Most everyone knows by now what Home Staging is...or do they?
By Wiki's definition, it is....the act of preparing a private residence prior to going up for sale in the real estate marketplace. The goal of staging is to sell a home quickly, and for the most money possible by attracting the highest amount of potential buyers. Staging focuses on improving a property to make it appeal to the largest number of buyers by transforming it into a welcoming, appealing, and attractive product for sale. Many people believe that staging raises the value of a property by way of reducing the home's flaws, depersonalizing, decluttering, cleaning, improving condition items, and landscaping.
That definition is called prep work for home staging. A lot of things need to happen before staging can begin. This is one of the biggest misconceptions. Sure decluttering, painting and depersonalizing helps, but it's not home staging. Putting out towels, and a few candles, is also not home staging. How does that define your space and make it more inviting? Have you ever walked into a model home and have just seen some candles, and towels out and thought, "I have to have this house", I doubt it. At some level there is an emotional attachment when you find a house that you have to have.
Home Staging, is done after the professional home stager's recommendations have been completed. Then the furniture and accessories are brought in or rearranged and are placed throughout the home in the most effective way. The accessories, and everything else "the icing on the cake" is then brought in as the final phase to enhance the homes best features. The space has to clearly be defined, and exude warmth, space and the "I want this house feel". It also takes awkward spaces and give a potential buyer an idea of how to use the space. Some buyers just walk away confused, because they have no idea of how a space can be used. Home staging will show them how.
We are able to take a vacant home, which is a blank canvas and turn it into a piece of art for sale, much like in a gallery. What draws you to that art? There's just something about it that you love, maybe it's just the feeling it gives you or it reminds you of something or someone. Maybe it just makes you happy, or you just can't explain it. All of these are emotions that we have and use when purchasing larger investment type items, especially a home.
So when selling your home, know that completing a general to do list does not make it staged. It's been pre-staged, and your off to a great start. Now cross the goal line and call a home stager to complete your home to show off it's attributes, it is usually your biggest asset, why not give it the attention it deserves?
Cindy Bryant-Owner Redesign Etc., Region 10 V.P. RESA (TX, OK, LA, AR, NM), ASHSR