This morning I was inspired to write by a question asked in the Q&A section.
Tari Reph introduced herself as a new agent and asked
"Do you use a professional stager with all of your listings? If not, how do you decide when that would be appropriate? "
Tari started a great conversation, and I enjoyed reading through the comments she received.
What stood out for me was the number of agents saying it depended on the price of the home.
While I agree that home staging isn't necessary for homes that are obvious tear downs or investment properties, I don't agree that listing price has anything to do with the decision of hiring a stager.
When considering the use of home staging as a marketing tool, listing price shouldn't be the determining factor.
Regardless of price, all homes show better when furniture is arranged to show space and the function of each room is well defined.
All homes show better when the right paint color is used,
when positive features are highlighted,
and when red flags (items suggesting future problems) are removed.
All homes show better when they appear to be well maintained and cared for.
Home Staging includes advice on anything and everything that will help make a home more visually and emotionally appealing to potential buyers.
An inexpensive home staging consult (usually under $300) provides sellers with all the information they need to prepare and present their home for the market....regardless of their listing price.
My favorite replies to Tari's question:
Barbara Todaro : "every home is worthy of staging, except for a fix and flip or teardown....there are different types of staging advice for different price points and the greater the magnitude of home, the greater the need for staging."
Dick Greenberg : "staging comes in a lot of different forms, from moving furniture and decluttering to bringing in lots of stuff. Each property will have a unique answer and a long-term relationship with a good professional stager will provide a good source of expertise on what may be needed. But it almost always pays to have a property looking it's best. "
Jill Murty, Realtor - Orange County, CA : "For occupied properties, I have a stager do a walk through of the property. She writes her recommendations and submits them to the seller. The seller may elect to employ some, all or none of the recommendations.
For vacant properties, I suggest that the seller have a consultation with a stager and decide if they'd like to proceed.
People often ask if staging is worth it. There's a reason new homes are staged. It's not because it's ineffective."
Dorie Dillard : "I agree with Barbara Todaro....every home is worthy of staging. I subscribe to staging no matter what price point."
Thank you James Dray for tagging me in your comment!
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