The real estate market, much like every other market, is highly competitive. Marketers use numerous techniques and resources to get their products to grab our attention. Staging a house for potential buyers grabs their attention. Homeowners desiring staging for their homes might question where to look for information or advice. Three resources these homeowners might check are Staging companies and pro-Stagers, real estate agents, model home merchandisers.
Staging Companies and Stagers
When you want it done right, go to the source. Only a professional Staging company with professionally trained Stagers will know exactly what you need to do to prepare your house for sale. Other peripheral industries that Stagers use do not see the whole picture and are not trained professionals. Look for Stagers that belong to professional associations that have accountability, as well as credentials related to Staging properties. The more qualified a stager is, the better your experience will be. www.Stagedhomes.com has an online directory of trained pros. Work with someone who knows what they are doing and are specifically trained to prepare houses for sale. Staging is not the same as Decorating or Design. The goal of Decorating and Design is the PERSONALIZE a home – and it is done for the people living in the home. Staging is done for the UNKNOWN BUYER – and therefore must be broadly appealing. Staging is about DEPERSONALIZING – removing layers of decor and personal items so a buyer can see the product being sold – the house and features – and not all the “stuff” a seller has accumulated and put on display.
Model Home Merchandisers
Lots of us have toured the model home in a new housing development. A model home is staged in order to make us want that house and it gives us ideas on what we can do when we buy one of the houses. They are often overdone and packed with extras, and model home merchandisers use tricks like shortening the length of beds or not using headboards in order to make more fit in a space. Builders hire professional home stagers, and interior designers have done these types of projects for years. Price and budget for a model home is much, much higher than what you should pay for staging your house, plus you do not need to cram it full of all the items they use. Less is more.
Real Estate Agents
Of all home professionals, real estate agents are hugely popular. They’re in houses every day, they know what potential buyers seek, they know what is trending now, they know the best places to buy the most popular items with which to stage a house, and so much more. Most importantly, real estate agents know what works and what doesn’t. Real estate agents go to classes to get certified for dozens of aspects of their job, and a professional, quality agent will have a pro-Stager on their team. The agent’s expertise is listing and selling a house, not staging. Unless they are actually accredited in Staging, they are not equipped to properly advise you on all aspects of Staging. Many agents offer decluttering and depersonalizing tips, but may shy away from being honest with what you need to do as they don’t want to risk offending you or losing the listing. That does not serve you to not know exactly what you need to do and any potential issues you may need to address as your house goes up for sale.
Your best bet is to work with an agent who has stagers they work with – as the stager is not tied to the sale, will be objective, honest, and provide tips that you can implement on your own. Stagers are also available to help you finish off any of the work before the day photos are taken. You got this.
Bottom Line
Statistics tell us that staged homes sell faster and for more money than empty houses. These are just four of the resources homeowners might tap in the search for getting their house perfectly staged for sale.
Rachelle Wilber is a freelance writer living in the San Diego, California area. She graduated from San Diego State University with her Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism and Media Studies. She tries to find an interest in all topics and themes, which prompts her writing. When she isn’t on her porch writing in the sun, you can find her shopping, at the beach, or at the gym. Rachelle recommends finding a real estate agent when in the market for a home. Follow her on Twitter and Facebook: @RachelleWilber; https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100009221637700