I have hired 1st Stage for multiple properties over the years. In the past, they generally did great work and I was impressed with their staging style, professionalism, availability, and pricing. That said, my most recent experience was disappointing. I had them stage a modern townhouse in Costa Mesa near the beach. Unfortunately, the staging style they chose did not match the aesthetic of the property at all. I am not a designer, so I typically trust their vision and let them take the lead. This time, I reached out to their team and simply asked if we could swap out a few items to make the space feel more modern or beachy. I was told I would need to pay a restocking fee. That response was frustrating. I had referred them many jobs and clients in the past, and while the fee itself was not a large amount, it felt unnecessary and left a bad impression. They did eventually waive the fee, which I appreciated, but the situation already felt mishandled. Fast forward a bit. The property did not sell, and I requested that it be de-staged. Their team came out a few days later and removed the furniture. A few months after that, they emailed both me and my client, who was the actual party to the staging contract, claiming there was a prorated balance due for a few extra days the furniture remained in the home. The amount was under $400. The contract was between my client and 1st Stage, not me, so I was confused as to why I was included. Shortly after, Mark Sutton emailed me directly asking if I could take care of the payment by the next day. I found that extremely unprofessional. Agents are the ones who bring them business, and asking me to personally pay an invoice that had nothing to do with me showed a real lack of business judgment. I expressed my disappointment with their customer service, and the only response I received was a payment link. If you are looking for a stager who truly feels like a partner and values long-term relationships, I would think twice before using this company. In my experience, once an issue arises, you are treated like just another number, and preserving relationships does not seem to be a priority. read more

What an amazing experience we had with Janice and the entire team! Not only are they creative, hard working, and professional, but they have the most beautiful and quality items! You can put your complete trust that they will stage your house to perfection so that it will look great for the photos and the tours!! Our home went into escrow 4 days after listing and we received $100,000 over asking price! The 1st stage service is a great value and will pay off tremendously in the end. read more

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Words can't describe how beautiful they stage our home to be sold. Everybody said it looked beautiful and the decor was amazing. I feel without There help we would have not been able to sell so fast. Everyone is so professional and they are willing to go the extra mile and add extra decorations to help. My children called me and told me they found me a beautiful house to buy I asked what address and they gave me our house that we were selling . Thank you again read more

1st Stage Property Transformation - Living room - Interior Design Near Me - Murrieta, California

I can't say enough good things about 1st Stage Property Transformation. We've worked with them for nearly 10 years, and they consistently go above and beyond, delivering a true white-glove level of service from start to finish. Their team is thorough and reliable--previewing properties, providing accurate comparable estimates, and completing installations on time. If you're in need of staging services in Los Angeles, Orange County, San Diego, or the Inland Empire, give them a call--you won't be disappointed. read more

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First Stage Property Transformation did a fantastic job. Morgan Sutton and her team set up the condo beautifully when they staged it for sale and everyone complimented what a great job they did. Today, Dylan, Ruben and.Damariae came by and picked up all the furniture. They were very efficient , friendly and cleaned up great.We closed escrow today and I feel stage one property really helped us sell the condo. They are amazing. read more

Response to your comment: Janice, you have never reached out to me even after repeated requests. Everything you think is second hand, nothing directly from me. And a lot of it is inaccurate. Also, grow the fuck up. People curse especially after being treated so poorly by unprofessional people, including you. Be an adult. I was promised a full refund and then your cheesy company never responded. It's not only unprofessional but illegal and will pursue legal action to get the refund that was promised. read more

