The Truth About Staging
By Cheryl Grant
Home staging is not new but statistics show homes that are properly staged sell more quickly and for more money. So why doesn’t everyone do it? I believe because it isn’t easy.
Most Realtors don’t know how to stage a property and others aren’t willing to hire a professional stager to assist. Staging is not just moving furniture. It’s a real talent. Professional Stagers are playing a bigger role in the marketing of homes.
While I consider myself an expert in selling and closing homes, I’m not design-savvy. So I provide professional staging for every home I list. Professional home stagers are trained in the art of preparing a home for market. They work with the “flow” of a home. They guide clients on how to eliminate clutter and arrange furniture. Some even assist in enhancing curb-appeal. With the aid of a professional home stager, your home will get more online traffic, increase the number of in-home visits and help sell the home faster.
Staging is not just cleaning and decorating, it’s about creating a mood. You want people to feel good when they are in your home. Buying a home is an emotional decision. Staging makes a house look bigger, brighter, cleaner, warmer and best of all it makes people want to buy it.
Tip #1 A potential buyer makes up their mind ten seconds after they step in the front door. Drive up to your home. What do you see? Are the shrubs overgrown? Is the concrete walkway cracked? Is the trim around your front door chipping an pealing? All of these items must be addressed before putting the home on the market. Buyers will make their decision of the home in the first 10-15 seconds. Make the entrance a priority. By the way, many people skimp when it comes to putting gutters on their home. This in my opinion is very shortsighted. Not only does it put the home at risk for water damage, often the roof run off at the front door can really turn off Buyers. Remember, you don’t usually use your front door for entrance to the home. (You enter through the garage, right?) That’s why you must do the drive up/walk up test.
Tip #2 Kitchen is the heart of the home. Make it warm and inviting. After clearing the counter tops, put out big bowls of colorful fruit. Place strategically some cool cookbooks. Clean cabinets. Change hardware.
Tip #3 Paint, paint, paint. It’s one of the best returns on investment. Everything looks new and clean. When picking colors, remember neutral colors are appealing to the largest number of people.
Tip #4 Don’t allow furniture to block the view of outdoors. Window blinds need to be open. Let the natural light in. Also, clean the blinds. Your home should be a no dust zone.
Tip#5 Eliminate overpowering odors and that includes some air fresheners. Some air fresheners can be so overpowering, Buyers walk out immediately. If it’s weather appropriate let fresh air in to eliminate pet or food odors. Don’t try to cover them up.
Tip #6 Replace all missing or burned out lightbulbs.
Tip #7 Here’s another tips that is often overlooked. Each room should be staged as its main function. In other words, don’t put an office in a dining room. Dining room furniture only.
Tip #8 Clear counter tops of personal items. Clutter looks bad in person but in photos it looks even worse. Keep in mind, most Buyers will look at your home online before scheduling a in-home tour. Make sure everything is neat and clean for photos.
Tip #9 This may seem silly but many Sellers leave their toilet seats up. Put them down. They are there for a reason. Use them.
Tip #10 Buy new and colorful towels for your baths. Make sure towels are fresh for every showing. Also, a new shower curtain adds a lot for little money. Clean the tub/shower. Recaulk. Old, unsightly Caulk is one of my biggest pet peaves. It’s so easy to remove and replace.
None of this is easy, but it works.
If you’d like an agent who will give you the edge in marketing your home and give you the straight facts about what it will take, contact us for a meeting today!
