In Austin, we’re no stranger to the dramatically shifting landscape of real estate. As the demand for quality and educated real estate agents in Austin continues to soar, the demand for stagers does too. It’s well known that homes spend significantly less time on the market when they are staged, allowing a potential buyer to feel what life could be like in a home while simultaneously offering the freedom of the seller to begin to relocate to their new home.

Here in Austin, we’re lucky to have Elite Austin, a local firm that ties interior design experience, real estate market knowledge and a professional posture towards taking a listing from bare and empty to a coveted home a person or family could see themselves in. Buyers are even able to rent or purchase the staging furnishings, creating a seamless transition while moving into their new home. 

To learn a bit more about this niche industry, we sat down with the founder & president of Elite Austin, Valerie Pierce. 

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Q&A

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Q: Tell us how and why you started Elite Austin, and what year it was when this occurred. 

A: I’ve always loved the process of transforming interiors, whether it’s remodeling, furnishings or both! Years ago, I was asked to stage a home I was renting to help it sell. I searched Austin high and low for furniture rental options and was surprised to find out how challenging it was to locate quality furniture for rent. I ended up sourcing and purchasing furniture from retail stores, which was expensive. Despite having to later sell the furniture at a loss, I fell in love with the process of staging because I discovered how much it accentuated the home’s best features while also minimizing its flaws. 

After later being asked by some Realtor friends to stage more homes, I realized there was only one solution. In 2014, due to the lack of furniture options in Austin, I decided to start a design firm with a unique focus on quality furniture that would meet clients’ budgetary needs without compromising style and function. 

Elite Austin is now a design firm with an incredible team of talented, passionate, creative, furniture experts who love design and home staging as much as I do. Over the last few years, we have expanded our services to include Home Staging, Luxury Furniture Leasing, and Furniture Sales. We just recently celebrated our 10 year anniversary! 

Q: Elite Austin is known for buyer-focused design and staging that results in a facile simple process for buyers and sellers alike. Can you go into this a bit more for someone who may be new to the idea of staging?

A: It’s always our priority for our staging process to be as seamless and stress-free as possible for our clients. That’s one of the main benefits of enlisting Elite Austin to stage your home. We handle everything; from the moment you reach out to our Client Services team to set up a complimentary site visit to the day our experienced designers and logistics crew expertly install furnishings and decor in just hours. 

While some buyers have a natural eye for furniture placement, many have difficulty envisioning themselves in a bare home. They’ll spend less time touring and have a harder time remembering empty homes than those that are artfully decorated. Staging is more than just beautiful furniture though; our Elite Austin designers strategically select and install high-quality pieces that showcase your home’s full functionality and help buyers form an emotional attachment. It’s our goal for the buyer to first fall in love with the house and then with the furniture in the hopes they’ll purchase both – making their move all the more streamlined.  

“They’ll spend less time touring and have a harder time remembering empty homes than those that are artfully decorated. Staging is more than just beautiful furniture”

Q: Elite Austin is a big team that has a lot of moving pieces and priorities all of the time. What do you think is the key to a successful working team, with many moving parts?

A:  Our secret sauce really is our team; it’s inspiring to see how our team members support one another daily, creating such a positive and uplifting environment! We have a group of passionate, unique individuals who are self-starters, each bringing their own special talents to the table. That’s what makes Elite Austin truly special.  We place a strong emphasis on investing in our team, cultivating a positive culture, and ensuring a healthy work-life balance, which is crucial in today’s world. Another key aspect is each team member has a strong sense of ownership of their responsibilities and takes great pride in delivering results that wow our clients.

Q: For someone who is on the fence about staging their home, what would you tell them? Any stats? 

A: For someone on the fence about staging their home, I’d say consider this: We have so many stats that support staging as one of the best ROIs when it comes to selling your home. For instance, 81% of agents said that staging made it easier for their buyers to visualize living in the space. Staging not only highlights the best features of your home but also creates an emotional connection for buyers, making them feel welcome and helping them envision their life there. It leaves a lasting impression that can be the deciding factor in turning a potential buyer into the new homeowner. In a competitive market, a tastefully staged home sets your listing apart and creates that sense of “home” that buyers are searching for. At the end of the day, quality staging can significantly influence a buyer’s emotions and perceptions, which are crucial when they’re looking for their dream home; when you know, you know!

Q: When it comes to services, Elite Austin provides home staging, furniture leasing and furniture sales. It’s probably hard to choose, but what is your favorite of these 3 services? 

A: My favorite service among the three we offer has to be our luxury furniture leasing service—it’s truly unique in Austin! We introduced this service a few years ago in response to frequent client requests. With this service, clients collaborate with an Elite Designer who manages all their furniture needs, delivering a beautifully curated, turnkey home. This service also offers great flexibility, as clients have the option to purchase any of the furniture they are leasing after the first month. It’s an ideal solution for those in transitional life stages, such as moving, without having to compromise on quality or personal style.

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On a more personal level, we have a few rapid fire questions we’d love your responses to!

Q: Go-to coffee order 

A: Latte with coconut milk; however, I love a great lavender latte when I can find one! 

Q: Favorite Austin restaurant (can be casual or fancy) 

A: I really love Aba Austin, the Mediterranean gem on South Congress! You haven’t lived until you have tried their incredible hummus! Beyond the delicious food, the ambience is inspired by summer in the Mediterranean, transporting you to another place. Plus, I have fond memories of hosting one of our previous Elite Austin holiday parties in their beautiful mezzanine area. 

Q: Dogs or cats 

A: Hands down, dogs! I have two golden retrievers, Lily and Hudson who are like my children and two of our Elite Mascots! 

Q: Snow or Beach 

A: Beach! There’s something about the combination of sun, sand, and the sea air that refreshes your soul. 

Q: Best thing about living in Austin, Texas

A: The combination of the beautiful hill country, outdoor adventures, vibrant culture and mouth watering restaurant scene make me proud to call Austin home! I love that the tech scene in Austin continues to grow, positively impacting other areas like increased direct flights, making travel more accessible. I also really appreciate how easy it is to find healthy food here, and our city is very pet-friendly, allowing you to bring your furry friend along for the fun! 

Q: Best thing about owning a business in Austin, Texas 

A:  I always say living in Austin is like living in a bubble; we are fortunate to be in one of the top cities where people aspire to relocate, which helps keep our economy strong and makes it a great place to own a business. Austin is also still small enough that many people care about supporting local businesses.

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