Not Staging to Sell, Rather, Preparing to Sell.
I usually try to write a couple of helpful articles a month, but with a hectic schedule right after the holidays, I am a bit behind. I have been inspired to write about preparing a home to sell, and many home staging professionals may get a little bent about this post, but coming from a frugal background and common sense, I felt compelled to write a piece designed to help people see home selling from a new perspective.
This is where many Home Stagers could "re-market" what staging really is. Too many "lay people" think that staging is just making a house pretty. What they don't realize is that there is much more to it. Marketing your skills towards "Preparing your home for sale" may help sellers realize that staging is not simply a word that has become synonomous with rearranging furniture - We all know there is much more to it.
The market is tight and I don't blame home sellers one iota for not wanting to hire someone to come in and "stage" their home for selling. It's a cost that many people just don't want to take on, especially if they are paying two mortgages. It's one thing to make a house pretty with flowers and moving furniture in, but there's a different consideration to make when trying to sell a home that is full of stuff or a home that is in need of repair. Now, I'm not saying "in need of updating and remodeling" just in need of critical repair.
Selling is tough, but selling a home with signs of leaks, broken fixtures, and drafty windows is nearly impossible. Selling a home with a family's lifetime collection of "stuff" is equally as difficult.
What a home seller should consider is having a professional come in and conduct an assessment of what can be done to help sell the home without adding on unnecessary expenses. Two or Three hours of time along with a professional who takes a "buyer's perspective" will be well worth the small fee.
If I were trying to sell my home in the current market, I would certainly invest $300 or less to have someone provide a consultation. The professional should be very helpful and create a comprehensive list of items that need minor to major repairs or replacement (such as rotted toilet seats.) The professional should also be very direct and clear on what is needed. Having someone compliment the seller's home and be agreeable is nice, but doesn't help a seller at all. Sellers need an honest assessment from someone who is direct and efficient. In many cases, the recommendations can be taken care of on a "Do It Yourself" basis, saving money.
So, if you or someone you know needs a professional to provide an assessment and consultation to help sell a home, give me a call at 540-630-4074 or email kate@simplybeautifulspaces.com
Let me know what you think!
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