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Here Are 6 Reasons Why You Don't Want to Wait to Stage Your House.

By
Home Stager

Here Are 6 Reasons Why You Don’t Want to Wait to Stage Your House.

Real Estate agents and Home Stagers hear this all of the time from sellers:Don't wait to stage your house

“Let’s wait to see how it goes before we do anything.”

What are you waiting for?

You’ve hired the most qualified agent in your area to represent you in the sale of this very large investment that you have.  They have explained the current market and given you their educated opinion on the best list price.

There are some items they suggest you consider to help make your house market ready.  
 

But- you want to wait a month or so to see what happens.

Here are 6 reasons why you don’t want to wait to get your house in market ready condition.

1.Newly listed homes are hot commodities.  However, the longer it sits, it is like a loaf of stale bread.  Buyers and other agents may pass it by for the newest listing.

2.You may think that you’re saving money by waiting to invest in staging but are you?

Often, after your house has been on the market a month, your agent may suggest a price reduction.  Afterall, when a property isn’t selling, the overriding reason is the price.

Whatever that figure is, it’s often much less than what the cost of staging your home (either via a consultation or a full staging with furniture) would have been.

why stage your home now3. A “What’s wrong with it?” cloud starts to hang over it.

You know what it’s like…. you see a house, everything seems right from the MLS, good location and the price is right.  Why hasn’t it sold?
 

Buyers make the assumption that there must be or why wouldn’t it have sold.

In today’s market, with inventory running low in many areas, properties typically don’t sit IF…

*They are priced with the market in mind

*The location is Buyer-friendly

*The property is in good condition relative to the asking price.

 

 

4. The longer your house is on the market, the longer you and your family “get” to live like you’re living in a model home.

No one enjoys having their house on the market…. having to make sure that everything is picked up and that strangers will be going through your house.

5. Think of what what it could be costing you every day that your house sits on the market.

-Your mortgage payment

-Insurance for your house

-Utilities

-Maintenance

- Missing out on the perfect house

6. Images can last in a buyer’s or agent’s mind for a long time.

house photographs to make a difference

With over 90% of buyers beginning their search on the Internet, your MLS photos will be their first impression of your house.  It’s the same with agents as well.  

If you decide to “see how it goes” you may not get that second chance with potential buyers or agents.

They’ve already seen your before photos.  

So, tell me again… why is it you want to wait before you stage your house?

 

Posted by

Kathy Streib
Retired Home Stager
and Interior Redesign

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Comments(32)

Will Hamm
Hamm Homes - Aurora, CO
"Where There's a Will, There's a Way!"

Start out right if you are going to put your home on the market.  Have it stage!!!

Sep 21, 2015 11:56 PM
Kathy Streib

Absolutely.  There is no real benefit to waiting. 

Sep 22, 2015 01:15 AM
Sheila Anderson
Referral Group Incorporated - East Brunswick, NJ
The Real Estate Whisperer Who Listens 732-715-1133

Good morning Kathy. Good one and I agree. Do it right, right away.

Sep 21, 2015 11:56 PM
Kathy Streib

Thanks, Sheila.  For me one of the most compelling reasons is that you don't have to live like your home is a model home for one day longer. 

Sep 22, 2015 01:16 AM
Barbara-Jo Roberts Berberi, MA, PSA, TRC - Greater Clearwater Florida Residential Real Estate Professional
Charles Rutenberg Realty - Clearwater, FL
Palm Harbor, Dunedin, Clearwater, Safety Harbor

Staging should be discussed at the time the listing is taken and should be complete before the listing is in the MLS.

Sep 21, 2015 11:59 PM
Kathy Streib

Barbara-Jo- wouldn't that be nice. 

Sep 22, 2015 01:16 AM
Grant Schneider
Performance Development Strategies - Armonk, NY
Your Coach Helping You Create Successful Outcomes

Kathy - It is true that you only get one chance to make a first impression.  Why ruin it with a false start.

Sep 22, 2015 12:00 AM
Kathy Streib

That's exactly right.  And, agents are humans too.  If they saw the "before" of the property, they don't want to waste their time or that of their clients. 

Sep 22, 2015 01:17 AM
Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
Pasadena And Southern California 818.516.4393

Good morning, Kathy -- this is akin to sellers who say --- hey, let's just give it a try.    Hey, selling(and staging) a home is not a dress rehearsal....

Sep 22, 2015 12:10 AM
Kathy Streib

I know!   We had a neighbor once whose home was on the market forever because he had the attitude that "let's put it up for sale and see what happens."

Sep 22, 2015 01:18 AM
Sharon Tara
Sharon Tara Transformations - Portsmouth, NH
Retired New Hampshire Home Stager

I've heard "We are going to wait and see" more times than I care to admit. It's frustrating. My record for convincing them NOT to wait is pretty good, but there have been some sellers that just had to learn the hard way.

Sep 22, 2015 12:13 AM
Kathy Streib

I agree.  I know that agents probably hear it more when they're suggesting that they hire a stager, but some people can't be convinced. 

Sep 22, 2015 01:19 AM
Bill Roberts
Brooks and Dunphy Real Estate - Oceanside, CA
"Baby Boomer" Retirement Planner

Kathy Streib since you have given us everything we need  (in past posts, you know the ones that are the basis of your book) now it is time to do it all BEFORE you miss that right buyer.

Bill Roberts

Sep 22, 2015 12:30 AM
Kathy Streib

Bill- keep nudging me, ok!

