Staging is the art and science of making a house more inviting and appealing to potential buyers. Staging can be as simple as moving a few pieces of furniture and de-cluttering. Or, it might involve basic changes such as painting, replacing carpeting, and updating lighting fixtures. A staging professional assists a Realtor and/or homeowner by assessing the overall impression a potential buyer may have of the home, and makes recommendations for necessary improvements.
When you get ready to place a home on the market for sale, it becomes a product, just like any product on the shelves at your local store. It has features and benefits, pluses and minuses, and there are other products on the market with which your product is competing. To gain an edge in your marketplace, you must be priced right and look better than the competition.
Staging a property is a smart investment! It sends the message of a well cared-for home. By creating a series of first impressions, and showcasing your home’s best features, the buyer connects emotionally and is able to visualize living there.
Staging the home puts it in the best showcase condition so it sells at the best possible price and in the shortest possible time.
Two easy staging steps you can take are to de-personalize and de-clutter. Remember that buyers want to visualize themselves living in the house and want to see the house and its features. They do not want to see the current homeowner’s “stuff”.
Remove photos, posters, memorabilia, and knick-knacks. Put everything away so the spaces feel clean, organized, and open.
Next, consider rearranging the furniture so buyers see the best view of each room, experience the best traffic pattern through the home, and get the best curb appeal.
Buyers should feel at home from the moment they walk through the door.
They shouldn't feel like they're in your home.