You only get one chance to make a first impression so make sure your home is staged so it leaves buyers impressed.
When selling your home, the first impression is everything! Some simple ways to get it market-ready are staging and de-personalizing. This means removing personal items like photos of family members or aunt Edna's 100 piece doll collection that might turn off potential buyers (or just creep them out). While you may love these things, they make it difficult for buyers to see them themselves in their potential new home and will distract them from all of your homes features.
When you decide to put your home on the market, it will no longer feel like "your" home. You must detach emotionally from your belongings and make sure they don't distract buyers by allowing them to imagine their family and dreams in the space instead of yours.
Even in a hot seller’s market, such as what we are seeing the last few years here in Greater Nashville area, buyers are expecting homes on the market to be clean, painted with neutral colors and containing minimal personal belongings.
Imagine how you would like to see the home presented if you were the active buyer. It is always best to pack and put away all of your personal items before listing photographs are taken. When your home is listed for sale, the easier it is for a potential buyer to imagine themselves in your home, the more likely it is that they will put in a strong offer to purchase.
What Is Home Staging
Home staging is home decorating that aims to help you sell your house faster. Some stagers will bring all of the furniture they need if your house is empty while others work with what's there and add things or change them out. Home staging can be either unoccupied, where a company rents their furnishing to you for the time your home is on the market when you are selling, or occupied- which usually costs less because it uses your existing furniture and decor in a smart way. One added benefit of staged homes is much nicer listing photos since they have neutral backgrounds without personal items on display throughout each room. As an A.S.P re I offer my clients help with occupied home staging as part of my service.
How Much Does Home Staging cost
It is important to note that staging prices for each house will vary greatly based on the size of the space, what market you are in your local stagers talent and the current rates in your area. It also depends if the home is occupied or vacant. A loose rule of thumb is $2.50 per sq ft for a 3 month contract. Staging can cost as little as $2500 for 3 months for a small home but for a medium to large sized single family home could be closer to $4,000 -$8,000 depending on how long it takes your property to sell. If after 3 months if the home hasn’t sold usually most rental companies would allow more time at a discounted rate since the furniture is already in the home. I am in the Franklin Tennessee area so prices may be higher or lower in the area you are located, use the numbers above as a loose figure.
Who Pays for Home Staging
When hiring a staging company, the property owner pays for home staging. Some companies offer financing options to homeowners that need assistance. As your Nashville Tn Realtor I can assist you with staging or suggest a few good full service companies as well
Staged Homes Sell Faster And For More
In today's market, homes that are professionally staged photograph much better and on average sell faster and for a higher value. Over 90 percent of buyers start their search for a new home online, so it is absolutely imperative your property looks its absolute best. So put the family photos away, hide all the toys and clear off all surfaces cluttered with stuff to make sure your house shows nicer than competitors' houses when potential buyers come along! Don't know where to start? As an Accredited Home Staging Professional Realtor I am available to consult and assist you in making this process easy & effective. Check out the video below for some fun animated stats from NAR.
Home Staging Tips
The fewer distractions in your home, the better chance potential buyers are able to focus on all of the great features that made you fall in love with it originally. Let's be real; you're selling a house and not furniture like throw rugs or couches (although nice ones can help). By removing excess furnishings from rooms where they don't belong, this allows buyers to focus their attention more easily on what really matters: soaring ceilings, beautiful handrail staircases and impressive trimwork!
Tip 1: Clear off all counters
Selling your home can be tough. When you're selling, it's important to make sure that potential buyers are able to see the amount of counter space available in kitchens and bathrooms; this will include removing all personal belongings from the kitchen or bathroom. You want to show of those beautiful marble, granite or quartz countertops. You don't want people thinking they'll have less room than what is really there because then it drops the perceived value to the buyer.
Tip 2: Hire a Professional
A good stager knows the most recent design trends and what buyers want in a home. They know that staging is an art form where professionals set up the home to appeal to the broadest number of possible buyers by using furniture, accessories, colors, rugs etc., according to the latest design trends. Homeowners may be tempted to save some money and do it themselves, after all hgtv makes it look so easy, but homeowners should consider working with a professional because they're aware of all aspects and know current buyer preferences based upon their experience interacting daily with real estate agents and studying the latest design trends.
Tip 3 pack early
On moving day, you'll be at ease knowing the boxes are already packed. If you start packing up extras now it saves time and stress on move-out day!
Tip 4 Neutral colors
The best colors to use in home design are light earth tones like browns (SW's dover white or amazing gray), whites and grey (sw repose gray), greiges (sw agreeable gray). I've noticed that teal is becoming popular right now especially SW's Silver Strand - but you don't want too many patterns or brightly colored items like reds and oranges because they're distracting. Neutral color schemes with some pops of color (like accent pillows) work well when staging a house for sale though!
Remember unorganized cluttered homes make buyers feel uncomfortable
When buyers experience viewing a cluttered home it is a huge distraction and will give your potential buyers the impression that the home may be poorly maintained. If basics such as cleaning are ignored how many other major issues are ignored as well
In Closing
Maximize perceived space by eliminating as many personal belongings as possible.
Get rid of your clutter now it’s never too early to start.
Have your home staged as a model home so buyers are jumping at a chance to offer.
Store items you don’t need on a daily basis in boxes and out of the way.
Keep your home dressed to the nines while it is on the market
Be proud of yourself you have accomplished a lot to get to this point and it will pay dividends.
If you are in the Franklin Tennessee area and would like to speak with me about Franklin Tn Home Staging, Click the link.
Elizabeth Leanza Synergy Realty - Realtor
1585 Mallory Ln STE 103, Brentwood, TN 37027
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