Why should sellers stage their homes for selling?

Many sellers feel that their homes are fine just the way they are, and they are very proud of them.  Since they plan to live there while selling, they want their home to be comfortable for them and they don’t want to stage their home.

Janet Jones has written a provocatively titled post:  10 Reasons Not to Stage Your Home.  I love this post, which answers all of the objections every listing agent will recognize.  If you have seller clients whose homes need some staging before they should be marketed, you have heard these objections.  Janet’s answers to those objections are perfect.

Another point I could add to hers:  Many people will tell you your home is beautiful because they don’t want to hurt your feelings.  There may be some things they would change if it were up to them, but they figure that you live there and if you are happy, then they have no business criticizing.

If they were actually seeing the home for the first time as a buyer considering it for their own home, however, they might find plenty to criticize.  It doesn’t mean that the house is terrible – just that it doesn’t show well to buyers.

It may be as simple as painting or cleaning the carpet, but for most homes, it takes more than that.  You might not even need to add anything, and perhaps a simple decluttering and rearranging of furniture to maximize traffic patterns and draw the eye to the architectural features rather than the furniture and personal belongings.

In the photo here, this cozy corner looks inviting and fun if I were going to sit down and have coffee with the seller and ask about her collections and her recipes, but will it appeal to the average buyer?  Will buyers notice the wonderful windows?  The view outside? Or will the collections, tablecloth, table setting, wallpaper border, and bright yellow walls be so distracting that there is no place for the eye to look and the great windows will be completely overlooked?

And her responses to some of these objections are also accurate responses to some of the other issues we face with sellers, like their desire to over-price their home, and their insistence that they know their neighborhood and neighbors, and they feel  "My house is worth more than theirs as-is.”

I’m sure they sincerely believe that, and it might even be true to some extent, but a realtor is the expert on what will sell quickly, which features are trending and most important to today’s buyers, and how best to market a home.

Placing a home on the market that is not properly staged or is over-priced, or is taking a cut-rate approach to marketing, may result in a lower selling price after a longer marketing period. 

If you want to sell your listings faster and for a higher price, you need to understand your market and make sure your seller understands your expertise and will follow your advice.

You need to be able to explain to them when necessary why sellers should stage their homes for selling.

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Susan Neal                              "Happy clients make me happy."
Broker / Realtor
Century 21 Noel David Realty
Fair Oaks, California

Full time real estate services in Fair Oaks CA, with friendly professionalism, 30+ years experience.  

I work hard to give my buyer or seller a low-stress transaction.

For all your real estate needs or questions, call me at (916)705-8951 or visit my website at www.SusanNealFineProperties.com.

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