5 KEY INSIGHTS ON HOME STAGING
The fact is, staged homes generally sell at a higher price and in less time than homes that are not staged. A survey from the international Association of Home Staging Professionals revealed that staging helped boost the sale price an average of 20% and helped sell homes three to 30 times faster than non-staged properties.
But for sellers, staging takes time, costs money if they purchase or rent items and hire a professional, and affects how they live in their home until it’s sold. That’s why sellers sometimes balk at the idea of staging. When that happens, here are some insights to share.
Staging Dials Up the Quality of Your Listing Photos. How a home looks in the listing photos immediately impacts whether buyers decide to see the property in person and perhaps make an offer. Sellers should know that online search is at least part of the process for 96% of all homebuyers. Plus, the National Association of Realtors found that 99% of millennials, the largest segment of homebuyers, start their search online. Sellers only get one opportunity to make a first impression, so they should want those listing photos to be the best they can be.
Staging Can Lead to a Positive Buying Decision. Staging the outside front of a home to maximize curb appeal is key, as studies show that about 50% of the buying decision is made from the street. The other 50% is made in the foyer. So, it’s also key to create a bright, clutter-free entry that makes buyers want to see the rest of the home.
Staging Increases a Home’s Perceived Value. Staging heightens a home’s value by highlighting its appeal. This doesn’t have to take a major effort. Decluttering is key, as well as depersonalizing by removing family photos and memorabilia that prevent buyers from seeing the home as theirs. Brighten up spaces by painting walls neutral colors. Take out furniture pieces that make rooms look smaller. Remove dated window treatments and let in as much natural light as possible. Put lighting fixtures in dark areas.
Staging Can Help Buyers Emotionally Connect with a Home. To make a home stand out and get the highest offers, buyers need to fall in love with it. Staging can capture their hearts to get a top-dollar sale. That’s because staging creates an engaging, move-in-ready home that can make an emotional connection with the people who see it. Stylish touches and updated décor make memorable impressions -particularly in the living room, primary bedroom, and kitchen.
Staging Helps Buyers See Themselves Living in a Vacant Property. If the sellers have moved out, staging the home will create a lot more interest in it. People have difficulty seeing how they would live in empty rooms. Staging with up-to-date furnishings and accessories helps buyers visualize how their own furniture and décor could work. In addition, staging an empty room with the right amount of furniture actually makes it look more spacious and inviting!