schemes or furniture layout made the rooms appear crowded and small. These homes clearly needed to be Staged. This combined with my passion for home design is what prompted me to become a Home Stager!

Danielle Klassen, design consultant and owner of A&E Home Staging is passionate about Home Staging. With her creative talent and educational background she has what it takes to make a difference in the sale of your home!

Danielle has a Bachelor of Commerce from St.F.X University with a concentration in marketing.She has worked in retail Managment for 4 years and also worked in the financial industry for 7. She became a Certified Staging Professional (CSP) in 2008 and also has her International Staging and Redesign Professional (ISRP) designation which she achieved early in 2009.  She is a member of the Real Estate Staging Association (RESA) and as well Home Stagers Atlantic (HSA).

We as professional stagers can see the house as buyers will, and will set the scene so that buyers can imagine living there. We will simplify or streamline the furniture in a room for better traffic flow and  enhance its spaciousness. we may neutralize a too-personal color scheme or add touches of color or accessories where needed. In vacant homes that feel cold and lack visual landmarks, we often bring in rental furniture and create "vignettes," say, a seating area in front of the fireplace. This is what makes buyers see themselves living in this home!!!

Barb Schwarz, president of StagedHomes.com and founder of The International Association of Home Staging Professionals, says that staging helps exhausted buyers "mentally move in" and feel that when they move in for real, they'll be able to kick back for a while and relax.