The purpose of home staging is to present your house in its best possible light. Staging shows off a home’s unique characteristics while allowing the potential homebuyers to picture themselves living in that space. If this is done well, it can lead to a quicker sale of your home and often at a higher selling price than a home that is not staged.
So, why are some homeowners still hesitant to hire a staging professional? Some question the value of home staging, while others are simply reluctant to invest money into a home they are selling. Sharon Mitchell of Simply Staged, LLC points out that staging can actually consist of many different approaches, which allows the homeowner to control how much involvement they have in the process and how much it will cost.
A basic approach is a professional consultation with a written report, which guides the homeowners to make simple changes such as effective furniture arrangement, new paint recommendations, and instruction on how to de-clutter and properly clean the home. Mitchell also offers a “Staging for Photos” option, which is cost effective, and consists of setting up the home to look great in photos that will be used for marketing on the internet. For vacant and higher end homes, Mitchell recommends a more extensive method of staging that includes bringing in rented furniture and accessories, updating rooms that are outdated, and providing maintenance to finish off the “honey do” list.
Realtors often advise their clients to consider home staging to make their homes more competitive on the market. Kristen DuLac, a Realtor for Edina Realty and an expert in the downtown condo market, states that many of her listings have benefited from staging, especially vacant units. Because a condo or town home complex often has several units on the market at the same time, it is important to stage a vacant unit to make it appear inviting. It also enables the potential buyer to visualize furniture placement and it allows the property to stand out from the rest of the units on the market. DuLac noted that she recently had a condo on the market that sat vacant for six months and endured three price drops before her client agreed to staging. Within one day of bringing Mitchell in to furnish and accessorize the unit, the condo sold. As Mitchell remarked, “The cost of staging is almost always less than your first price drop!”. DuLac agreed noting that her client’s property was reduced over $25K before it was staged and sold.
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