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Staging homes for sale is a concept that's relatively new to the resale home market. However, new homebuilders have benefited from staging for decades.
Staging makes it possible for new homebuilders to pre-sell entire housing developments. They simply build a few model homes and decorate them to the hilt. Buyers like what they see and commit to buy even before the builder breaks ground on their new home.
In the San Francisco Bay Area, staging resale homes for sale has been popular for years. Sometimes this involves a major expense if refurnishing the entire home is involved. Or, staging can be relatively minimal. Some sellers significantly enhance the appearance of their home merely by consulting with a staging specialist for an hour or two.
Why go to all the trouble and expense? Experience has shown that the cost of staging often returns double the cost and sometimes more. It can also result in a quicker sale.
HOME SELLER TIP:
The best way to find a decorator who specializes in helping sellers get their homes ready for sale is to ask a local real estate agent for recommendations. Also, check the Internet and the Yellow Pages.
Homeowners who understand the staging concept and who have a good eye for décor, may be able to stage their home without hiring a professional. Recently, sellers of a charming older home in Crocker Highlands asked their agent to walk through the house with them to tell them specifically what needed to be done. The agent suggested rearranging artwork and furniture, removing some items completely and accessorizing other areas with houseplants so that the home showed to its best advantage.
The sellers had design expertise and they had no problem staging their home themselves. The listing showed so well that it attracted five offers and sold for a handsome price.
Most people (and this includes real estate agents) don't have a good design sense. So, in most cases, sellers will benefit by hiring a design expert to help them create a desirable ambience. But, if you're intent on doing the staging yourself, consider the following guidelines.
Too much furniture in a room can make it appear cramped and small. Remove pieces to create an open, inviting look. Unless you're selling a very large home, the bigger a home appears, the better.
Pay attention to how your furniture is arranged. Furniture placement should encourage a good flow within and between rooms. For example, avoid blocking the entry to a room by a large piece of furniture, such as a sofa. If you have French or sliding doors that lead to the outdoors, move furniture out of the way so that buyers can appreciate the easy indoor-outdoor access.
Make use of every nook and cranny. You may be able to use furniture removed from over-crowded rooms to create a useable space elsewhere. For instance, a secretary that's crowding the living room might be ideal in an alcove off the upper hallway. Or the extra room downstairs that you've never used could transform into a media room with a sofa, television, stereo and an extra coffee table.
It goes without saying that removing clutter does wonders to create an inviting décor. It's usually a good idea to box up family photos. Personal photos can distract buyers from the home buying endeavor. You want buyers to concentrate on your home, not on your stuff.
THE CLOSING:
Group collections of small items like miniatures, pieces of pottery or baskets so that they make a statement.
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