I hired 1st Stage for my home and unfortunately was not impressed. I'm sure they are great as a staging company, but for my own personal interior design, I did not have a good experience. It was my first time using an interior design company so I didn't know what to expect, but in hindsight there were a lot of red flags from my initial consultation that I ignored. To start, the lead designer didn't bring a measuring tape to my house which I found odd, and she also didn't write down a lot of things I had shared with her (she then forgot those details and I had to remind her later). She also hadn't even really asked me many questions about my style. Once I signed the contract with them, the lead designer sent me a "design plan". Their definition of a design plan is a PowerPoint slide with a couple pictures, many of which were blurry. I asked for multiple revisions and not only did it take days to get a response (sometimes no response at all), but I also felt like she never got a good sense of my style even though I sent her pictures of what I was looking for. After a lot of back and forth however, she did send me a few pieces I liked so I asked her for pricing. The prices she sent were way outside the budget we had spoken about. It felt like we had just wasted so much time! After all of that back and forth, to then find out that the pieces aren't even within my budget! I will admit that my budget was probably lower than what she's used to working with, but I believe that a talented interior designer can work within any budget. 1st stage was significantly cheaper than the other interior design companies I had interviewed which is why I decided to move forward with them, but now I understand why they were so cheap. In this case, lower cost came with lower quality. I ended up cutting my time short and asking for my money back (and I only received about a third of it back), and I ended up having to start from scratch again. After all of that headache, I found it easier to just walk into a furniture store and pick the pieces myself. read more

We hired 1st Stage to decorate one of the homes we were selling. I wanted it to look modern but still feel like a cabin in the mountains. They hit it right on the nose and it was exactly what I wanted. All the furniture looked very high quality and it fit the space beautifully. Based on other stagers I would say the price was very reasonable. Everyone was very responsive and flexible. I really appreciate the proration after the initial price we paid. Not sure if I would've sold the property quickly or not without the staging but on the market 11 days and we got an offer! Sold! I would most definitely recommend them and have done so to the realtor we used. read more

I've used 1st state property for many years and they never disappoint. Their prices are competitive and since they have a big warehouse and a lot of furniture, their availability is better than other staging companies. read more

Great staging company to work with! I call on them for my vacant listings and I'm always thrilled with how the homes look after Janice's team leaves. They do such an amazing job and my sellers are always so happy with their work. Huge thumbs up for Janice and her team! read more

1st Stage Property Transformation - Interior Design Near Me - Murrieta, California

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We didn't hire 1st stage but we bought the high end house that they beautifully decorated in San Clemente. Not only did we buy the house but made a good deal with Morgan and her crew to purchase some of the pieces they used to pump up the property. Unfortunately one of the pieces of the sectional failed and upon hearing of the issue Morgan got in touch with the wholesaler, arranged for us to pick out another sectional, had it delivered 50 miles away, took away the broken sectional and set up the new one. Fast, efficient and way above and beyond what we were expecting. All with a smile!!!! The kind of customer service that everyone should subscribe to. read more

First Stage Property Transformation was brought in by our realtor and they did an excellent job of staging our home for sale. The owner personally came through and decided how best to present the property and within a week the house was staged, the listing was on MLS and the pictures looked great! The company's staff is professional, courteous and we were fortunate that our agent uses them. Every staff member was polite, professional, responsive and took pride in their work. Our home was in escrow after the first weekend on the market and I'd highly recommend anybody selling to "stage" their home to maximize the return and sell quickly. read more

Excellent staging. We were out shopping for houses and the house that we landed up was staged by this company and I have to tell you such an awesome job. Well decorated, with wonderful accents and not to mention Janice has a great personality. We are so excited about our new home that we have purchased that we have decided to purchase some pieces that she staged the home. We are so impressed with her talent. If you are looking to have your home staged to sell definitely call this company. read more

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This company staged our house when we put it up for sale in January. We had two open houses and several people commented on how beautifully the house was staged. We received multiple offer all over asking price. Highly recommend 1st Stage! read more

Janice and crew were wonderful, professional and ethical. Highly recommend and should have called them months earlier. We were under contract shortly after staging. Do yourself a favor and stop looking and call them. Russ Clarke Ps the reason I 1st called them was because the house beside me sat for so many months and was sold shortly after 1st stage did their magic. read more

I've been using 1st Stage for a little over a year and I have to say they are one of the top staging companies in SoCal. I've worked with a few others, but what makes them different is that they all seem to be great designers, have better quality furnishings, are more thorough when they stage the various rooms and the owners are kind/prompt. I like that they can stage a house in a single day. We recently had an issue arise with the latest staging and the owners acted very quickly and professionally to remedy the problem. They handled the matter exactly how I would have. That is tough to find these days because many people just focus on their own needs/bottom-lines. If you're on the fence, I would suggest giving them a try. read more

Janice staged my listing beautifully! The home sold in 5 days w/ multiple offers. Her pricing is very reasonable. read more

