Fiorenza Bilak, an interior design graduate and founder of Stage The Space, LLC, is building a business around a straightforward reality: most buyers cannot visualize how to use empty rooms. Seven years ago, after her husband’s flipped property lingered on the market, Bilak brought in extra furniture from her home. The house received three over-asking offers the same day, leading to the creation of her staging company.
Bilak’s staging philosophy centers on a key statistic from the Real Estate Staging Association (RESA): “Statistically, 83% of the entire world population lacks imagination,” she explains. “When 83% of your potential buyers are walking into a property, that’s an enormous number to gamble with. That is 83% of possibilities going straight down the drain simply because the public doesn’t understand space, scale, nor design concepts generally speaking.” This inability to visualize spaces makes empty homes harder to sell, but professional staging provides immediate answers, helping buyers envision themselves living there and often encouraging them to overlook flaws.
Despite documented benefits, Bilak encounters skepticism from those who see staging as a cost rather than an investment. To address this, Stage The Space recently partnered with Notable, introducing a pay-at-closing option that eliminates upfront financial hurdles. “Many don’t realize that skipping staging can end up costing more in the long run,” Bilak emphasizes. “Properties that linger on the market continue to accrue mortgage, tax, and maintenance expenses, often far exceeding the cost of staging.”
Bilak’s staging approach emphasizes neutrality and broad appeal, using appropriately scaled furniture and “biophilic touches” that incorporate greenery and organic elements. “Neurologically speaking, it helps human beings live better, behave better, feel better, heal better,” she notes. Seeking to diversify, Bilak partnered with the furniture platform From Where to establish a digital storefront, allowing buyers to purchase furniture and décor seen in staged homes via QR codes. This turns the staged home into a live shopping experience.
Beyond projects, Bilak teaches a three-hour continuing education course on home staging for real estate agents through RESA, earning participants the Certified Staging Advocate (CSA) designation. Stage The Space operates throughout the Las Vegas Valley, staging homes at every price point. As the market evolves, Bilak sees education as key to making staging more widely adopted. “Staging shouldn’t be thought of as an optional resource,” she says. “It’s a proven strategy that helps homes sell faster and achieve higher returns.” Through strategic staging, technology partnerships, and industry education, Bilak is helping bridge the gap between vacant properties and successful sales.
