Home staging

What is home staging?
Staging is not about redecorating, renovating or reinventing your space. It is about transforming your home into an attractive commodity.
Homeowners rarely stop to think that selling a home really comes down to marketing. A seller is in competition with other properties on the market. The homeowner who does the best job of presenting the product in the most appealing way has a better chance of closing the sale.
Most of us have a psychological attachment to our homes. This attachment can remain strong even if you are ready to move on. In order to sell your house quickly and get the best price, it is very important to detach from feelings and memories you have for your home.
Many homes are put on the market in need of a facelift: the walls are cracking and the paint chipping, or the house and property might be in need of a through cleaning inside and out. Studies show that clutter; personal mementos such as photos, diplomas and awards; collections; bright color schemes; and messy yards tend to distract buyers from seeing the details of a house.
First impressions are formed instantly; this is why it is so important that the home look its best inside and out and appeal to a wide audience.
This may sound like a lot of work, but clearing the house of clutter and personal items, repainting rooms in neutral colors and removing old carpeting is an investment that will make your house look bigger, brighter, cleaner, warmer and best of all, it will make homebuyers want to buy it.
Besides, if you are planning on moving anyway you will have to pack these items eventually. Why not do it sooner rather than later? Working with a staging professional will provide the incentive you need to get going.
Another reason to stage your home is money.
Although you might have to invest anywhere from $5,000 to $10,000 to get your home in shape, you will probably get twice that amount back (or more) on the sale of the house. Properly staged homes draw in more buyers than one that is in disrepair or messy. Statistically, houses sell faster and for more money when professionally staged. Plus staging your home will actually end up costing you less than that first price reduction.
This is money well spent.
Also, keep in mind that you are not going to be living in your home for much longer, and in order to sell it, you will have to compromise—you can’t go on living “as usual.”
After the For Sale sign goes up, your house will have to look neat and clean at all times and staged to accommodate a wide range of tastes. Whether you hire a painter, a cleaning company or a landscaper; whether you rent a storage unit, bring in a construction crew, hire a stager—or all of the above, making your home appealing to a wide variety of buyers is a very wise investment.
Staging doesn’t always require renting furniture or involve a major remodeling project. Most stagers will work with what you have, but first you have to have a consultation.
How does that work?
A staging consultant (many interior designers are also staging consultants) will take you through the house, making suggestions regarding changes you can do yourself.
You will receive an in-depth written evaluation of your home with a list of recommendations of what you need to do to make your home appealing to potential buyers. The list might also include recommendations for professionals such as contractors, cleaning services and house painters.
If you decide to work with the stager on a project basis, you can then target major areas of your home that need the most work, or choose to stage the entire house inside and out. Fees for this service vary according to the size and condition of the property.
Real estate agents and brokers can also help you with staging tips; they have years of experience working with potential home buyers and know what sells and what doesn’t. They can also help you connect to a home stager or interior designer if you want a professional design consultation.