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Janice and her team were amazing! They made our house so beautiful I almost didn't want to move out. It was so easy to work with 1st Stage and they were accommodating with our dates and schedule. The morning our listing went live we had agents calling ours ready to make an offer based solely on the pictures. If you're on the fence about staging, I highly recommend it and 1st Stage is the company to go with! read more

1st Stage Property Transformation - Interior Design Near Me - Murrieta, California

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First stage was a excellent experience, from top to bottom all professional, timely and easy to work with. I hired a photographer to photo my house with the new staging in place and all he could say is...you got a top-notch staging job. Everyone that walked through the house wanted to know who the stager was. The house looked awesome, with its unique and detailed staging. Highly recommend !! read more

1st Stage Property Transformation did a fantastic job of staging my house that was for sale. They did an amazing job in making each room seam more spacious and beautiful. I was recommended to use their company by my real estate agent and I was completely satisfied with their professional work. My house sold on the first "Open House" weekend, and it sold for over asking price. I have no doubt that the staging was very instrumental in the sale of my house. Next time I need a staging company, I know I will use 1st Stage Property Transformation again. I would recommend 1st Stage Property Transformation without any hesitation for any residential property staging job. read more

Janice at 1st Stage Property Transformation does an incredible job. Her pricing is quite competitive and she is very responsive to emails/phone calls. Her team is expedient and respectful. The money spent to stage the property definitely makes a difference to the sale of the property. Buyers enjoy seeing what "could be" as many don't have the ability to see their own furniture in the space. read more

I bought a house that Janice staged - she did such a fantastic job, and I loved the furniture she used so much that I ended up buying quite a few pieces! And she was great to work with for those purchases as well. I wish she did interior design too - I would have her come help me with that too! She's got a great eye on what looks good. She utilizes the space in the home to maximize it, and keeps it classy and updated, understanding what looks good in each particular home. She also then manages to make it feel like a "home" as well. HIGHLY recommend her if I ever have to stage a home, and will recommend her to others in my area (Ladera Ranch). 5 Stars to you Janice!!! :) read more

This is an update...After Janice wonderfully staged my listing at 939 S. Firwood Lane in Anaheim, 2 days later an offer came in. During the open house, 3 days after staging, another offer was received. Throughout the open house, many folks complimented on the furniture pieces and staging. Janice sure knows how to utilize and maximize real estate with accented pieces throughout the home. She is a true artist. Fast forward-- our transaction will be closing sooner than expected (next Tuesday) and my sellers received top dollar (sold for above list) for the sale of their home...of course through Yours Truly. Thanks again Janice!! read more

Amazing Job from Janice and her team!! Thanks to their wonderful eye for design and professionalism, we were able to get our clients home staged quickly and SOLD within 7 days!!! Thank you so much Janice and team, we couldn't have done it without you!! read more

Janice, Morgan, and her team staged our home very last-minute (we had a tight window of time), and boy, did they do a great job!! Our house sold in just 6 days! We approached 1st Stage when other people were telling us it couldn't be done (our house was a bit of a mess, with two young children, there wasn't a lot of time). But Morgan took a look at some pictures of our messy house, saw past the clutter, and came up with an attractive, calming design that looked fabulous once they put all our stuff in the garage. They staged using mostly their furniture, and we LOVED the serene blues and natural elements they incorporated into the design. Our house looked better than it ever has! Their quote was less than other companies we interviewed, and we REALLY appreciated them squeezing us in and making it happen. Their team was incredibly efficient, professional, and friendly. We staged only a few days before our open house and I believe the timing helped us sell so quickly. We can't thank you enough, 1st Stage!! read more

Thank you Thank you Thank you to Janice and her amazing team for helping me re-design my house decor. I am so excited to live in my newly decorated space. Thank you for your quick turn around, attention to detail and professionalism. I can see why your company is doing so well! read more

Janice staged our home for sale and I'm convinced it helped attract potential buyers and made them fall in love with our home the moment they walked in. She and her team were great to work with and the pricing is very reasonable. I would definitely recommend them! read more

Janice and her team are true staging experts. They came into our very large listing and wasted no time in the occupied redesign! They did an exceptional job maximizing and highlighting the homes features, all while using the homeowner's current decor pieces. Janice was so easy to work with, and her team of stagers were top notch. We are looking forward to working with 1st Stage again soon. read more

