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Sellers: Home Staging Isn’t About You, It’s All About the Buyers!

By
Home Stager with Arranged Smartly LLC

 

Homeowners today must feel really vulnerable when they decide to put their homes on the market. There’s a lot of competition and their house may be worth less than it was three years ago. Perhaps they even tried selling their home last year and pulled it off the market when they didn’t get the right offer. Then in comes a home stager like me, who may ask them to remove, update, rearrange and paint--all for the benefit of the new potential owner.

Let’s face it, buyers are looking for their new home--not a home that looks like it belongs to someone else. So good staging is about helping the buyer see that this is their perfect place. Home Sweet Home art
  • That means taking as many of the current owner’s personal choices and taste-specific decorating styles out of the environment as possible. 
  • Think nice hotel: neutral art, bedding, carpet and white towels. 
  • It also means understanding your target market. Is that singles, young couples, families or retirees? Sellers should make sure their homes reflect this market. 
Appealing to the widest range of buyers possible is essential.

A seller may say “my home shows as well as the others in my neighborhood.” But is that really good enough? The odds are much less that this seller will get the offer from that serious buyer who has so many choices. If, on the other hand, a house looks better than the competition, chances are much better it will get the contract.

So ultimately, Mr. and Ms. Seller, you must take your emotions out of the equation. Remember, it’s all about the buyer!

 

 

 

Cathy Brosius is the owner of Arranged Smartly, a home staging and organizing company.  Cathy and her team are working smartly for homeowners and real estate agents throughout the St. Louis region.  She has also been interviewed on KMOV's Great Day St. Louis, providing tips on staging a home for sale.

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Comments (10)

Cathy Lee
CL Design Services Home Staging - Danville, CA
ASP, IAHSP, RESA Danville, CA

Very true and very good article.  Three cheers or you!!

Jun 10, 2009 01:50 PM
Cathy Brosius
Arranged Smartly LLC - Saint Louis, MO
Home Staging St. Louis region

Thanks, Cathy! This was my first post and boy, was it difficult--hope it gets easier!

Jun 10, 2009 02:41 PM
Kimberly Uksik
Independent - Pickering, ON
Home Stager - Durham, Toronto, On.

Great advice to all of our sellers out there or those thinking of selling - well done!

Jun 11, 2009 12:43 AM
Cathy Brosius
Arranged Smartly LLC - Saint Louis, MO
Home Staging St. Louis region

Thanks for the encouragement, Kimberly!

Jun 11, 2009 03:40 AM
Virginia Tatseos
Stage-Show-Sell - Bloomfield Township, MI

This is a great post.  can't believe that you are new to it

Jun 11, 2009 02:07 PM
Cathy Brosius
Arranged Smartly LLC - Saint Louis, MO
Home Staging St. Louis region

Virginia, that means a lot! Thanks a million!

Jun 11, 2009 03:46 PM
C. Bartch
Newark, OH

Hi Cathy, your great  line "their new home--not a home that looks like it belongs to someone else", says it all.

Jun 12, 2009 07:35 AM
Melissa Marro
Keller Williams First Coast Realty - The Marro Team - Orange Park, FL
Jacksonville Real Estate and Home Staging

Great point!  More people need to heed your words!!

Jun 12, 2009 12:53 PM
Cathy Brosius
Arranged Smartly LLC - Saint Louis, MO
Home Staging St. Louis region

Cynthia and Melissa--I try to get sellers to think like a buyer. Sometimes it works and I find it very helpful. Thanks for your comments!

Jun 14, 2009 06:39 AM
Cindy Bryant
Redesign Etc. Home Staging - Houston, TX
"Houston Home Staging Pros"

Bottom line, they have to love, it or they will pass!

Jun 15, 2009 05:02 PM