Fresh Face: Urban Ave Staging

The Urban Ave origin story is one of daring, innovation, and style.

The staging and design company’s co-founders Hannah Royer and Monica Ceresini, are young, multi-talented entrepreneurs who started their staging business in April 2020, right at the beginning of the pandemic. Before the shutdown, the two were on the same team at a local real estate brokerage and connected over a shared love of interior design and staging.

At the beginning of the pandemic, real estate agents weren’t allowed to show homes in person, making their jobs very difficult. “Buyers and sellers could only see and list homes online. Buyers saw an empty house and couldn’t get a full vision of the space, and sellers couldn’t highlight the strengths of their homes. We knew our passion for interior design and staging could help,” says 28-year-old Royer. When a local realtor reached out to the duo for help staging a home, they got creative and optimized the space while adhering to social distancing guidelines.

With the use of technology (drones that fly around homes and give real-time video tours) and a savvy social media strategy, word spread quickly, and they were open for business. “What sets us apart is our ability to understand and highlight the style of the seller and knowing what homebuyers are looking for in a listing,” says 25-year-old Ceresini. The young business owners consult with sellers and utilize their keen sense of style to choose pieces that fit the home’s aesthetic. While they have a warehouse full of furniture for staging, they also work with local furniture stores for interior design jobs. With several eclectic shops to choose from in Lancaster City, Urban Ave feels right at home.