The Importance of Setting the Stage
We’ve seen a remarkably competitive year when it comes to buyers shopping for homes, including fierce bidding wars and offers significantly over the list price. It might seem like sellers can sit back and expect their home to hit the market and be greeted with immediate enthusiasm, but not adequately preparing a home for sale with strategic staging techniques can significantly affect how much buyers are willing to pay.
Staging doesn’t change the home’s architecture or features, and buyers won’t keep the furniture used to display the property in its best light, so why would this have an effect on how much a home can sell for? In short, staging allows potential buyers to visualize their future day-to-day in a home, whereas touring an empty house doesn’t offer much inspiration. For example, in open-concept floor plans, thoughtful furniture arrangements can open buyers’ eyes to the versatility of the space and inspire their own design plans. In smaller spaces, the strategic use of mirrors, less bulky furniture, and minimal décor can really open the space up.
Connecting with clients, putting my expertise and skills to work for them, and making their dreams come true is the reason I do what I do, so I’m a hands-on agent every step of the way and that includes staging. Designing a home in your personal taste is a task and a half already, so don’t stress about attempting to design it for strangers! I’ll handle that—it’s one of my favorite parts of the job. Contact me today if you’re interested in beginning your journey. Let’s talk strategy.
Eliminating personal items and replacing them with timeless pieces, like vases or books, can be transformative, presenting the home not as the seller’s current residence but as the potential buyer’s future abode. Preparing a home for listing not only takes a designer’s eye and skillful hand, but also an experienced broker’s expertise. It’s about anticipating what buyers in the current market want in a home. If a home has great features that a buyer would be excited about, like gleaming hardwood floors or charming bay windows, we’ll want to highlight those instead of hiding them with oversized rugs or drawn curtains. According to studies conducted by the National Association of Realtors®, staged homes sell faster and for higher prices than homes that are not staged. Regardless of how hot the market is or how beautiful a home’s architecture is, I always recommend staging. Think of it as that final top coat over your home that makes it shine just a bit brighter. Let’s secure the best possible outcome for your listing.
