Staging Your Home to Sell, Does it Work?
MARY SCHARFE - REALTOR® and Associate Broker
You only get one first impression. Did you know that buyers are more likely to make an appointment to see a property after viewing a home online that has been staged? In today's competitive market, buyers are paying top dollar, and according to NAR (National Association of Realtors), buyer's agents said staging a home to sell increased the price by 1% to 5% compared to homes that were not staged to sell.
So how do you stage your home?
The first step of staging your occupied home is to remove the clutter and clean. Clutter includes putting away collections or personal items. I always remind sellers that they are moving anyway, so start packing! There doesn't need to be the same amount of effort put into every room but remember every room- including closets- must be presentable for photos and showings.
Secondly, prepare your home for listing photographs and virtual tours by finishing each room, bringing forward its best look. Arrange your furniture, pillows, and bedding, and add better lighting. Use what you have! Consider removing a piece or two of furniture to open up a room. And remember, a few weeks of being uncomfortable may mean selling your home faster AND at a better price. Your home should look livable, not lived in.
Staging is especially important for homes with unique décor. I specifically chose not to stage a new listing because I wanted to feature the home's beautiful red oak floors. But it didn't take long for me to realize the main bedroom looked small, and the sellers' many different paint choices throughout the home were throwing off buyers. Simply adding a queen-sized bed to the bedroom made it look larger. And by adding a beautifully patterned carpet and furniture in the living room, tied all the different paint colors together and made the house feel cohesive. Not staged, the living space was unimaginable. But staged, the house felt like a design choice. It gave buyers an opportunity to visualize what it would be like to move in.
In summary, sellers should stage their property 1) because buyers are able to see a home in its best light and 2) to get the best price. Simply stated, deep clean, and de-personalize. Always be ready to show!
