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How Long Should I Wait Before I Stage My Home?

By
Home Stager

Or...What are you waiting for?

 

This is the busy time of year for all of Palm Beach County.  And, if should you stage?you are planning on selling your home, you know that now is the time to take advantage of all of the active traffic we have now.

You’ve probably heard of  using Home Staging through your real estate agent, neighbor, or cable television.
 

But you’ve thought...maybe I’ll wait to see how it goes.  

And certainly, that’s something you can do...your choice.

So if you plan on waiting before you stage your home, here are 5 questions you can ask yourself to help you decide.

1.Do I enjoy keeping my house in model perfect condition every single day?

2.Do I like having people I don’t know walking through my home?

3.Do I enjoy having to leave my home for an hour or so while my home is being shown?

4.Am I willing to lose the home I want because my current home hasn’t sold?

5.How many potential buyers am I willing to lose because they did not like the looks of my home?

 

Staging alone will not sell your house. A competitive list price, one that reflects the condition and current market are key.  Location always plays a part.

But waiting to prepare your home for sale to see “how it goes” is like going on an important job interview in shorts and flip-flops.  Are you going to wait until you think you might like the company before you decide to go home and change into a suit and tie or other business appropriate attire?

 

If you plan on selling your house, don’t wait until after you’ve already made a bad first appearance to stage it.

 

home staging
 

Call Room Service Home Staging and ask for our tailored-for-you home staging consultation.

 

Posted by

Kathy Streib
Retired Home Stager
and Interior Redesign

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for Houston & Harris Counties
and
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for all states


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Comments(21)

Harry F. D'Elia III
WEDO Real Estate and Beyond, LLC - Phoenix, AZ
Investor , Mentor, GRI, Radio, CIPS, REOs, ABR

I would expect to be staged before we list the home. First impressions mean everything in real estate.

Nov 15, 2016 08:35 PM
James Dray
Fathom Realty - Bentonville, AR

Good morning Kathy. I would hope the staging would take place soon after or before the home hits the market

Nov 15, 2016 08:42 PM
Gloria Valvasori, Accredited Senior Agent
BETTER HOMES AND GARDENS REAL ESTATE SIGNATURE SERVICE - Mississauga, ON
REAL Experience | REAL Commitment | REAL Results!

Staging should happen before the home is listed, and photographs taken of a staged home.  First impressions are important, and it only takes a buyer 6 seconds to form a first impression, so make it count!

Nov 15, 2016 08:42 PM
Donald Urschalitz
Lubeck Realty Group - Jupiter, FL
P.A. Realtor ABR RSPS North Palm Beach County

The first ten day of a listing is so important, stage before you show.

Nov 15, 2016 09:14 PM
Dorie Dillard Austin TX
Coldwell Banker Realty ~ 512.750.6899 - Austin, TX
NW Austin ~ Canyon Creek and Spicewood/Balcones

Good morning Kathy Streib ,

The first 10 days are crucial as you are the new kid on the block and everyone is interested! First impressions are everything! Excellent call to action post!

Nov 15, 2016 09:41 PM
Wayne Martin
Wayne M Martin - Chicago, IL
Real Estate Broker - Retired

Good morning Kathy. No second chance for a good first impression. Nuff said! Enjoy your day!

Nov 15, 2016 10:19 PM
Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
Pasadena And Southern California 818.516.4393

Good morning, Kathy --- yeah, while shorts and flip flops may be more comfortable, your post shows you're no apprentice when it comes to creating the right first impression. You're hired!  

Nov 15, 2016 10:50 PM
Ed Silva, 203-206-0754
Mapleridge Realty, CT 203-206-0754 - Waterbury, CT
Central CT Real Estate Broker Serving all equally

I have always thought that the process of selling a home begins with the first walk though the door to discuss the listing process.  Can't wait for the first showing feed back to realize it needs help

Nov 15, 2016 11:13 PM
Kathleen Daniels, Probate & Trust Specialist
KD Realty - 408.972.1822 - San Jose, CA
Probate Real Estate Services

Kathy,  I certainly would not wait.  If your market is as crazy hot as mine, it can take 1-2 months to get on a good staggers calendar.  How a home shows is what sets the mood and the "feeling" people get when they see it.  It has to feel good. It has to feel like home. Stage it right and price it right and it will sell.

Nov 15, 2016 11:35 PM
Janice Ankrett
Burlington, ON
Staging Professional

Well said Kathy! Once a home gets a bad reputation it's hard to change it. Why would you risk losing all those potential buyers?

Nov 16, 2016 12:44 AM
Jeffrey DiMuria 321.223.6253 Waves Realty
Waves Realty - Melbourne, FL
Florida Space Coast Homes

I NEVER put a home on the market until it is ready. EVER. I would rather lose a listing then not have it staged and ready to go!

Nov 16, 2016 12:48 AM
Sharon Tara
Sharon Tara Transformations - Portsmouth, NH
Retired New Hampshire Home Stager

Somehow I see you wearing flip flops to the job interview....and carrying it off just beautifully!  LOL

Nov 16, 2016 03:28 AM
Mark Loewenberg
KW of the Palm Beaches - Palm Beach Gardens, FL
KW 561-214-0370

start yesterday of course! and this one is critical: 5.How many potential buyers am I willing to lose because they did not like the looks of my home?

Nov 16, 2016 05:00 AM
Dick Greenberg
New Paradigm Partners LLC - Fort Collins, CO
Northern Colorado Residential Real Estate

Hi Kathy - Our experience completely suuports your point - staging has been an extremely effective tool for our listings - they sell quicker and for more money.

Nov 16, 2016 06:43 AM
Kathy Streib
Cypress, TX
Home Stager/Redesign

Sally K. & David L. Hanson exactly! Why wait until it's too late. 

Harry F. D'Elia more sellers should listen to you. 

James Dray Before is always better, isn't it. 

Gloria Valvasori It would so much easier if they would. 

Nov 16, 2016 09:30 AM
Kathy Streib
Cypress, TX
Home Stager/Redesign

Exactly Donald Urschalitz The house doesn't have a long shelf life. 

Dorie Dillard One of the first things buyers want to know if how long a house has been on the market.  It's important to them. 

Wayne Martin That's right!  There are no second chances. 

 

Nov 16, 2016 09:33 AM
Kathy Streib
Cypress, TX
Home Stager/Redesign

Thank you Michael Jacobs I do prefer my flip flops and shorts but I also have my "Sunday" clothes. 

Ed Silva If you begin at the listing process, the whole process should be smoother. 

Nov 16, 2016 09:35 AM
Kathy Streib
Cypress, TX
Home Stager/Redesign

Kathleen Daniels I've had calls asking to stage a vacant home in two days, or I've had agents call who've scheduled a broker's open wanting to know if I can get it done the next day. 

Janice Ankrett I ask myself that question every time someone tells me they want to wait.

Nov 16, 2016 09:38 AM
Kathy Streib
Cypress, TX
Home Stager/Redesign

Smart cookie Jeffrey DiMuria 321.223.6253 airRErealty.com 

Sharon Tara LOL I'm getting you some flip flops!!!  

Mark Loewenberg can't get that point across sometimes. 

Dick Greenberg the buyer today has been exposed to staged homes via cable television.  They expect more. 

Nov 16, 2016 09:44 AM
Joanna Cohlan
Fresh Eyes For Your Home - Chappaqua, NY
Designing, Decorating & Staging Westchester Homes

Spot on girlfriend-never too early to start the process and editing is step numero uno!

Nov 17, 2016 10:49 PM