When Shaina McLorg finished staging a home on Maybeck Street in Novato, the homeowners did not immediately fall in love with the result. They told her plainly: it wasn’t their taste.
McLorg, the RESA-PRO® behind Interior Solutions Staging, asked them to trust her expertise. The rooms had been prepared with their next owner in mind, and that meant making choices the sellers might never have made for themselves.
A week later, one of the homeowners called with a different reaction. An offer well above asking had arrived after the first weekend.
By June 18, 2026, the home had closed for $85,500 over its list price, earning recognition in the Real Estate Staging Association®’s Sold Over List Price Club. But the story begins with something quieter than that result: a bedroom that makes a persuasive case for slowing down and settling in.
Built in 1999, the four-bedroom, three-bathroom home sits on a 6,124-square-foot lot in Novato.
When a familiar home takes on a different look
For the sellers,, the finished staging initially felt unfamiliar.
That reaction is understandable. A home’s is by natural personal, and the things within them are usually chosen around what the homeowners like, what they own, and how they spend their time.
Preparing that same home for sale introduces a new set of considerations.
McLorg’s response brought the focus back to the future buyer. She asked the homeowners to give her work a chance, even if the finished rooms did not reflect their personal preferences.
They did. And after the first weekend, the seller’s follow-up call acknowledged that the presentation had connected with someone else.
The home ultimately sold for approximately 105.6% of its asking price. Alongside the pricing, marketing, and other elements of the sale, the staging gave the property a complete, furnished presentation as it entered the market.
A fresh perspective on a Novato home
Based in San Rafael, Interior Solutions Staging works with vacant and occupied homes throughout Marin County. On Maybeck Street, McLorg brought a perspective the homeowners initially questioned and later appreciated.
For a Novato homeowner preparing to sell, this project is a reminder of what a fresh perspective can bring to a familiar property. Consulting with a professional home stager early gives that perspective room to take shape, helping the next owner see a place for themselves before they have even unpacked.