SHOULD I STAGE MY HOME?

The Importance Of Staging, Especially In Today’s Market

Staging is not only important today, but in any real estate market.  Staging is the art of presenting a home’s best asset(s)….liveable space.  You want the potential buyer to be able to envision themselves at home in your home.  How could they possibly do that with your clutter everywhere?  That is why you need to prepare your home for sale.  This is an extremely competitive market — you need to highlight the positive!  What do you want to come across as your home’s most saleable asset – the space itself.  How the rooms flow together.

In order to stage, you must think of your home as a product you’d like to sell.  Say you were selling your car, wouldn’t you wash it first?  You’d want it to shine like a new penny.  The same thing applies to your home. 

You’ve already decided to move, so in order to detach yourself emotionally, start packing!  You’ll need to pack anyway.  So, no time like the present.  Your goal is to eliminate clutter….”clutter eats equity”.  The vast majority of people cannot see beyond your clutter.  This is also a good time to rid yourself of things you don’t use and don’t need.  You could have a yard sale, donate to a charity, or perhaps you know someone who could use your things…one man’s trash is another’s treasure.

You want to remove all personal items as well.  Take down all those family portraits you have hanging on the walls.  You are not selling your stuff, you’re selling your home.  In addition, all those photos on your refrigerator have to go!  Make your space as clear as possible.  Perhaps the furniture needs to be rearranged inorder to make the best use of the space.  Leave room to manuever around the room.  Be sure to pick a focal point in the room and work around that, i.e., a fireplace, or a bed in the master bedroom.  This goes for all rooms and don’t forget the closets! 

If you’re going to store your boxes in the garage, be sure that you start your clean up process in the garage – stack the boxes neatly.  You must not forget the yard either.  Stand in front of your home.  Can you see the front door or is the yard overgrown?  Remember “if you can’t see it, you can’t sell it”.  The first impression is the most important.  If a potential buyer doesn’t like the home when they drive up to it, chances are they won’t even get inside to see what else is there.  Spruce up the outside.  Keep the front door and area clean and neat. Here is an example of a “before” and “after” front yard.

What a difference!!!

I am a certified stager and offer these services to my clients free of charge.  If you are thinking of listing your home for sale, you should hire someone who is knowledgeable about home staging as well as the real estate market.  It makes all the difference in the world!