Staged Home Sell Faster and For More Money

Based on information gathered from the National Association of Realtors, a staged home sells 30-50% faster than an unstaged home, in most areas of the country.   It's is also true that the longer a home is on the market the more likely it is that there will be a sales reduction in price.   The National Association of Realtors has also gathered information to suggest that the average staged home sells for 6% more than a similar unstaged home.  In some areas that figure could be as much as 15% more.  

What is Home Staging?

Home staging is the act of preparing a private residence prior to going up for sale in the real estate marketplace.  The goal of staging is to sell a home quickly, and for the most money possible by attracting the most amount of potential buyers.  Staging focuses on improving a property to make it appeal to the largest amount of buyers by transforming it into a welcoming and attractive place for sale. 

Staging is viewed by some as a necessary step taken prior to selling a home, and many real estate professionals and home sellers alike hire a professional home stager or home staging company to stage their homes prior to sale.     Joanie Lehr is an Accredited Home Stager and she has many years of experience in helping sellers to make the most of their properties to get the highest price in the least amount of time.

Staged homes help the  buyers see themselves in it by appearing to be ready to move in. It's a proven fact that buyers usually make up their mind in less than a minute on whether they want a home or not.  With that in mind, it's critical that the outside of your home gets the same attention as the inside.   The vast majority of buyers cannot visualize what a home can be.  they only see what is in front of them and if it's cluttered, dirty and outdated that is all that they see.   A well staged home says..."I'm ready for you!" 

Appraisers also see the home in a more positive light and are more likely to appraise the home higher thana similar one that is not staged.  This can mean more money in the Seller's pocket.   It might even make sense to have a formal appraisal right after the house has been staged and then price the home slightly below the appraised value.   If you can show a potential buyer how much the home is worth (i.e., appraised value vs. the sales price which is less... instant value.  It will sell faster because it appears to be a better deal and buyers love feeling like they are getting a good deal.

Staged homes project an image of being well maintained and well cared for.  The underlying psychological message that is sent to potential buyers is that it's worth more.  And, it helps to remove a certain amount of perceived risk that a buyer might have about buying a house that is in disarray.

Realtors enjoy showing staged homes.   Part of the listing agent's job is to get other agents to show their listings to potential buyers.  And the more showings you have the greater chance that a buyer will buy that listing. 

The Steps in Staging a Home

There is a logical process of staging that proceeds through several steps.

Step 1 - DE-CLUTTER

This is the single most important action you can take in preparing the home for sale.  You goal is to remove as much visible clutter and turn disorder into order.   this means removiong any excess and unnecessary furniture so the rooms will look bigger.  The goal is to create SPACE.  Every square foot of space is worth money in the buyer's eyes. 

As a seller, you are planning to move anyway.  why not start packing for that move now?    Go through each room and start organizing those items that you plan to sell, those that you plan to give away, those that you plan to throw away and those that you plan to keep.  Keep out only the essentials and pack the rest.   Resist the temptation to use a garage or extra room to store boxes and items.  Each room must be staged to create space and to focus on it's use.   Invest in a storage locker to store the items you plan to move.

Step 2 - DE-PERSONALIZE

If you plan to move, this home will no longer be your home.  When it is listed for sale,  it has now become housing inventory.  It is important to remove anything about who lives in the house.  That means removing all photos, clearing off the refrigerator door, and removing bills from the buyer's sight.  These items only act as distractions for the house hunter and you don't want to lose the naturally curious prospective buyer to a display of family photographs.  the buyers should be focusing on the homes amenities, not who lives there.

Step 3 - REPAIR OR REPLACE

A home that is in a good state of repair indicates to potential buyers that the house has been well maintained and is not hiding something that will cost them down the road.   It's important that you repair any leaky faucets or toilets, broken tiles, damaged hardware and replace old light fixtures and appliances.   Check the outside of the house as well - are rain gutters clean and in good repair?   Is the roof showing wear or leaking? 

Step 4 - CLEAN, CLEAN, CLEAN

The rule is clean and then clean some more!   Deep cleaning is so important and is critical to your success.  If you are not able to handle the job,  invest in hiring a professional housecleaning service to detail the house.   Dirt puts a buyer off faster than anything, so remember to keep the house clean during the listing period.  Let in the light as well.   Clean windows and put up clean or new windows coverings. 

Get rid of any odors in the house.  Some buyers won't even walk through a house that has tobacco or pet odors.  Don't try to cover them up with strong smelling potpourri or sprays, however.  A clean fresh smell is what buyers are attracted to.

Step 5 - DECORATING

Decorating can be as simple as repositioning your existing furniture, revamping certain pieces, adding accent pillows, replacing or adding art on the walls and maybe incorporating other accessories.  The important point is to have a focal point in the room and create SPACE.   Make the area appealing and inviting to the buyer, so that they will want to stay longer.   A good stager can point out many ways to create the look that the room needs.   For a vacant home,  Professional Stagers put together "vignettes" in several rooms to create an emotional impact for the house hunters.  '

Fresh paint on the outside or inside is an excellent way to freshen up the home.  If you are not good at do it yourself though, hire a professional.  Stick to neutral colors on the wall, for the most part.

Carefully evaluate the furniture that you are using in the home.  Make sure that each piece is in good condition and reflects a warm and ivniting look in the area that it serves.   If you can't afford to rent furniture to stage, consider trading with a neighbor for a while.  Remember, the goal is to stage your home "for sale" not for "living in".

For more tips and information on Home Staging, contact Joanie for a free "Home Staging" brochure.  Contact her at 808-938-2996 or email:  This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it