Often times I will hear a realtor or homeowner say, “this house doesn’t need staging, it’s decorated so beautifully”. I can understand this being said, if they’ve never seen the works of a professional home stager, or if they’ve not spoken to one. In their eyes, maybe the house does look good and they believe buyers will get excited when viewing the property.  As I listen to this statement, I wait for an opening to explain the following.

When we place our home on the market, the very thing that we love, may be the very thing that may turn away a buyer.  Living in a home personalizes and reflects those who live there. We surround ourselves with the things that we like, therefore, we may have something visual that is very distracting to our buyer.  Although many furnishings in the home may be very lovely, it could possibly be too much.  We want to sell our space, not our things. 

I’d also like to reflect that a professional home stager has been trained through the “buyers eyes”, what goes, what stays, and how to arrange it.  We place the (redesign) furniture to make it warm and welcoming, along with re-accessorizing with accents.  Bringing color texture and balance into each room. I know it sounds like decorating, but it’s strategically placing all furniture and accents in a room that will “highlight” the focal points and down-play the least favorable features. We call this staging. With a neutral palate, a wide variety of people will come to visit our staged properties. So just when you thought you had a great looking home to sell………. it could look even better!

Keep in mind that 94.6% of staged homes sell in 33 days or less. So, when your looking for a home, and you have one to sell, consider staging .  Staging gives you the edge you need to get your home sold quickly and for more money. Before you know it, you’ll be moving into your “dream home” and hiring me to help you with your “decorating ideas”.

“The investment of staging in your home is less than a price reduction on your home and the market time is cut in half.” 

As I reflect on today’s market, I can appreciate a difficult and challenging time for all parties involved in the process of selling any type of property. Sellers worry that they are not going to get what they believe the house is worth.  Realtors are skeptical about taking a listing when they know a property is not marketable. Investors want to be sure they are using quality materials to up-grade a property, while still being within a profitable margin, just to name a few.  As I think about the concerns of the real estate industry as a whole, I have to say that each concern is valid in all situations.

As an ASPM, Accredited Staging Professional Master, my challenge is to communicate and educate the public about the benefits of home staging. For instance, the seller can “invest” in staging and INCREASE the value of the home by a minimum of 6%.  The NAR says, if you invest 1%-3% of the sale price of the home, you stand to earn more than 6% more for your asking price. “The investment of staging in you home is less than a price reduction on your home and the market time is cut in half.”

When realtors’ go on a listing appointment and see the condition of the property is not turn-key ready, their concern is how much time and money in advertising are going to be spent to market the home.  Only then to be dropped by the seller 6 months later when the property doesn’t sell. Since, the NAR, also says that 85% of the buyers look on the internet first, wouldn’t that mean that the photos have to be “dynamite” in order to get any showings? Staging provides the “WOW”, that gets buyers interested in coming to see a property.

As investors design and get a plan going to re-invent the structure of a property, a professional stager can provide a Return on your Investment List that will clearly confirm the condition and give recommendations on how to invest in the re-hab property that they will be listing.  Home Gain has given the number two position to Home Staging, as the best investment in the sale of your home. F.Y.I., the number one position is “de-cluttering”.

So, you see, my personal challenge, is getting those to appreciate the value of what I do….. and to know that there are choices when it comes to “how to sell your home for “Top Dollar”.  So before you lower your asking price, consider staging.  Staging will give you the results you need to get your home SOLD quickly and for more money.  In most cases, our home is the largest investment that we own.  Doesn’t it deserve to get the most value in the sale price?

As the media and press has determined this to be a down time to be selling your home,  I find more and more homeowners are wanting to place their home on the market, but are doubting the timing for it. In my 4 1/2 years of owning a staging company, it has been my experience that many people have to sell their home regardless of what the market it is doing. Some sellers have received a promotion and job transfer.  Others have health issues and need to downsize. Whatever the case may be, homeowners can be assured that there is a positive note to the selling aspect of today’s market. Interest rates are at a low, and your asking price may be lower than you want, but you’ll make it up on the buying side. There is no time better than the present to get a great deal on your purchase. So, if life changes are allowing you to sell your home today, investigate the benefits of “home staging.  Staging will give you the edge you need in today’s market, and in every market. Why does staging work?  “Because buyer’s only know what they see and not the way it is going to be.” Have your home “showcase” ready and you’ll be sure to get top dollar and sell quickly. 

log onto www.stagedhomes.com for the history of home staging. For more information about me, check out www.mghomehighlights.com   I can do as much or as little to help you sell your home.

On Thursday, our staging project was in Chicago, IL. To describe the property, it was an up-to-date, move-in condition townhome on Damen Ave. The property has been on the market for about 5 weeks.
The homeowners have moved out and the property is vacant. As you may have or have not heard me say before, a vacant home has no soul and a buyer needs to emotionally “fall in love” in order to want to purchase a home. Without any furnishings, a vacant home cannot show the buyers the necessary visual that allows themselves to imagine living there. The reason I chose to write about this particular staging project, is because of the unique layout and the difficulty buyers have had because it was empty of furniture, etc. You see, as gorgeous as this townhome is, there is no designated area for an eat-in-kitchen, and there is no other dining room. The service area of the kitchen and the beautifiul counter which provided an eating area, are connected to a small sitting room, as you enter into the unit. So extreme strategic planning of just the “right” pieces and the placement of the furniture are key elements in the sale of this property.
Identifying space and showing as much of a purpose to any room is very important, but even more so in a space just decribed. Attached, are some photos that will display “effective staging” that allows all potential buyers to visualize themselves living there.
Ask yourself these questions, when you examine your For Sale property.
Does the space cleary show what the room is used for?
Is the room welcoming, neutral, and inviting, to a wide variety of people?
Is the furniture placed in a position that “highlights” the best selling features of the home?
Does the room show as much space as possible?
Keep in mind that each room has to tell a story about what the buyers life will be like living there. Will the buyers know that you’ve enjoyed a “lifetime” of memories in the home, and they will too?
Make your home (product) stand out into today’s market. Increase the value of your home by hiring an ASP Stager. You’ll sell you home faster and for more money, whether you are living in your home, or whether it is vacant. Happy House Selling!