Pre-Market Consultations

Getting ready to list your home? Our owner-occupied pre-market consultations are a smart, impactful way to ensure your property looks its absolute best—both in photos and in person. Consultations remain a favorite service among real estate agents, investors, and homeowners for their low cost, high return, and guided process.

Our professional stylists begin with a detailed on-site walkthrough of the home, noting the home’s standout features and pinpointing areas with untapped potential. Every recommendation is tailored to enhance visual impact—ensuring the property shines in both listing photography and in-person showings.

Our consultations and MAP (Market Advantage Plan) navigates sellers seamlessly from listed to sold. This service is ideal for DIY homeowners preparing to stage their own homes who want professional guidance and a strategic starting point. If you’d like to take the stress free route, hire our team to return to manage the staging and implement the MAP. Please visit our Occupied Staging Page for additional information.

On-site or Virtual consultations available. Receive the same professional insight and strategic guidance as an in-person consultation—remotely. Virtual consultations also include The Market Advantage Plan (MAP) delivered digitally, making it easy to access tailored recommendations from anywhere.

  • Walk and Talk Consultation: Expert Guidance, Delivered in Real Time

    Our Walk & Talk Consultation is a collaborative session for the hands-on homeowner. We tour your space together and discuss practical, high‑impact updates to maximize it's appeal. Homeowners are encouraged to take notes throughout the walk‑through so they have a clear, personalized roadmap they can reference and act on with confidence.

    Walk and Talk Consultation: What to Expect
    During this consultation, you’ll receive:

    • Up to 1.5 hours with a Merriment by Design stager touring the home together and discussing practical, high‑impact updates to maximize it's appeal.

    • Room‑by‑room recommendations on layout, furniture placement, what items to keep and what to remove.

    • Staging and styling tips to highlight your home’s best features.

    • Recommendations for paint, lighting, and accessories.

    • Actionable advice you can implement immediately without waiting 24-48 hours for the Market Advantage Plan.

  • Occupied Consultation: Expert Guidance, Delivered In-Person

    An on-site consultation service available to sellers in our service area.

    Occupied Consultation: What to Expect

    Customized, in-person guidance designed to help homeowners confidently stage their lived-in spaces into buyer-ready standouts.

    This appointment will take up to 2 hours.

    Within 24-48 hours after the visit, you’ll receive your Market Advantage Plan: a customized guide with clear, actionable steps to prepare your home for listing.

  • Virtual Consultation: Expert Guidance, Delivered Digitally

    A convenient, remote service perfect for busy schedules or for sellers outside our North Texas service area.

    Expert guidance from anywhere-designed to help homeowners transform their lived-in spaces into market-ready showstoppers.

    Virtual Consultation: What to Expect

    • Complete a brief questionnaire

    • Share photos of each room, following our easy-to-use guide

    • Receive a tailored Market Advantage Plan (MAP) within two business days.

    We specialize in maximizing what’s already there—virtually.

Market Advantage Plan (MAP)

The Market Advantage Plan delivers expert advice on:

  • Curb appeal enhancements 

  • Decluttering strategies

  • Furniture layout optimization

  • Styling strategy with the owner’s existing pieces

  • Purchase recommendations to enhance spaces

  • Addressing any potential buyer red flags

  • Paint color recommendations, if needed

  • Designer tips for surface and fixtures upgrades

  • Showing day organization tips

  • Referrals to trusted trades for house sprucing

Includes consultation & Market Advantage Plan for properties up to 5,000 sq. ft. For properties over 5,000 sq. ft., consultation rates are customized based on size, location, and listing value. Please contact us for your tailored package!

YOU ONLY GET ONE CHANCE TO MAKE A GREAT FIRST IMPRESSION

Ready to prep your home for market? Let us help you maximize your return.

Let's Talk Staging!