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Staging is All About Making the Right Connections

The Professional Stagers of Active Rain have been posed the question - Why and When do you stage your house? There are many technical answers I could give here and do an adequate job of it, but I want you the reader to think past the nuts and bolts of the staging process and view it from a more basic level.

Anyone who has bought or sold their first place can attest to the fact that it is so much more than an impersonal business transaction. Home buying decisions are not made based on numbers on a piece of paper, or MLS listing, they are made in the heart. Your property has to be able to connect with buyers on this level to initiate an offer. Staging is your most powerful tool in opening all avenues to this connection.

Avenue #1- Your Internet connection. I know this is a very odd place to start as the internet is the most impersonal thing on the planet, but we live in a very visual, tech oriented and time conscious society. 80% of buyers are prescreening their listings online. If they don't like what they see in your online photos, they move on to the next listing. Staging can assist you in preparing your home so that your photos grab a buyers attention and make them want to see more. Ask any Realtor and they will tell you that the days of spending all weekend driving buyers from house to house of the agents choosing are over. Buyers don't want to spend that much time looking at houses. They have their own list and it is very short. You have a small window of opportunity to win them over.

Avenue #2 - The Style Connection. An outdated house is the hardest house to sell. The general public spends a lot of time watching HGTV. They are coming to expect that sellers will be regularly updating decor and fixtures - if not on a regular basis, then at least at the point of sale. When they see anything less, it is a disappointment to say the least. If your house is not a WOW, it is a WHOA and that is a fatal difference. A professional stager can assist you in making style changes that will boost the style appeal of your home and get you the most bang for your buck. It may seem counter intuitive to spend money on a house you will not be living in, but from the buyers perspective updating is work and you can't sell work. Well, you can, but not for top dollar.

Avenue #3 -A Personal Connection. Even with a great internet presentation and effectively updated aesthetics, buyers still need to have emotional ties to a house to move them to buy it. If that connection isn't made, everything stops here. The best way to make it happen is for the seller to actually disconnect with the house and allow it to be presented as 'anyone's house' and not their own. The more specific your home has been made to suit you, the less it will suit the general public. A stager can guide you in making that separation between 'home' and 'house' so that buyers are able to mentally move in and imagine making it their own.

Staging is your most effective marketing tool when selling your home and increases the effectiveness of all other marketing thereafter. It is without a doubt the first step you should take when starting down the path to sell your house. However, as I stated above, you have to make an emotional disconnect of your own to allow a buyer to feel an emotional investment. Don't think you can step back and make the necessary decisions? A home stager can help you make them.

So, why do you stage? Because you really want to sell your house.

When do you stage? As soon as you are truly ready to let it go.

Posted by Kimberly Wester on 08/13/2007 08:22 PM

Comments (23)

home staging, real estate staging, marketing, home stager, stager, mental roadblocks

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23 Comments on Staging is All About Making the Right Connections

AUG

2007

Kimberly, what you have written is all too true. I hope all sellers will get a chance to read it and I think you should enter this blog into the contest. Your first point about the Internet made me stop and think and you're right. I've looked at a lot of MLS listings and the ones with poor pictures just make me cringe. They are losing potential buyers. Thanks for sharing. Betty

Kimberly, I see you have entered this piece into the contest. Good luck. Glad I'm not a judge - this is one tough competition. Betty

Kimberly,

This is fabulous. I don't think I could have said it any better. Thank you for putting this together and sharing so much with all of us. You are truly amazing!

By the way, I have bookmarked it and rated it a "5"!

Beautifully written, Kimberly. I agree with Anthea, you deserve a 5 and a gold star!

Betty - I truly believe we do ourselves a disservice by touting staging as the 'sell faster for more money' solution. It may or may not happen that way, but what it really is is a very effective marketing boost. I wrote this specifically for the contest. We'll see how I do - if everyone puts out their best offort, i may end up on the bottom of the pile...

Anthea - Thanks for the bookmark, the rating and the praise. I'm not sure it is worth all that, but I appreciate it anyway!

Calie- Thank you!

AUG

2007

Kimberly, it's hard to disconnect as a seller. There are always memories, and it's hard to let go.

Your #1 focus here, "the internet connection" is right on. It is #1, it is the first impression. Staging makes that first impression count! Great job here Kim.

EXCELLENT INFO Kimberly!!!! So well said. Can I quote you in a speech I'm giving?

On a different note - love your Meez :)

All the best,

Beth

Kim, You have hit the nail on the head concerning the first step to staging. The disconnect from the home by the sellers. What is that they say -- turning homes into houses? You, my dear, are a staging genius!

Great piece, Kimberly....very good points made. Staging IS a powerful tool--- more homesellers and realtors both need to understand this point and be proactive!

The internet is where I get most of my clients from; I have been wanting to change my website for a while now....you have prompted me to do so!

(good luck with the contest!)

Julia

Kimberly -- Bravo for your great presentation, short simple and to the point. I, too, am a big believer on the impact home staging does for the internet!

Sue - That's the point of hiring a home stager - we are not connected at all and we can help them make reasonable decisions. Thanks!

Yvonne - Thanks so much! I don't know if I'm a genius, but I'm working on it!

Julia - Thank you and good luck with the website. I'd love to see the changes when you are done.

Karen - Thanks so much! I think once people understand what impact staging has, it is a no brainer. (I hope)

Oh, No, Beth! Some how I missed you! Please, quote away. Isn't the meez thing fun?

AUG

2007

Kimberly - great blog and so true on all points!

Kimberly, thanks for articulating that so well! It's easy for us to get caught up in the pragmatic side of staging...but you cut to the core. Much appreciated! 5 stars for you!

Kimberly - Great post. Staging your property or buying a property are full of EMOTIONS! Thank you for educating the public.

You were right to start with the internet Kimberly - for most buyers I believe it's the first place they look and having those great staged home photos and tours really make it stand out from the competition.

AUG

2007

Kimberly -- Very informative blog! I especially liked this line "If your house is not a WOW, it is a WHOA and that is a fatal difference." Is is so true. Good luck in the contest!

Hmmmm....my graphic is the jakfruit. I have no idea what that is but "JAK" is my initials!

Thanks, everyone, for all of the positive response. All of the entries are so good, I think we all should get 1000 points just for entering!

Kimberly - Great article. I think one of the best thing about home staging is helping people get ready to let go. I love the satisfied look they have when the job is done and they have simplified their lives.

AUG

2007

Kimberly - this was another one of the better entries in our contest. Thank for submitting your article. Keep up the great efforts!

Kimberly,

When do you Stage?.... When you want to stop imaging yourself in your new home and Start unpacking your items IN your new home, That's when you should Stage your house.

Best wishes, Brian Bloom

AUG

2007

Maureen - I love the satisifiedm look l have on my face when they realize I was right! Just kidding - kinda...!!!

Rich - Thanks so much for putting this together. My real goal was to get newer bloggers involved and I think it worked. I really hope this gives them all the confidence to really create some more great content for their blogs.

Brian- When do yu stage? Only when you actually want to sell....;)

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