Home Staging Tips

Home and Condo staging has quickly become one of the most effective real estate marketing strategies in the industry. The trend really started to grow when the housing market crashed and the market was flooded with inventory. Home staging became a valuable asset to homeowners and real estate agents because it made their listings stand out from the fierce competition. Today, the housing market is still competitive but staging has become a regular part of the home selling process for more than one reason. Here, we’ll discuss the benefits of staging a home for sale and even discuss a few tips for the staging process!

What is Staging?

Home staging goes beyond cleaning, de-cluttering, painting and making minor repairs. Home stagers have expertise in planning and choosing furniture, accessories and arranging them in a way that shows off your home to its best advantage so it appeals to a broad range of buyers.

The Impact on Buyers

Home staging works because it considers the wants and needs of buyers and taps into their emotions when searching for a home.

• Realtors who work with buyers say most buyers are willing to offer more money for a staged home compared to one that is similar but not staged.

• Many buyers say home staging makes it easier to visualize the property as their future home.

• Realtors who typically represent the buyer say buyers are affected positively by home staging. Home Staging increases the Perceived Value Home staging is all about showing your home in its best possible light.

• Buyers are willing to spend more on a staged home than a non-staged home.

• Recent surveys found that staged homes and condo’s sell for more than 6% above asking price.

Staged Homes Sell Faster

A study conducted by the Real Estate Staging Association (RESA) looked at 170 staged properties valued at $300,000 to $499,000 and found that staged homes sold in 22 days, compared to an average on-market time of 125 days for un-staged homes. Less time on the market and the potential for a higher selling price are powerful incentives for staging your home.

Home-Staging Tips

So now that you know the benefits of staging, here are some tips to making sure your home sells faster and has a higher value.

• Stainless-steel appliances are definitely in with buyers. Instead of buying a new dishwasher, here is a low-cost way to resurface an old one: First, remove the front panels and clean them. Next, apply a stainless-steel stick on covering, and cut it to size. For just $20 your dishwasher will go from outdated to ultra-modern.

• A master bedroom should appeal to both sexes. Get rid of features that seem to gender specific. Paint the walls a neutral color and choose bedding that matches. Then accessorize with items that complement the overall color scheme.

• DE-CLUTTER. A stager can not say this word enough. Sometimes the best decorating tip is to “undecorate”! Make the buyer’s experience simple and let them see themselves in your space.

• Grimy bathroom walls are a major red flag to buyers. Here is an easy way to get rid of surface mold: Mix a spray bottle with one part water and one part bleach. Just spray it on the wall and watch the mold disappear. Give it a fresh coat of paint and your bathroom walls will go from red flag to red-hot!

• Curb appeal is vital to attracting buyers. Make sure you stop traffic with the right colors on the exterior of your home. Plant flowers and bring out the color of walkway pavers using a stone sealer.

• Let the sun shine in. Buyers love light and airy living rooms. Open your window shades to let some light in and use light-colored paint with lots of “sunlight” bulbs in your light fixtures, if needed. Arrange the space with lightly colored furniture and you’ll have a living room that brightens your chances of a sale.

Conclusion

The most important thing to keep in mind is that staging isn’t creating illusions – it’s about revealing truths. You are simply showing the buyer the potential of the home through simple upgrades. Are you considering selling your home in Perdido? Give our team a call!