As professional home stagers there is always the balance of being able to showcase the home in its best possible light vs asking the seller to spend as little money as possible. Of course every seller has a different budget and we need to be sure that we understand this when making suggestions. Sometimes, often because we are so accustomed to dealing with trying to show that we can work on very small budgets, that we don't do the best we can for our sellers by not making the recommendation to remove their furniture and rent new, more modern pieces.
Is it about saving money or creating a return on investment?
House flippers understand that investments can and should be made in order to make money in real estate. Creating the most equity in the home isn't always about using what is available, sometimes it is in fact about making changes and spending money up front in order to make more money at the end.
Take this dining room. There is nothing wrong with any of the furniture in it. It's fairly common for many people. It fits in the home and with minor adjustments and a professional photographer could look much better for MLS photos. This would appeal as a lower budget option.
If the seller has a larger budget that they are willing to invest in their home before selling, they could achieve this. The return on investment is ultimately much higher than the lower budget option. Not only does it open the pool of buyers, but it also creates a higher list and sale price.
Stunning is better than so much better
While I'm certainly not saying that all homes need major remodels, but sometimes if the seller is open to the idea, dramatic changes can be revealed. This St Charles home (the same as the one above) had great bones. Some features like the light stained hardwood floors and carpeting were less desirable in today's market.
Not only did we swap out furniture for rental pieces but some other major changes happened. Adding darker hardwood floors, painting the dark trim work, and changing the wall colors throughout, the home now has a crisp modern feel that competes with new construction.
For more information on how to prepare your home for sale in today’s market, call Margaret and our team of home staging professionals today 815-530-3566.
Comments(24)