Home staging remains one of the most effective ways to prepare a property for sale. It’s proven, practical, and clear in its results. Yet even now, many people misunderstand its purpose. Some go further, spreading misinformation and speaking from opinion instead of training.

A well-known TV host recently shared her “top five staging mistakes.” At the top of her list? Removing family photos. She said it made a house feel more loved and easier to imagine as her own.

This is not an isolated view. Some real estate agents agree and post similar thoughts online. But those are personal preferences, not professional advice. They confuse sellers and undermine the work of trained stagers. Having a public platform or experience flipping houses does not make someone an expert in staging. Neither does having a good eye for décor.

Who Counts as an Expert?

An expert has education, experience, and ongoing training in a field. That’s true for doctors, engineers, and also for stagers. Recognition by peers is part of that. Expertise is earned, not claimed.

Professional stagers do not tell clients to ignore their agent’s pricing advice. So why is it acceptable for agents or celebrities to disregard staging guidance?

Why We Remove Personal Items

Staging is not about the seller or the agent. It’s about helping the buyer connect to the space. To do that well, we remove distractions.

That means removing items like:

• Family photos, children’s art, calendars
• Medical equipment, certificates, awards, personal collections

The reasons are practical:

1. Privacy and security
   Open houses attract all kinds of visitors. Not all have good intentions. Personal items can expose sellers to risk.
2. Buyer attention
   Most buyers spend just a few minutes in a home. If they stop to look at photos or awards, they aren’t looking at the space.
3. Letting go
   Selling is emotional. Removing personal items helps the seller shift into a more neutral mindset and prepare for the sale.
4. Clear presentation
   Staging is not decorating. It is about showing the structure, flow, and features of the home, not the personality of the current owner.

As Kelly Peletier puts it, “If you walked into a hotel and saw photos of everyone who stayed there before you, would you feel at ease?”

A Note for Agents and Sellers

Many agents still try to do staging themselves. Some reuse props from older listings or add a rug and a few cushions. But staging is not about appearances. It is about layout, function, safety, and value.

A growing concern is the use of fake beds. These are often built from cardboard, air mattresses, or crates. They look like beds, but they are not stable. If a child or buyer sits on one and it collapses, there is a real risk of injury. Signs that say “do not sit” are not enough. The person who installed the fake bed may be held responsible. More importantly, it creates mistrust. It sends a message that the home is not being presented honestly.

Even more troubling is when agents understand these risks and continue to cut corners.

Liability is Real

There are real cases where people have been injured in staged homes. The reasons vary. A loose chair. An unstable prop. Unsafe furniture. But the result is the same: legal action, costs, and damage to reputation.

Now imagine that the staging was done not by a professional but by the agent or seller. If someone gets hurt, who is liable? The agent? The seller? The brokerage?

Professional stagers carry insurance and follow safety protocols. Improvised staging does not offer that protection. And it increases the risk.

Recently, a certified stager gave a presentation to a local office. She explained the purpose of staging and why sellers—not agents—should invest in it. She clarified how agents benefit from partnering with professionals.

The next day, that same office posted a TikTok of their staff carrying pillows and joking about staging a home. They ignored the message entirely. They treated the work like a game.

This goes beyond bad judgment. It calls the agent’s ethics into question. Agents have a duty to act in the best interest of their client. Once they understand the value of real staging, choosing not to offer it becomes a form of neglect.

Legal Advisory: Risks of DIY Staging

Staging involves more than how a space looks. It includes safety and legal responsibility. Doing it without training carries serious risk.

What every agent should know:

1. Injury leads to liability
   If someone is hurt by unstable staging, the agent, brokerage, and seller can all be held responsible.
2. DIY staging is not covered by insurance
   Professionals carry liability coverage. Most agents, assistants, and homeowners do not.
3. Poor staging affects trust
   Cheap materials and unstable props damage the buyer’s perception of the home and the agent’s professionalism.

How to avoid risk:

Hire trained, insured professionals

Never use fake furniture or unstable props

Educate sellers about the risks of cutting corners

Always act to reduce liability

Final Word

If you’re not trained and insured to stage a home, don’t do it. The risk is real, and the results will not compare.

Staging is not a luxury. It’s part of marketing a property well. When done right, it protects value, builds trust, and supports both seller and agent.

Shortcuts damage more than the look of a listing. They damage safety, trust, and outcome. Sellers deserve proper guidance. Buyers deserve a space they can picture themselves in. And professionals deserve respect for the skills they bring.

Let’s raise the standard.