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Staging attracts buyers in a slow market
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Inability to sell existing homes plays a big part in the stagnation of home sales. Some sellers throw in the towel after months of inaction after putting their home up for sale. Some sellers have lowered their home price to near or below what they owe for the home. But sales can still be slow. The situation has prompted new home builders to hold seminars on how the make a home more attractive to potential buyers. The practice is called staging and involves some cleanup and decorating. Furniture should look good. Clutter must be eliminated. Walls may need to be painted. Carpets should be cleaned.
A professional stager can provide furnishings for a vacant home for sale. Staging companies are available to help in the process. The service is not cheap, but it can help a home sell faster and can boost the sales price. A national survey conducted in 2007 found that 94.9% of homes staged by accredited staging professionals sold in 35 days or less. That compares to an average of 171.2 days for homes not professionally staged. And a staged home tends to sell for 3% to 10% over the list price.
Sellers can pay $175 and hour for consultation on how to best stage a home. Staging a vacant home can cost $4,000 to $15,000 depending on the size of the home and the number of rooms that need to be furnished. Walk through estimates tend to cost about $75. Or sellers can take a course in staging and do it themselves.
Before a potential buyer arrives at the home, the seller should open window coverings, turn on lights, keep garage doors closed and put toilet seats down. Outside, garbage cans should be put out of sight. Trees should be pruned. Attractive landscaping is vital.
Information about staging can be found at www.stagedhomes.com. Local staging companies can be found on the Web or in the telephone directory.
