Why Stage?
Recently the Department of Urban Housing and Development conducted a staging study that showed staged homes netted 17% more profit than un-staged homes.¹ So in effect, any money invested in preparing your home for sale will be paid back and much, much more! For most of us, our home is our biggest asset, so when it comes time to sell yours, make sure you get the most equity out of it possible! Also keep in mind that any profits you derive from the proceeds of your sale potentially tax-free dollars!
Furnished homes:
Personal items in a home can distract potential buyers and make them feel as if they are invading on someone else's space. Home staging strives to de-personalize your home to make it appealing to the widest range of people. A balance must be found that doesn't feel too impersonal yet that allows prospective buyers to visualize themselves in the home.
Also by removing many of your personal items, staging allows you to pre-pack so that when it comes time to move, much of the work (50-60%) is already done. De-cluttering and packing are unavoidable tasks, but the wise homeowner does this before putting their house on the market to ensure the best profitability.
Lastly, with a staged home selling at least 50% faster, in a slow market you are much less likely to have the inconvenience of having to show your home over months. It can be exhausting, not to mention invasive, to have traffic in and out of your home for months, all the while having to keep it in showcase condition.
Unfurnished homes:
The idea of a vacant home being the best way to showcase your property has proven unfounded. You want your home to make an emotional connection with the buyer;
vacant homes rarely accomplish this goal. This is because most potential buyers have a hard time visualizing how to use the space, and to them an unfurished home simply look cold and
uninviting. Plus when buyers walk into an empty house, normal wear and tear is much more visible, and every small flaw becomes obvious.
Lastly, with home buyers increased savvy, vacant homes invite lower offers, assuming that the sellers are desparate. In fact, vacant homes sell for up to 10% less than their occupied counterpart.
Curb Appeal:
Staging involves much more than just de-cluttering and moving some furniture around. It is a combined focus on showcasing the interior of your home, pinpointing minor home repairs, and improving the landscaping and exterior of the home. According to Nancy C. Somerville, the executive vice president of the American Society of Landscape Architects, "....If the landscape is poor, you could expect a sale price of 8 to 10 percent below comparable homes with good landscaping."
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