Question. Staging Properties, Does it Work?

This post will help you make a more informed decision on what to do with your listing.

To stage or not stage, that is the question.

I don’t expect this ongoing debate to finally be resolved by this post as this argument will likely continue as long as there are houses to be sold.

With that said, here’s some important issues to consider if you’re planning on staging your next listing:

 

Staging, what difference does it make? 

In short the difference is like comparing night and day.

Believe it or not most people are not very creative and imaginative; they tend to see property as it is.

If there are no appliances they can’t imagine how the kitchen would look with a stainless steel stove and fridge.

This is because most people simply can’t walk into an empty house and see how it would look and feel with furniture in the room.

They can’t make the house a home in their mind.

This is why staging is so important.

It paints the picture and helps your buyer believe by SEEING themselves in the home. Once they believe you will receive, an offer.

 

Is it worth the expense?

The best way to answer this question is to direct you to what builders of new homes ALWAYS do and that’s STAGE their houses.

Developers who spend millions building new condos and subdivisions know that they can’t risk someone not being able to see the vision that their homes offer so they hire interior designers and decorators to make sure you are impressed when you visit their model homes.

In their eyes not only is it worth the expense they simply cannot afford to risk trying to sell their houses any other way.

 

It’s not just for high end homes.

I can tell you from personal experience that you can sell houses even in lower priced neighborhoods by staging them with the appropriate amenities.

The house doesn’t have granite counter tops and hardwood floors so you don’t need to stage it with at $5,000 couch from Scan Design, however a decent 3 piece set and a kitchen table can go a long way in the eye of a first time home buyer.

 

Now it’s over to you.

What has been your experience have you sold a home that you feel the difference was made due to your staging? What’s your take on this important concern anyway?