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Home Staging Tips…Why You Shouldn’t Wait to Stage Your Home

By
Home Stager

Home Staging Tips…Why You Shouldn’t Wait to Stage Your Home

 

The real estate market has shifted. So, what does that mean when it comes to preparing your home for sale? 

 

It means that now more than ever, the home that you present to your potential buyers needs to make the absolute best first impression. 

 

You can’t put the For Sale sign up and wait to see how it goes before you decide to prepare your home for sale. And with 97% of buyers utilizing the Internet to search for a home, that means your home also has to be camera-ready!

 

 

In the Buyer’s Market in 2008, I was asked to stage a beautiful multi-million dollar bank-owned home. Not only was the home vacant, but every mirror and light fixture had been removed by the owner. 

 

The agent had worked with the lender on many other properties and could not wait to begin work on this one. It had taken time to get approval for any kind of budget. 

 

We staged the primary rooms… the kitchen, master bedroom, bath, and family room. Even with limited funds, there was an offer in under two weeks. 

 

The offer came from a  buyer who had viewed the property before it was staged and prepared. Having already seen the “Before” house, the buyer had no interest in making a return visit.

Luckily, the buyer’s agent knew that this property offered what her client wanted so took the time to see for herself what had been done. She called the listing agent and could not believe the difference she saw. She convinced her buyer to take another look and an offer was made. 

 

What has been said is true…First Impressions do matter AND…if you’re not careful, they may not go away. 

Posted by

Kathy Streib
Retired Home Stager
and Interior Redesign

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Comments(19)

Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
Pasadena And Southern California 818.516.4393

Hello Kathy - prospective buyers have been known to identify homes for sale they have seen and rejected.  Such properties may become attached with names they can remember.  The one with that ugly green carpeting or that house with wild wallpaper

It's good when a second look occurs as staging transforms a previously dismissed house.  However, that's not always the case. Sometimes, it's "seen it, no way".    You share a good lesson for wannabe home sellers.  

Jan 17, 2023 04:56 AM
Kathy Streib

Michael Jacobs Thank you. I can remember looking at homes for us and the names we gave some of them..."the one with no dining room" or "the one with the funky carpet."

Jan 17, 2023 04:39 PM
Nina Hollander, Broker
Coldwell Banker Realty - Charlotte, NC
Your Greater Charlotte Realtor

Good morning, Kathy... not only do first impressions matter, you'd better make a good one in seconds! Each day I see listings and view homes where agents and their clients have not yet realized the market has softened and you can't just toss something on the MLS and sell it in a weekend open house.

Jan 17, 2023 05:06 AM
Kathy Streib

Nina Hollander, Broker when I started staging back in 2007, when sellers were concerned at the cost of staging, we pointed out to them that the investment was less than the 8-10% reduction in list price they would be asked to make if the house sat on the market. 

Jan 17, 2023 04:42 PM
Brian England
Ambrose Realty Management LLC - Gilbert, AZ
MBA, GRI, REALTOR® Real Estate in East Valley AZ

If a home isn't truly ready to go when it hits the MLS for the first time, it certainly won't garner top-dollar.

Jan 17, 2023 05:15 AM
Kathy Streib

That's often the case Brian England 

Jan 17, 2023 04:43 PM
Bill Salvatore - East Valley
Arizona Elite Properties - Chandler, AZ
Realtor - 602-999-0952 / em: golfArizona@cox.net

Great information.  Thanks for sharing and enjoy your week!

 

Jan 17, 2023 05:23 AM
Kathy Streib

Thank you Bill Salvatore - East Valley 

Jan 17, 2023 04:44 PM
Dorie Dillard Austin TX
Coldwell Banker Realty ~ 512.750.6899 - Austin, TX
NW Austin ~ Canyon Creek and Spicewood/Balcones

Good morning Kathy,

You know I'm a firm believer in staging homes coming on the market. Its crucial to make that first impression count. Now that the market has shifted it's even more important!

Jan 17, 2023 05:28 AM
Kathy Streib

Dorie Dillard Austin TX that is why all of your listings show so well and that's a reputation your listings have!!!  Even when homes had multiple offers, your homes were perfectly staged. 

Jan 17, 2023 04:50 PM
Joan Cox
House to Home, Inc. - Denver Real Estate - 720-231-6373 - Denver, CO
Denver Real Estate - Selling One Home at a Time

Kathy, I am seeing more vacant homes being staged, and they do show better.

Jan 17, 2023 06:29 AM
Kathy Streib

Joan Cox you have to help buyers see the possibilities, which can be hard when the home is vacant. 

Jan 17, 2023 04:50 PM
Carol Williams
Although I'm retired, I love sharing my knowledge and learning from other real estate industry professionals. - Wenatchee, WA
Retired Agent / Broker / Prop. Mgr, Wenatchee, WA

As our friend Barbara Todaro always said, "the eyes buy".  That first impression matters.

Jan 17, 2023 06:44 AM
Kathy Streib

Carol Williams she meant it too!  We're all human and we all are quick to come to conclusions based on first impressions. 

Jan 17, 2023 04:52 PM
Roy Kelley
Retired - Gaithersburg, MD

This is good advice to share. 

Have a great day and an outstanding week.

Jan 17, 2023 06:54 AM
Kathy Streib

Thank you Roy Kelley I hope Chef Dolores is doing better. 

