Think back to your college statistics class or high school math. What makes a good survey? When is a survey biased? Not all surveys are done correctly and fairly to produce accurate, truthful results. There's one in particular that really upsets me... NAEBA's anti-staging report. There are more members in my city's area Board of REALTORS than there is in the NATIONAL Association of Exclusive Buyer Agents. That said, how do the results of their survey compare to a survey with a more diversified group of participants? There are no concrete statistics proving that staging did not work consistently for any of those who participated in the survey.
A good stager is not out for the money, but is looking to help get the home sold as quickly as possibly and for the highest selling price, thus maintaining a positive reputation for themselves, their businesses, and the staging industry. According to the 2003 HomeGain Survey of 2,000 real estate agents nationwide, home staging produced an average return of 169% of the initial investment, with 76% of Realtors recommending home staging services. http://www.homegain.com/news/ibd080400?mi=ae&ht=hp_rn_ibd
Good staging advice does, in fact, add equity to the home. If the roof needs replacing, we tell the homeowner to do so. We tell them to replace anything that is in bad condition and would deter a sale because a buyer would have to replace it, such as leaks, flooring, or light fixtures. Often we suggest kitchen updates. A kitchen is the number one selling feature of a home and has the highest return on investment of any interior home improvement. Another way staging can add equity is through the homes selling price. Appraisals are based on recent home sale prices in the area. If the homes in the area are selling for the highest prices then the value of the area homes are also going to go up.
It is up to the real estate agents to fully disclose a home's flaws and issues. It is up to a homeowner to ask the questions and really analyze the home before they buy it and get a home inspection. A good stager, who is truly a professional, does not cover up serious issues; instead they insist that the homeowner make all repairs before even considering showing the home.
What do you think about this bogus report? Has staging helped you?
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