This afternoon I did a quick search on Google and I was shocked when I realized how many web sites refer to home staging as "house fluffing." Some reputable web sites appeared to group the two terms together as if they are interchangeable.
http://www.sixelements.com/hiringahomestager.html - The article itself had some good information except for calling me a "fluffer." Even Forbes Magazine uses this terminology.
I looked up "house fluffer: in wwww.wordspy.com and the definition of the word is "a decorator who recommends improvements and renovations designed to maximize a house's sale price." Apparently, Eileen Daspin was the first to use this phrase, "A house fluffer can help you fake good taste, and raise sale price," The Wall Street Journal, November 10, 1998.
Wikipedia also has many entries for "fluffing." One pertains to decorating. "A fluffer is one who prepares a house for sale, employing cosmetic skills, such as hedge pruning, or psychological tactics, such as baking bread while the house is being shown." One entry certainly does not belong to the decorating or real estate group. Wikipedia has about twelve definitions for this word dealing with .... well adult movies to individuals with clear pathological issues.
My father used to have a saying that "I do not care what you call me as long as you pay me." It was his way of telling me not to get hung up on titles when I first launched myself into the corporate world. Don't get me wrong, I like the idea of home staging getting some more attention, but I really do not care for the term "house fluffer" or "house fluffing."
When I hear this term, I just can't get this image out of my head...
But instead of a basket, the bunny should show up with some accessories and Windex wipes.
I think we have all worked too hard and are more than "house fluffers."
