Homeowners today must feel really vulnerable when they decide to put their homes on the market. There’s a lot of competition and their house may be worth less than it was three years ago. Perhaps they even tried selling their home last year and pulled it off the market when they didn’t get the right offer. Then in comes a home stager like me, who may ask them to remove, update, rearrange and paint--all for the benefit of the new potential owner.
Let’s face it, buyers are looking for their new home--not a home that looks like it belongs to someone else. So good staging is about helping the buyer see that this is their perfect place. 
- That means taking as many of the current owner’s personal choices and taste-specific decorating styles out of the environment as possible.
- Think nice hotel: neutral art, bedding, carpet and white towels.
- It also means understanding your target market. Is that singles, young couples, families or retirees? Sellers should make sure their homes reflect this market.
Appealing to the widest range of buyers possible is essential.
A seller may say “my home shows as well as the others in my neighborhood.” But is that really good enough? The odds are much less that this seller will get the offer from that serious buyer who has so many choices. If, on the other hand, a house looks better than the competition, chances are much better it will get the contract.
So ultimately, Mr. and Ms. Seller, you must take your emotions out of the equation. Remember, it’s all about the buyer!
Cathy Brosius is the owner of Arranged Smartly, a home staging and organizing company. Cathy and her team are working smartly for homeowners and real estate agents throughout the St. Louis region. She has also been interviewed on KMOV's Great Day St. Louis, providing tips on staging a home for sale.
Comments(10)