You want the home sale process to be as painless and profitable as possible. The less time a home spends on the market, the greater the chance it will sell for the asking price, or above. Even though we are still in a seller’s market, staging your home is a crucial step in the process and offers a greater guarantee of the best possible outcome. Here are some of the major reasons you should stage your home prior to listing it.
Staging Your Home Makes for Better Photos
Prior to ever listing your home, your experienced realtor will bring in a professional photographer to take photos that show your home in its best light. People want to be able to picture their lives happening in a house they intend to buy. Your furniture, photos, travel memorabilia, etc. make it much harder for someone to imagine themselves and their family creating memories in your space.
Staging your home prior to taking photos can remove personal touches while still leaving a welcoming feel. According to the Real Estate Staging Association, sellers who staged before listing sold their homes 87% faster than those who waited until after listing. You’ll have the best possible marketing material to attract people to your open house, or even entice them to make an offer before touring. As the market shifts from a sellers’ market towards a balanced market or even a buyers’ market, staging a home can set you apart from the competition.
Staging Makes Your Home Look Newer
Because staging companies will implement modern trends, use new furniture, and eye-catching fixtures, your home’s overall aesthetic is instantly elevated. A few cosmetic renovations and sophisticated touches paired with tastefully selected furniture can make your house appear move-in ready. Buyers won’t be as inclined to make a laundry list of items they’ll feel compelled to redo, and be more likely to meet your asking price.
According to NAR, 38% more buyers want to see a home that has been professionally staged than the alternative – even if they are unaware it’s been staged. Effective staging highlights your home’s positive attributes while minimizing less desirable qualities. Staging draws in elements of color theory by selecting discerning hues to curate a sense of tranquility and peace. Regardless of the buyers’ interior design preferences, the right kind of staging is tasteful and attractive to any and all personal aesthetics.
Staging Gives The Space Context
It may seem that an empty room would appear larger than one filled with furniture, but often the opposite is the case. Without any furniture for visual scale in the main bedroom, it’s hard to tell how much space a king, queen, or full bed would take up. Likewise for smaller rooms, creating a cozy, warm atmosphere with certain furniture can make the space feel comfortable.
If you want your home to sell quickly at or above the asking price, stage it before listing. According to the National Realtors Association, it is 83% easier for buyers to imagine the property as a future home if it is already staged. A HomeGain survey found that staging a home resulted in an average 196% return on the cost to stage. Financially savvy home sellers know that staging a home prior to listing it is a surefire way to generate interest, increase foot traffic, and quickly close with the maximized amount of profit.