HOME STAGING MYTH BUSTERS FROM BARB SCHWARTZ

"I have received my Accredited Staging Professional Realtor designation. I continue to bring in an ASP to evaluate my listings."

Myth 1: Staging is decorating.

FACT: Staging is NOT decorating or Design! Decorating or Design is personalizing and Staging is De-Personalizing and preparing a house for the un-known buyer. That is why it's KEY that you hire someone with training specifically on how to prepare a house for sale.

The Accredited Staging Professional Designation(ASP) is the ONLY nationally recognized professional designation for Home Staging. Make sure to hire someone with this professional designation when selecting a qualified Home Stager.

TIP: When the focus of the Staging becomes about things and not your house, then you are working with a decorator and not a trained Stager.  An ASP Stager can use existing items in a house and their creativity to properly Stage a house for sale.

Myth 2: Staging Costs Too Much.....

FACT: Staging is an INVESTMENT in getting a house sold and the investment in Staging is always less than a price reduction. An ASP Stager has been trained to work with a Sellers' budget and time frame to properly Stage a house. We like to ask our clients, "Can you afford NOT to Stage?" When compared withthe other costs associated with the sale of purchase of a home, Staging is very reasonable. In most markets, a Staging report detailing what needs to be done to Stage the house for sale is less than the appraisal or Home Inspection reports.

Myth 3: All I need Are Lights, Flowers & Music........

FACT: Lights, Flowers and Music are great for Showing a house, but that is not Staging. Staging requires an objective and professional assessment of a house's strengths and challenge areas, and solutions to help Buyers fall in love with what they see. This requires more than just flowers and music to achieve-it requires and Action Plan! Your ASP can help you and your clients with a Success Plan for getting their house STAGED and SOLD!

Myth 4: I can Just Watch One of Those Shows......

FACT: The shows on HGTV and similar channels give sellers the idea that they need to do something to their house to prepare it for sale, but Sellers cannot truly be objective in a house they have been living in and need a 3rd party independent opinion to get it propertly Staged. ASPs have the experience and ideas to help Sellers get their houses ready and we honor our client, and work closely with Realtors to help get a house sold.

Comments (0)

The benefits of ordering an appraisal and an inspection when initially listing your home can make the entire marketing process move smoother and quicker. The 6 benefits are as follows:

1. Establishes Objective Value-The price is not merely set by the seller but placed on the home by a disinterested third party whose profession is to value property.

2. Validates List Price-If the appraisal and the list price are the same, there is less likelihood that the buyer will discount the "asking price."

3. Establishes Basis for Comparison-The appraisal and inspection can be used to compare with subsequent reports and can help to validate or challenge their findings.

4. Creates Awareness of Condition of Home-A third party inspection of the home by an inspector will identify areas that need attention and serve as a marketing tool to buyers to give proof to the condition. It can also be used to challenge claims that the buyer's inspector might make.

5. Anticipates Potential Problem Areas-If certain things are identified by the first inspection, it gives the seller the opportunity to repair them at competitive rates instead of possibly having to rush to get them done prior to closing.

6. Saves Time-By understanding what might need to be done to a home early in the marketing process, it can save critical time between the contract and closing.

As you can see, getting a pre-appraisal and pre-inspection can add to our cutting edge marketing plan!