(I developed this informative insert to my listing presentation from a variety of sources. It helps open the door when discussing the "re-staging" of a home about to go on the market. I'd love to credit all the sources that went into this, but theyr'e all over the place! so please enjoy, knowing it's a composite piece!)
Questions about Home “Re-Staging”
Q: Does every home need staging to sell?
A: Almost every home, condo or apartment can benefit from staging, no matter what the size, even if it is well-decorated and maintained. Why? The way we live in our homes is very different from how we need to market them and make them appeal to buyers. Most interiors, even if professionally decorated, fit a specific taste, since we all tend to personalize our spaces quickly. The goal of staging is to create a mood that buyers emotionally respond to. To accomplish that, homes need to be cleaned, de-cluttered, de-personalized – all relatively easy to accomplish with the help of your REALTOR – Kathy Smiley.
When you list with Kathy Smiley, much of what she provides in the way of staging & helping you is FREE for you – an “added value” to her expert marketing and selling services!
Q: Don’t vacant homes sell fine without professional staging?
A: Actually, no. Vacant homes can look sterile and “cold”; many buyers can’t figure out where the furniture will go, how to deal with awkward angles or shapes, or what to do with rooms that are “too large” as well as “too small.” Staging works to resolve furniture placement issues to highlight the best features of a room and downplay the problems. Staging also resolves questions about how a room should be used.
Q: How much does staging really help sell homes?
A: According to stagedhomes.com, 95.6 % of ASP-staged homes sell on average in 37 days vs. 212 days for non-staged homes. RESA, the Real Estate Staging Association, surveyed 39 homes that were listed un-staged and spent an average of 233 days on market. After they were staged, they sold in an average of 53 days. That's 78% less time on the market! Of course, there’s no guarantee that a staged home will sell faster or for more money, since current market conditions, price and your agent’s marketing all determine the final outcome. But ensuring your home presents as well as possible will enhance curb appeal and increase the odds that buyers will make offers on it.
Q: Should I stage my home before I try to sell it, or wait and see what responses I get from potential buyers first?
A: Today, 90 % of buyers search the internet for homes before contacting an agent, so the photos posted of your home are vitally important: if buyers aren’t impressed by them, they will move on. Don’t take a chance on turning off potential buyers who will quickly form a negative impression of your home if it doesn’t present well right at the beginning. The first two weeks on the market are the most crucial time for marketing your home, since that’s when agents and buyers will view your home with the most interest. The “buzz” about your home will make or break its reputation early on, so it’s important to stage BEFORE you list your home and before its appeal wanes. Agents love to bring buyers to homes that show beautifully, and staging may very well help you avoid the price reduction trap.
Q: So is it too late to stage if my home has been sitting on the market for months?
A: No, it’s never too late. In fact, many owners finally decide to try staging after their homes have sat on the market for many months with little interest. Of course, earlier is better, both in terms of saving months of inconvenience and expenses, and usually in preventing price reductions as well.
Q: Can’t most people see past the stuff in my house or the way I’ve chosen to decorate it and visualize it as their own?
A: Unfortunately, no; studies show that only 10% of buyers have the vision to see things as they could be, instead of how they are. The majority of buyers will start subtracting dollars off the price they’re willing to pay for your home when they see even cosmetic issues that they don’t like. If they see even minor maintenance/repair problems or an out-dated appearance, their offer price may drop further.
Buyers today have higher expectations than they did years ago. We are all used to seeing beautiful homes on TV, or model homes in person. Thanks to HGTV in particular, more of us are aware of the latest decorating and design trends as well and are emotionally swayed - positively or negatively -- by appearances.
Q: Will I need to buy or rent a lot of accessories or furniture to make my home’s interior look great for selling?
A: The answer is generally no, unless your home is sparsely furnished or vacant. Usually, the items you already have can be displayed differently with a designer’s eye to entice the buyer to envision themselves living in your home. Sometimes slipcovers, throws, and pillows are excellent and inexpensive solutions that often work to disguise problems. In vacant homes, we work with local rental furniture companies.
Q: How much does staging cost?
A: Typically, anywhere from ZERO - if you list with Kathy Smiley, as she makes the investment upfront for the 2-3 hour hands-on” consultation, to just a few hundred dollars for a lifting and moving help for a small property up to a few thousand for a vacant one in need of furniture rental as well as accessories. Well worth the investment!
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For expert advise and guidance when listing your home in the Conejo Valley of Ventura County (Westlake Village, Agoura Hills, Oak Park, Thousand Oaks, Newbury Park, Calabasas, Camarillo, Oxnard, Ventura, Moorpark, Simi Valley).
I provide a free staging consultation with a top area interior designer to EVERY LISTING I TAKE!
First impressions count!
805-390-9323
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