Home Staging in Today’s Real Estate Market
The definition of home staging is: The act of preparing a private residence for sale in the real estate marketplace. The goal of staging is to make a home appealing to the highest number of potential buyers, thereby selling a property more swiftly and for more money. Staging techniques focus on improving a property’s appeal by transforming it into a welcoming, attractive product that anyone might want. (Wikipedia)
2) By far the most common staging recommendation is to declutter. Sellers usually know they need to declutter but in most cases do not clean out enough of their accessories, books or furniture. Or they move the items into the closets or (even worse) the garage. Buyers need a clean, organized look to envision themselves living in your home. You don’t want buyers to be distracted or unable to see all areas of your home, including storage areas such as the attic, basement and the garage.
3) Painting is another common necessity. Staging makes a home into a house. Buyers buy a house and then make it into their home with their furniture and accessories. So, your custom colors that look great with your décor are not conducive to selling your home. Even though all your friends comment how great your wall colors are, you still need to neutralize your home to get it sold. A National Association of Realtors survey from 2009 says 93% of all homeowners start their search on the internet so rest assured they will look at photos of your home online before seeing your home in person. If you have different colors or one strong wall color in a room, buyers will label your home “the purple house” or “the rainbow house” – you do not want to be that house!
4) Wallpaper always needs to be removed – buyers do not like wallpaper or wallpaper borders. As Dr. Suess would say – They do not like it in the kitchen, they do not like it in the bathroom, and they do not like it in the baby nursery.