Does Home Staging Really Add Value? (w/ Rachel Mitchell) | EP403

Home staging is about much more than making a property look attractive. It is a marketing strategy designed to improve listing photos, showcase functionality and help buyers emotionally connect with a home.In Episode 403 of The Real Estate Podcast, Steve Cecchetto sits down with Rachel Mitchell, owner of Straightened Spaces and one of KT’s go-to home stagers. They discuss the most common mistakes sellers make, the impact of paint, lighting and decluttering, why buyers form opinions within seconds and how staging can influence the perceived value of a property.Rachel also shares how she transitioned from corporate marketing into home staging, the story of her first 4,000-square-foot project and some of the unexpected challenges that happen behind the scenes.Visit Rachel's socials here!Instagram: @straightened_spacesWebsite: https://www.straightenedspaces.com/VIDEO SECTIONS & TIMESTAMPS0:00 - Intro1:52 - Meet Rachel Mitchell from Straightened Spaces5:03 - Staging is marketing—not just decorating7:00 - Why presentation matters in today’s market11:47 - The most common staging mistake #1: Painting13:32 - The most common staging mistake #2: Lighting17:16 - Decluttering and budget-friendly improvements18:27 - Staging for photos is critical20:39 - Closets, storage and the small details buyers notice22:52 - How to prepare for the staging process (sellers and their agents)27:55 - When do you NOT stage?31:34 - Should you keep up with the trend when staging?33:50 - Rachel’s wildest staging story36:12 - The behind-the-scenes reality of growing a staging business37:08 - Snowstorms, stuck trucks and refusing to cancel38:18 - Outro/recapWatch on YouTube:https://youtube.com/kormendytrottListen on Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/show/1pwncyet9NydbgTmx5D21kLinktree:https://linktr.ee/kormendytrottInstagram:https://instagram.com/kormendytrottYouTube:https://youtube.com/kormendytrottFacebook:https://facebook.com/kormendytrottX:https://x.com/kormendytrottLinkedIn:https://linkedin.com/company/ktrealtyTikTok:https://tiktok.com/@kormendytrottThe Kormendy Trott Team was formed in 2011 by Ariel Kormendy and Adrian Trott. Originally a team of two in Milton, Ontario, KT has grown into a full-service real estate group serving Halton Region, Peel Region, and the Greater Toronto Area.