I was showing a vacant property in Elkridge, MD today. It is a very nice house with lovely finishes - trendy gray wood floors, white kitchen cabinets with light gray granite, tiled back-splash and black stainless steel appliances. Clearly, the investor has done a great job with this property. But, he did not have it staged before he put it on the market and thus, instead of noticing the lovely finishes, my buyer kept wondering where his couch and TV could go!
Staging is not just something we advise our seller clients to do for no reason.
Staging a property serves a real purpose. It is money well spent and can make all the difference. It turns a house into a home, allows the buyers to envision living in the property and shows how furniture can be arranged to make the floor plan work! Not all buyers can imagine a vacant house as a fully furnished home. It needs to be presented to them.
The detached single family home that I showed in Elkridge, MD today has been on the market for more than 2 months! It is the only home currently FOR SALE in this subdivision, it is located in desirable school district, the townhomes down the street are selling like hot cakes. It is priced spot on. Although it is lacking a garage which is probably a contributing factor why it did not sell right away, it is still surprising that it is not yet under contract or sold.
As a listing agent I would have strongly advised the sellers contact a home stager before I meet with the professional photographer and before we put the house on the market. One of the staging companies in Silver Spring, MD and beyond I can highly recommend is Flavell Home Staging. Jessica Flavell has done a phenomenal job in a few of my listings and there is no doubt in my mind that she would have done a phenomenal job in that listing in Elkridge as well.
Staging done right can make all the difference. Buyers entering a staged property will never wonder but where would the couch and the TV go?
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