Staging a house for sale can be a time-consuming process, but it really is worth it. And there are a lot of agents that provide this as a complimentary service (like me!). With staging, you can drastically increase how quickly your home sells and you’re likely to get a better offer. So why wouldn’t you do it? Here are my TOP reasons why you should stage your home:
1. Increase the chances that your home will sell
The goal is to sell it fast and for the highest price possible. You can increase your chances of achieving your goal if you stage your house before putting it on hte market. You always want to present your home in the best possible light. If you do this, buyers will be more likely to make an offer.
2. Buyers think it’s a Well-Maintained Home
When buyers are walking through your home for the first time, they are making all kinds of observations and assumptions. They look at floorplan, finishes, etc, but they also are looking for clues that indicate the condition of your home. And if it’s clean and staged, they are highly more likely to have a positive impression of your overall maintenance than if it’s not.
3. You get a head start on packing
You’re going to have to pack eventually, so why not break it up and get a head start? It’s a good time to pack away personal items, clutter, etc. and also shed some things that you no longer need. This way, you won’t have as much last minute stuff to pack when you are racing to get to closing!
4. Staging Makes the House Seem Larger
Effective staging has a lot to do with maximizing space. You want to arrange furniture to maximize usable space within the house to give the impression that the house is actually larger than it is. When you fill up a house with over-sized furniture and other forms of useless clutter, it suddenly feels super small. You never want buyers to feel like the home is cramped or crowded…they will walk right out the front door!
5. Staging Helps Buyers See Themselves In the House
As a seller, your job is to help people see themselves living in your home. This means you need to de-personalize your house and make it as neutral as possible. You want the buyers to make a personal connection to the home, and if they see your family portraits and diplomas everywhere, that may be harder to do. You also want to neutralize the space as much as possible, meaning bright or unusual paint colors and very taste specific knickknacks should be packed away or repainted. When you stage your house, you’re essentially removing yourself so that others may insert themselves, and form a connection with the home that produces a sale.
6. It Puts Your House above the Competition
Depending on where you live, you may face a lot of competition. Buyers are going to likely tour multiple homes in your area, so Wwhat makes your house stand out from the rest?
When you get down to it, there are really only two ways to distinguish your house from the rest. You can price it below the competition or make it seem nicer. If you do neither, your house will probably sit on the market. Staging can make all the difference in the world, even if your home is priced the same as comparable properties that are for sale. You are presenting your home as the better value in the eys of a buyer.
7. Easier to get your house ready for a showing
When you remove clutter, it’s much easier and faster to get your house ready to be shown. Everything has a place and a purpose. And, most of my clients say they actually found their house more enjoyable to live in after being staged!
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