Jan 17, 2023 04:52 PM
Lawrence "Larry" & Sheila Agranoff. Cell: 631-805-4400
The Top Team @ Charles Rutenberg Realty 255 Executive Dr, Plainview NY 11803 - Plainview, NY
Long Island Condo and Home Specialists

 I am finding that sellers, especially those with vacant property are not willing to stage, even with my suggestions it will definitely sell faster!

Jan 17, 2023 07:34 AM
Kathy Streib

Lawrence "Larry" & Sheila Agranoff. Cell: 631-805-4400 Sometimes you can't convince sellers that it's worth the investment. 

Jan 17, 2023 05:03 PM
Jeffrey DiMuria 321.223.6253 Waves Realty
Waves Realty - Melbourne, FL
Florida Space Coast Homes

When it comes to selling a home, I do not think you should wait to do anything. When a home hits the market it should be 100% ready to go. Never want to hear...oh....that will be fixed next week.

Jan 17, 2023 07:37 AM
Kathy Streib

I agree Jeffrey DiMuria 321.223.6253 Waves Realty When we moved back to FL, there was a house a few blocks away that was being held open. It  was vacant. The agent sat there every Sunday for at least 6 months. I don't think he ever mentioned staging to his sellers. When I suggested it, he dismissed it and said he'd have the sellers lower the price. 

Jan 17, 2023 05:05 PM
Mark Don McInnes, Sandpoint-Idaho
Sandpoint Realty LLC - Sandpoint, ID
North Idaho Real Estate - 208-255.6227

It is amazing, to me, how long it takes the general public to transition their thinking to that of the actual housing market.  Even when being counseled by a professional.  Sellers are still wanting to cling to 2021 pricing.  Buyers waiting for under 3% interest rates again.  Sellers not taking advice given to stage, or least make presentable their home for sale.  Excellent post Kathy.  Mark

Jan 17, 2023 10:06 AM
Kathy Streib

Thank you Mark Don McInnes, Sandpoint-Idaho I think information overload as well as a general mistrust of the news doesn't help. 

Jan 17, 2023 05:06 PM
Hannah Williams
HomeStarr Realty - Philadelphia, PA
Expertise NE Philadelphia & Bucks 215-820-3376

Kathy Streib, I agree 100% I had an agent want to go into a property before we cleaned it out and rehabbed it. She said Oh no worries we have imagination. Never heard from her again until we fixed it up then her buyer wanted to make an offer. 

Jan 17, 2023 10:13 AM
Kathy Streib

Hannah Williams I've seen the same thing. I can understand not staging a vacant home when you had multiple offers as soon as a home came on the market but the market has changed. 

Jan 17, 2023 05:08 PM
Anna "Banana" Kruchten
HomeSmart Real Estate - Phoenix, AZ
602-380-4886

Hi Kathy I like your story!  This is so so SO TRUE.  The eyes buy!  I have always been of the mindset that each home, regardless of the market, should be 'parade ready' before going on the market. 

Jan 17, 2023 10:38 AM
Kathy Streib

That's being a smart professional! Anna Banana Kruchten Phoenix Broker I've spoken with so many sellers who wanted to list their home then wait to see if it sold before they invested in any kind of staging or improvements. 

Jan 17, 2023 05:11 PM
Anna "Banana" Kruchten

Well it made sense to me as I transitioned into real estate from designing homes and it was so easy for me to see the difference it made.

Jan 17, 2023 09:36 PM
Ed Silva, 203-206-0754
Mapleridge Realty, CT 203-206-0754 - Waterbury, CT
Central CT Real Estate Broker Serving all equally

A smart seller will listen to their agent when they recommend cleaning up and properly preparing the home before any photos are taken. It will get more money for the seller

Jan 17, 2023 10:53 AM
Kathy Streib

Ed Silva if a seller chooses not to prepare or stage their home, they can run the risk of getting no offers. 

Jan 17, 2023 05:12 PM
George Souto
George Souto NMLS #65149 FHA, CHFA, VA Mortgages - Middletown, CT
Your Connecticut Mortgage Expert

Kathy I am a very visual person, so the first impression is huge with me in order for there to be a chance at a second impression.

Jan 17, 2023 03:32 PM
Kathy Streib

George Souto most buyers are in your shoes!  Very few people can look past the "stuff."

Jan 17, 2023 05:13 PM
Myrl Jeffcoat
Sacramento, CA
Greater Sacramento Realtor - Retired

Some real estate buyers have difficulty imagining the possibilities of a home that is not presented well.  Staging can make all the difference.

Jan 17, 2023 05:00 PM
Myrl Jeffcoat
Sacramento, CA
Greater Sacramento Realtor - Retired

CONGRATULATIONS Kathy, on having this blog FEATURED in the Old Farts Club group!  

Jan 17, 2023 05:00 PM
Lise Howe
Keller Williams Capital Properties - Washington, DC
Assoc. Broker in DC, MD, VA and attorney in DC

Staging can really make the difference - but I agree with Lawrence "Larry" & Sheila Agranoff. Cell: 631-805-4400 - I have encountered many sellers who are quite resistant to making that investment 

Jan 18, 2023 09:30 AM
Dr. Paula McDonald
Beam & Branch Realty - Granbury, TX
Granbury, TX 936-203-0279

Good staging truly does make a difference. Properly executed can bring that buyer around a lot faster.

Jan 18, 2023 06:19 PM