mikamitchell

Home Staging

WHAT IS STAGING?

Home staging is the art of marketing your home for sale. When you put your house up for sale, it becomes a "product." In a slower market, you need to merchandise your product so that it stands out over other homes for sale in your area.

When a person sets out to look for a home to buy, they often have a predetermined set of criteria. However, research has shown that the home they ultimately purchase is the one they fall in love with, whether or not it meets all of their criteria. If your home looks great and a potential buyer can imagine living there, then they are most likely going to make an offer.

Statistics show that a staged home spends less time on the market, and generates higher profits by as much as 15% than homes that are not staged. Even a 10% increase on a $600,000 home generates $60,000 in profit!

WHY HIRE A STAGING SERVICE?

TV shows like "Sell This House," "Buy Me," and "House Doctor" have increased awareness and demand for home staging services. To sell your home in this current market, you need to appeal to the public, and the public is looking for a spacious, model home lifestyle.

Particularly if you have lived in your home for a long time, you are emotionally attached to it, and it is very difficult to view it objectively - the way a critical buyer will. Professional stagers are able to assess your home through a buyer`s eyes and create an organized and calm interior so that potential buyers see your house, not your belongings.

Potential buyers begin to form an opinion of your house as soon as they pull up to the driveway. While curb appeal is extremely important, the same attention to detail needs to be carried out through the rest of the house. Once through the door, it takes only 10 seconds for a prospective buyer to decide if they want to see more. Home Staging Services pave the way by creating a great impression that draws people in and makes them want to live there.

ISN`T A VACANT HOUSE OK?

There are many reasons not to leave a home vacant:

People buy homes, not houses.

It`s difficult to make sense of a space when there are no furnishings as a reference point.

Believe it or not, most people are unable to visualize how their own furniture will fit in a room, so if they aren`t sure, they won`t buy.

When a house is empty, prospective buyers get picky about where outlets are located on the wall, little spots on the floor, or tiny paint specs on the windows. Staging will steer the focus away from any imperfections, and enhance the best features of the house.

When a house is empty, potential buyers may wonder if you "need" to sell your house and decide to put in a low-ball offer, rather than give you the value you deserve!

Staging results in a faster sale and higher profits

Advertising may attract prospective buyers, but shrewd sellers realize that creating a showcase home will attract offers. The benefits of staging:

Staged homes look better than other competing homes for sale.

Home Staging is an investment in getting a higher return when you sell your home, and is far more economical than reducing the asking price.

Photos of staged homes look better on advertising flyers and websites.

Agents working with buyers are more likely to show your home if it`s staged.

The fees for home staging are tax deductible as an expense in preparing a house for sale (verify with your accountant).

STAGING TO FIT YOUR NEEDS AND BUDGET

For vacant homes, the staging service I recommend will provide all furniture, accessories, artwork, window treatments and plants (live or artificial) for each room of the home.

If you are still living in your home, the staging service can enhance your existing furnishings to create a clean, open layout.

Want to do it yourself? The staging service will do a consultation and provide you with a one-time comprehensive list of recommendations regarding furniture and artwork placement, carpet, paint and other cosmetic enhancements.

For additional information about staging and to get an idea about pricing, visit www.stagedtosellinteriors.com