Sep 22, 2015 01:19 AM
Bill Roberts
Brooks and Dunphy Real Estate - Oceanside, CA
"Baby Boomer" Retirement Planner

Kathy Streib That is my mission in life.

Bill Roberts

Sep 22, 2015 01:30 AM
Kathy Streib

I need it!

Sep 22, 2015 11:03 AM
Ron and Alexandra Seigel
Napa Consultants - Carpinteria, CA
Luxury Real Estate Branding, Marketing & Strategy

Kathy,

I see that Bill Roberts agrees with me that your great information should be in a book...this is another wonderful post.  A

Sep 22, 2015 01:41 AM
Kathy Streib

Alexandra- I need...make that will...get started with an outline this weekend. 

Sep 22, 2015 11:06 AM
Dick Greenberg
New Paradigm Partners LLC - Fort Collins, CO
Northern Colorado Residential Real Estate

Hi Kathy - Excellent advice. The potential gains from staging far outweigh the cost, and will lead to a quicker sale. Great point about the before photos.

Sep 22, 2015 01:47 AM
Kathy Streib

Dick- buyers' expectations have become even higher than ever.  And good photos need a professional photographer and good subject matter. 

Sep 22, 2015 11:09 AM
Brian England
Ambrose Realty Management LLC - Gilbert, AZ
MBA, GRI, REALTOR® Real Estate in East Valley AZ

All great reasons and I completely agree with you!  When I list a home for sale, I want it to pop from the very start, as most activity will happen within the first two weeks.  If anything is out of line in the beginning, money is lost in the end.

Sep 22, 2015 02:03 AM
Kathy Streib

Brian- so true!  The longer it sits, more questions will come out. 

Sep 22, 2015 11:10 AM
Kathleen Daniels, Probate & Trust Specialist
KD Realty - 408.972.1822 - San Jose, CA
Probate Real Estate Services

Kathy, waiting to stage a home is a lot like pricing it high and see what happens.  We already know what is going to happen. Let's wait and see what happens ... the answer is in the question ... "wait" ... that means time lost ... and money lost. Why can't sellers see that?

Sep 22, 2015 02:03 AM
Kathy Streib

Kathleen- I think sellers don't want to feel like they've listed it too low. They're concerned about leaving money on the table (in their eyes)

Sep 22, 2015 11:19 AM
Mark Loewenberg
KW of the Palm Beaches - Palm Beach Gardens, FL
KW 561-214-0370

love the cobwebs! yes that is one of the first things to remove prior to staging a home!

Sep 22, 2015 05:10 AM
Kathy Streib

Mark- we see so many homes with cobwebs on the light fixtures at the front door.  Not good!

Sep 22, 2015 11:19 AM
Robert Bob Gilbert
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Anderson Properties - Katy, TX
Your Katy TX ( West of Houston) Real Estate Expert

Kathy, I completely agree with waht you are saying in your excellent post. Hit the market as hard as possible as soon as it is listed including staging. the first week or two are maybe the most important period of time. 

Sep 22, 2015 05:52 AM
Kathy Streib

Bob- those first two weeks are extremely important. 

Sep 22, 2015 11:21 AM
Chris Ann Cleland
Long and Foster Real Estate - Gainesville, VA
Associate Broker, Bristow, VA

The sooner you stage the better for the results in getting the house sold.  That's the bottom line.

Sep 22, 2015 07:14 AM
Kathy Streib

Chris Ann- even for occupied homes where we don't have to bring furniture in, it's important to address the condition of the house. 

Sep 22, 2015 11:22 AM
Anna "Banana" Kruchten
HomeSmart Real Estate - Phoenix, AZ
602-380-4886

Kathy yes yes yes yes yes YES!  Some sellers simply don't want to listen to professionals and think they know what it will take to sell a home.  In time they wish they had listened - but for some it's money lost due to reduced price and sitting on market for a long time.

Sep 22, 2015 09:18 AM
Kathy Streib

And think of the homes they may pass on for themselves because their home hasn't sold!

Sep 22, 2015 11:24 AM
Lou Ludwig
Ludwig & Associates - Boca Raton, FL
Designations Earned CRB, CRS, CIPS, GRI, SRES, TRC

Kathy

Waiting to stage your home to be sold . . . . can be a very costing delay.

Good luck and success.

Lou Ludwig

Sep 22, 2015 11:19 AM
Endre Barath, Jr.
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties - Beverly Hills, CA
Realtor - Los Angeles Home Sales 310.486.1002

Kathy love the wisdom now all we need to do is convert those sellers and agents who have made up their minds and do not want to be confused with facts:)) in my market all savvy sellers, developers understand the value of Staging and do not wait until 3 to 6 months into the listing not selling...because they know in the beginning they will get more money for their property if it is positioned properly for the market....Endre

Sep 22, 2015 04:12 PM
Joe Petrowsky
Mortgage Consultant, Right Trac Financial Group, Inc. NMLS # 2709 - Manchester, CT
Your Mortgage Consultant for Life

Good morning Kathy. All six reasons will have an impact on the sale of any home, good reasons for folks that are considering selling to contact you.

Sep 22, 2015 08:35 PM
Joni Bailey
101 Main St. Realty - Huntsville, TX
Your Huntsville / Lake Livingston Area REALTOR®

I hate it when the "what's wrong with it" thing happens. Then every buyer picks the house to pieces LOOKING for all the reasons why it hasn't sold. It's a terrible thing!

Oct 17, 2015 02:59 AM