Every Seller Should Stage Their Home - And It's Affordable

Home staging, despite its reputation, is not only a marketing device that homes with large price tags use.  In fact, most sellers would highly benefit from some level of home staging.

Here are some basic home staging myths:

•  Myth #1: I can't afford staging
  There are many levels of staging.  It doesn't have to involve a high-end designer coming in and removing all of your furniture.  Instead, there are more affordable options like a one-time furniture placement and design consultation.
  
• Myth #2: My home wont benefit from staging - my home already looks nice
  Just because you enjoy what your home looks like doesn't necessarily mean it is being marketed optimally.  Home staging experts know what sells, and a little home staging can go a long way.

So, what sorts of staging are there?  Here are 5 ways to stage your home, courtesy of Zillow Blog.

1.  A One-Time Consultation

Home stagers are truly home designers.  They specialize in looking at a space and evaluating what will make it most appealing to customers.  They may suggest a new paint job or new carpet, or even some landscaping to add to the curb appeal.

This is an extremely affordable option.  Designers can cost as little as $75/hour to $200/hour, depending on your location.  Their advice on colors, fixtures, and finishes makes sure you are putting your money to the right places, and can be some of the best money you spend before listing.

We feel so strongly about the value of staging, that we hire a home stager to consult with our clients before listing the home at no cost to the sellers.  Just ask!  Our favorite designer?  Shhh.... It's Gar Wilson with Better Spaces. Let me connect you.

2. Partial Staging

Partial staging augments your pre-existing space by adding some basic changes.  If you have, say, some outdated furniture or are lacking some art on your walls, designer can come in an do a little bit of work here and there.  The designer can also change the spare bedroom you're using as an office into a guest room by bringing in day bed and dresser.  It can even be as simple as adding a couple throw pillows.

3. Fluff Staging

In this scenario, you already have a lot of good pieces, but you aren't sure they best show off the home.  In "fluff" staging, a designer moves around your own furniture in order to best showcase a room - sometimes, this means moving a piece to the basement, or bringing something else out of storage.  This is a great way to save money, because you don't need to pay them to bring in their own furniture.  Instead, you can simply pay them by the hour to redesign your current space with the furniture you already have.

4. Full Staging

If you're moving out before you put your home on the market, you don't want to list it without furniture in it.  Full staging is the answer.

Most buyers aren't able to fully imagine what an empty home looks like with furniture, or even how they would use each space.  Full staging helps take away that element of uncertainty.  A home without furniture often resonates as cold and empty - definitely not adjectives you want your potential buyers to feel!  It feels smaller without furniture than with! Seems odd, but its true.  Full staging does cost more than the other options, but full staging works.  Agents across the country use this tactic with great success every day.

5. Full Staging Plus Renovation

If are moving out of your home and have a few thousand dollars to invest, bringing in a stager and some contractors can be well worth it.  Kitchens and bathrooms are often in great need of updating, and can make or break a sell.

Stagers know and work with contractors that work quickly for relatively affordable prices.  Adding stainless steel appliances in the kitchen, or replacing your outdated cabinetry, can make a great first impression with your potential buyers.  It is also common to replace outdated light fixtures, refinish a floor, update countertops, or put in a new sink.

It's All About Letting Your Home Speak For Itself

When a potential buyer comes in the door, you want them to be able to see themselves living in it, and not be turned off by empty, unappealing space.  When you undergo any level of staging, you're helping to ensure that you are a) presenting your home at its best, and b) taking away most of your buyer's "imagine if" thoughts.

Work with your real estate agent early on to get a good idea of what it will take to sell your home, and what level of staging would suit you best.  If you're looking at listing your home and want to know where to start your process or what level of staging your home could use, send me an email or give me a call and we can figure out what will make it sell.