Maybe, maybe not - but it sure can save you a LOT of headaches and aspirin! 

Does Home Staging involve swallowing a big pill? Comments on a previous blog post raised my level of thinking about how the Home Staging industry is perceived, and you can read what prompted this blog post in the comments here.  Now I've never personally touted that Home Staging is THE "Magic Pill" to sell a home faster in today's market, however I do firmly believe that it has certainly helped the properties which we have Staged sell MUCH more quickly. So why is accepting Home Staging as a viable tool to selling Real Estate such a hard pill to swallow for some?

Some say, "You don't need to Stage; just paint & declutter" OK, well painting and decluttering IS Staging!  Although this is just the first step, but a Professional Home Stager wouldn't advise a Seller to paint every wall white and simply telling a Seller to "declutter" is like plopping them down in front of a TV with static on the screen.  They don't know what "declutter" means - most think it simply means putting their shoes away into a closet.  Most Sellers don't realize that to "declutter" really means to begin packing their priceless shotglass collection.  Start taking some aspirin, your up-hill battle has just begun.

Some say, "You don't need to Stage; just have your carpets cleaned"  OK, well cleaning your carpets IS Staging.  But what if the smell of the 3 cats and 2 dogs isn't removed by "cleaning".  The Seller may have just pulled out their handy dirt devil carpet cleaner & spray solutions to get rid of the "spots".  Even worse, what if you're not comfortable telling your Seller that you can STILL smell their "kids" ~ a Professional Home Stager would know exactly what to tactfully say, and save you a few more aspirin.

Some say, "You don't need to Stage; just clean." Now, the picture to the left may startle you, I know. But again, clean to someone who looks at something every day this might be clean, but to another person it may be very off-putting. 

When selling a home, cleaning to one person is pulling out a dust rag, to Buyers cleaning means "sparkling".  Get the cobwebs down from the corners, dust the tops of all the doors and ceiling fans, bleach your bathrooms, tile and grout.... THIS IS Staging.  Do you really want to have to spend your valuable time arranging for cleaning services? I've even seen some Realtors pull out a paint roller - your time is much more valuable than that.

Some say, "You don't need to Stage; just open the blinds."  This IS Staging, but a Professional Home Stager will be able to take it one step further and be able to explain to your Seller that they should take down their "expensive floral drapes" that they endear to have them cleaned and packed and to maybe even have installed in their next new home - all while enhancing the view to the beautiful park across the street. This IS Staging. 

Some say, "You don't need to Stage; the house will speak for itself."  You're right, the house can and will speak volumes  if it has an awkward floor plan with 10 doors & entrances to one room, or an open floor plan bathroom in the middle of the master bedroom "suite".  Calling it a "suite" doesn't make the Buyer feel any better when they can't imagine sleeping next to a bath tub.  A Professional Home Stager will be able to make the space MAKE SENSE to a Buyer, this IS Staging.

Some may even say, "You don't need to hire a Home Stager; I CAN DO IT FOR YOU."  Personally for me, this is a right-brain / left-brain thing.  Some can do this, most can not: stick to what you know, and what you do well.  You may have been through 500 Home Inspections, but that doesn't give you the expertise to practice the trade - just like most Home Stagers would have NO IDEA how to write an offer, or follow up on contingencies, many Realtors think "staging" is just putting furniture into an empty room. See the difference?

Some say, "You don't need to Stage; it's too expensive and price will sell anything." Here's where you may very well be wrong.  Staging does not have to be expensive, most Home Stagers have several different options to fit most budgets.  And price may NOT sell anything.  If two properties are competing for the same Buyer, why would they take your overflowing closets, dirty walls, smelly carpet, cobwebs, and awkward floor plans over the clean, bright, inviting home down the street.  Even if priced below the competition, Buyers will see your dirty smelly, awkward home as a money pit that will cost $20,000 to make it "livable".  Today's Buyer doesn't want an allowence either. Most Buyers are willing to up their buying power by $20,000 for the home that is already move-in ready so that THEY don't need to take aspirin. This IS Staging.

Have some of you actually taken a LOOK at some of the photos presented on the Internet of your Listed Homes?  I guess you should just IGNORE  that the NAR says that OVER 87% of Buyers "shop" the Internet first before they physically go see homes and will "pass" on any listing which did not immediately connect with them visually during their virtual "hunt". Home Staging will ensure that Buyers will want to come SEE your home or listing. Staging will ensure that there is a higher interest in your home or listing.  Isn't that your JOB as a Realtor? To bring in AS MANY prospective Buyers as possible?   THIS IS HOME STAGING

Still don't believe me? Here is a Buyers Perspective

Platinum Home Staging, Inc.

Of the hundreds of homes on the market in your area,

How will your home compete?

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