Staging a home and staging it right

Whether you stage your home yourself or hire a professional staging can make the difference between selling your property or having it sit on the market. The cost of home staging can vary depending on location. It is a value-added service that prepares a home for sale with a sellers budget and time frame in mind. Convincing the seller of the benefits of staging is the toughest part. The seller usually thinks the homes was ok for me so it will be ok for the next person. I like to think of it as preparing for guests. You want your home to shine and look its best. Remember success is preparation meeting opportunity! Statistically homes listed for sale after staging remain on the market an average of 32-42 days. In a slow market, it is important to prepare a home for sale. Prospective homebuyers in this market are likely to scrutinize every aspect of your home during a showing. What that breaks down to in terms of what you can do to help position your home are some very basic and simple principles. Remove the Clutter from rooms. Believe me when I say this; your “stuff” holds no value in the eyes of a perspective buyer. It may be your most prized possession but to the buyer it may be “clutter” that distracts them from making that emotional decision to buy your home and make it their own. I have a client in Richfield, MN and I suggested that prior to selling her home, she remove her personal items. When the inspector came to her home she was amazed at how beautifully staged her home was. Her comment, "I see many homes, but to see one show so beautifully is truly amazing, this home shines." REMEMBER: They are not buying your stuff; they are buying your home.