Contributed by Shell Brodnax, CEO Real Estate Staging Association (RESA)

The concept of real estate agents asking homeowners to tidy up when they sell their home is not new.  The days of agents asking sellers to clean up, bake some cookies and set out some candles are a thing of the past. What started out as common sense practices when selling a home has turned into what we now call real estate staging.

When staging first started, it consisted of simple de-cluttering, removing personal items and photos and moving around your furniture in occupied homes. A vacant property was staged by using just enough furniture to give the appearance the rooms were large and spacious.

The concept of appealing to the masses rather ......