75%- 90% of buyers cannot visualize what a house could be. Do you believe that?
I'm sure that you've heard it said and seen it written over and over again and I bet that you question those statistics. Questioning statistics is good, so I thought that I'd share what I have learning about learning styles in my previous 30 year career as an educator. All that I studied and practiced supports that the majority of people (young and old) are visual learners.
There are basically three styles of learning:
1) VISUAL
2)AUDITORY (Hearing)
3)KINESTHETIC (Tactile or Touch)
MANY, many years of educational research has proven that the majority of learners are visual learners. Good instruction is a combination of all 3 learning styles that touch every student in their classroom, with an emphasis on the visual. This is also supported by the "show it, don't tell it" philosophy.
Think about it. If you're at a large meeting, do you learn the information better by lecture style (auditory only) or lecture plus slideshow?
So, what does this have to do with those statistics and how your prepare and show (stage) your home for sale? Those visual learners as children are still visual learning adults and unless you SHOW THEM what your house can be, they will likely move on to the next listing that does. This means that a vacant house gives them very little for their brains to capture and a house jam-packed with a seller's personal items won't either. Most buyers can picture or imagine what isn't right there in front of them and asking them to do that is often futile.
Visual examples:
First, an occupied listing
Next, a vacant listing
If you would like to see more before and after photos of what professional home staging, visit this group: http://activerain.com/groups/beforeandafterpics
Knowing your personal learning style can help you understand yourself. Although this is a very cursory test and you might questions your results, you can go here and get a glimpse of your learning style: Learning styles test. Share with us what the test revealed about you.
If you want to know more, here's a link to more information: Learning styles information.
Professional real estate home stagers in the surrounding areas of Fresno, Clovis, Oakhurst and everywhere, know how to add just the right amount of visual appeal to help sell that house. Contact one in your area today and have a chat about their services.
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Dream Interior Redesign and Staging by Ginger Foust is a full service, licensed and insured CSP ® Professional Home Stager, Interior ReDesign/Decorating Specialist, consulting and training company.
Locally serving the California foothill and mountain communities of: Oakhurst, North Fork, BassLake, Coarsegold, Ahwahnee, Wawona and Mariposa. Also serving areas of: Fresno, Clovis and Madera, California and Kailua-Kona, Hawaii.
- Professional staging of vacant and occupied properties
- Color and Design Consultations
- Interior Decorating
Click here to see short slideshows with examples of our work. When the first show is over, click on OTHER SHOWS to see more.
Visit our website at http://www.dreamredesigns.com for more information or call 559-877-2442
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19 Comments on 75% - 90% of buyers cannot visualize what a house could be. Do you believe that?
Hi Ginger!
We've all heard that statistic and it never fails to surprise me. Those who do have a visual sense take for granted that everyone else does too. But when you add the fact the majority of first time home buyers are in their 30's with less experience in visualizing changes its a statistic you can't ignore if you want to sell your home.
Thanks for the reminder and the great links and info!
Hi Ginger ~ This post will help educate consumers about why "seeing" is believing when it comes to staging homes for selling. Thanks for the info!
Tessa, it's surprising only to those of us that have the skill-set to imagine what could be and we are the minority, for sure. I appreciate you adding your thought here. Merry Christmas!
Maureen, have to do something with the 30 years of experience so why not continue to educate. Seeing is believing! Thank you for your comments.
Ginger I find that even people who think they can see the potential in a house rarely can. It is a hard thing to do.
So interesting Ginger! Thanks for the info.
David, you are right. For most people it is very difficult and that's why they move on even in a house with potential. It's too bad that staging isn't more prevalent as people are missing opportunities and sales. Thanks for stopping by and commenting.
Cathy, glad that you got something from this. Thank you.
Hi Ginger--what a great analysis. I so agree with David's comment, too. Staging should take the guesswork out of the equation for the buyer.
Hi Janet, IMHO I don't like statistics without some backing so this was my attempt to provide some. You're right, sellers shouldn't leave buyers guessing. Thanks for commenting!
Ginger - I had fun taking the learning styles test and I'm hands down visual - no surprise there! My mantra has always been "show me, don't tell me", and that's what most buyers want too. We need to show them how a room could look by staging vacants and occupieds. Great post!
Sally, thanks for sharing the results of your "test" here. I am visual/tactile which I've always known....love walking through a home decor or fabric store and touching everything. Clearly YOU have no problems visualizing since you create such great stagings. We've got to let sellers and agents know this reality...not just statistics flim-flam! I appreciate you commenting.
Another excellent post Ginger! Most people are really surprised when I tell them this, and it helps them to understand the value of staging.
Thank you Sharon. Trying to do all that I can to educate.
Ginger, you may be our new Ambassador of Staging! Education seems to be our biggest hurdle and I know RESA is doing all they can to help correct that, but it really does fall upon us individual professional stagers to keep up the momentum. Great post!
Thank you for your kind comments Kim. I do believe that ongoing education is the key to keeping our industry at the leading edge and for my area just getting people on board. I do what I can.
Great post, Ginger. I also see that in your example pictures the "before" photo was taken with the width of a "point and shoot" camera, while the "After" was shot with a wide angle lens. It makes a huge difference on the brochures and websites if the viewer can actually see the whole room.
Thanks Brett. I don't know if most people would notice but you are so right. I don't break out the tripod and wide angle for the before shots but do for the afters. Having a good editing programs really helps too.
Thanks for the nice post Ginger. Definitely while buying a new home seeing is believing. This definitely gives an idea on why even a good house may not get good appreciation because of lack of staging.
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