For those of us sitting in the New Jersey suburbs of Metro New York, on the Midtown Direct train line, location was the one and only thing that really mattered when selling a home.  Price was always high, and if you didn't buy today then by tomorrow, a similar home would cost even more.  Location was a secondary factor for most, once you got past main roads and corners.  As to condition? The majority of buyers expected to redo kitchens and baths. 

This climate is no more.  Prices are still moving up, though at a much slower pace, and location is now a more significant factor.  What has changed most is the emphasis on the condition of a home.  Here, if a home is  in poor condition, more than that the house gets no offers, it simply doesn't get shown.  At all.  By anyone.

Enter home staging services.  Here, in North Central New Jersey, staging homes for sale got started as a trend to defend price.  Sometimes it was used to temper a poor location, but now, it is an imperative to buff up and illustrate condition.  In our part of the world, staging your home when you go to market is no longer a choice, it's a MUST.  Here are 4 reasons why (though there are many more):

The NORMS have changed. 

Exactly like when a couple of kids get coaching for the SATs: very soon everyone else HAS to. Once some homes are staged, show well and fly off the market, others pale by comparison.  Your un-staged, comfy homestead looks worn, drab and dreary - not the slightest bit enticing, inviting or desirable.  You get shown as the one that closes the sparkling, spare, angled-furniture thing up the street.

It's a WIN-WIN for everyone. 

1. The realtor loves being in a beautiful home; they get lotsa compliments; it helps them brand themselves. 
2. The photo-dude's happy: his shots look awesome. 
3. The seller makes more money with less stress.
4. The buyer falls in love and can't wait to move in.

It's good KARMA. 

By you fixing up and re-styling the house that's sheltered your family and fostered your memories you are not only showing it gratitude, but creating a space for the next family.  Further, you're shortening the time it will take for that new family to find it. 

Buyers DEMAND more.

Today's NJ buyers aren't simple folks.  We're talking about 3^rd and 4^th generation attending college; moneyed youngsters who aren't buying grandma's house to fix it up over time.  These are smart, sophisticated, educated buyers with a major "add water and stir" addiction. Forget Makeover-Mania, they just want it done.

WHEN do you stage?

From the get-go.  How often can you make a first impression?  No matter what the market conditions, most people recognize that the good houses sell right away.  Anything that sits likely has a problem.

Actually, I recommend, that when you first buy a house, do yourself a favor.  Start an ‘If and When We Sell' file.  Immediately add a list of all the reasons you loved the home enough to buy it. As you see articles and get ideas, just throw them in the file.  If and when the time comes...

                                                                 Call a Stager! 

                                                                 Preferably this one ---

Juliet Johnson Staging serves the luxury real estate market of Essex, Union and Morris counties, NJ.  They are based in Short Hills (circa Exit 142 for those who know the Parkway) and can be reached at (973) 477-7000.