Wow! We could not have asked for a better result. Our home was transformed by the team at 1st Stage. I am forever a believer in staging (I was not before this experience). Our house sold in 2 days going $25k over asking and I attribute much of that to the stunning staging that 1st Stage completed. We received multiple offers and even more compliments on how our house showed. We are truly grateful and HIGHLY recommend this worthwhile service to other home sellers. An easy 5 stars! read more

I found Janice and her team after a long vetting process, and since I made the decision to work with Janice, I never looked back. I have worked with her on various projects, and she always does a thorough and tasteful job. She is very easy to work with, and even rotates out her staging materials for fresh new ideas. I definitely recommend her team! read more

So glad I found Janice and her company. She has such good taste in furniture and decor. I can't imagine ever selling a house without getting it staged from now on. Soooo worth the money. read more

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We were having trouble selling our home and we decided to have our home staged. It made all the difference in the world. Janice came out and with her creative eye transformed our nice house into a beautiful one. We not only sold our house but for more money than we expected. Janice is good at what she does and is also very nice to work with. I would give her more stars if I could. I would definitely use her again and recommend her to friends and family.Thank you again Janice. read more

Janice was amazing, she transformed our listing and helped us to get top dollar for the property. She was always available to us, customer service was awesome. read more

Janice and her team did an amazing job staging our late parents' gorgeous ocean view property. Every person who came through the house commented on how the staging complemented the home and showed it to advantage. We received a full asking price offer within days, and escrow is closing next week. We are happy to recommend Janice to anyone. In addition to her phenomenal staging skills, her prices are very reasonable. In fact, my sister will be having her stage her Coto home in the next few months when it goes on the market. Thank you, Janice! read more

Janice and her team always show up ready to work and professionally ready to design! They allow for a seamless transaction and extremely satisfied results! They are always creative and hear the needs of the sellers and help them to have their home set their best look first! The team of designers are always available and make the home exceed all buyer expectations. On top of it all my clients all love working with them as much as I do! The transformations are always impressive and well worth the investment! read more

Janice and her team did an excellent job staging my home in preparation for it's listing. It was so beautifully furnished and accessorized, I reconsidered selling! ;) My home sold within one weekend and if I had to do it all over again, I'd still hire 1st Stage. read more

I wish I could give 10 stars. We had to relocate 3,000 miles across country, relying on a realtor we did not know to sell our house for us. The realtor did not believe our house would need staging to sell. After six weeks and over 10 Open Houses, with ZERO offers/ interest, he suggested we drop the price... Again! We had already dropped the price twice at that point on his recommendation. He was no help and would NOT stage the house. I finally searched YELP for help, found Janice Sutton at 1st Stage Property Transformation, and she said she could arrange to have it done in TWO days- in time for our next open house. Not only did she get it done quickly (btw, before our check could get to her in the mail)- she transformed our house - and IT. WAS. GORGEOUS!!! (I wish I knew how to post pics here) I honestly did not know our house could look that beautiful. We had THREE offers within a WEEK of Janice's staging it! Janice is straightforward, kind, a calm voice during a stressful time... And absolutely gifted at what she does. We are so incredibly grateful to have found her. We HIGHLY HIGHLY recommend her. She is worth everything you spend on this service. Every. Penny!!! THANK YOU JANICE!!! read more

Janice and her fabulous team staged my parents home and turned it from an outdated Casa to a highly desired property. We had multiple offers in a one week period after being listed/staged. Staging magicians they are! Would recommend First Staging a million percent!!! read more

Janice does an amazing job of staging.. I am always so delighted with the before and after photos that show how much staging can transform a home. Good staging can make a difference in how quickly a home sells and often the price that is offered. read more

Our realtor had one clear vision for the staging of our property: get 1st Stage Property Transformations on the job. Our property sold for a substantial amount over asking price and within a week of being on the market. In fact, it enjoyed multiple bids over asking price. Yes, it is a good house, but 1st Stage Property Transformations made it exceptionally attractive to the right set of serious bidders. It goes without saying the the presentation was beautiful, even elegant; but the whole point was to stage the house for an aggressive sale. It worked! read more