Staging Myths
When I’m marketing my home staging business, whether it’s in social media, print media, or in person, I always include information about what home staging is, and what it isn’t.
During the consultation, I also find it helpful to dispel some of the myths that surround staging.
Here are but a few staging myths...
1. You can hide flooring flaws with throw rugs.
Sellers have asked me if they can keep their little throw rugs to cover up cracked tile or carpet stains.
Not possible. Throw rugs will (1) eat up space, and (2) call attention to what you’re trying to hide, which by the way, no agent or stager would condone.
Your best bet is to fix the problem BEFORE you list your house. Go into this process with a clean slate.
2. Remove all personal photos and objects.
Yes, and no. Removing these helps in 2 ways: (1) to remove the distraction that buyers have because everyone wants to look and see who’s in the photos, and (2) it helps the buyer to see the house as a possibility for their new home.
BUT….. you don’t need to leave the home cold with framed fake people. One client whose husband had recently passed away, needed one or two personal photos around to give her some comfort during the selling process.
Vacant homes have to be staged.
It’s not in everyone’s budget. But you do need to consider condition when your property is vacant. Make sure it is clean and everything repaired or replaced, because without furniture or furnishings, your buyers will focus on any flaws they see.
If you have unusually shaped or overly large rooms, staging will help the buyer see the possibilities.
4. Just move the sofa and other furniture against the walls to give the appearance of more room.
This can actually do the opposite.
Let the buyers see the flow of the room by staging it, not pushing it back as if you were going to have a dance.
Create a sitting area that makes sense, not one where buyers feel they will have to use binoculars to view the television.
Staging isn’t meant to hide or cover up. Done correctly, it helps buyers see the possibilities of the space.
Let buyers see why you fell in love with it!
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