Staging Your Home for a Faster Sale

• While the residential real estate market today has soured, the consequence of the current stagnation has turned the advantage to the buyer’s hand. The glut of failed builders has left a surplus of empty ready or near-ready homes sitting bank owned or cut priced to sell thus making the effort to sell a pre-existing home more of a challenge. Many sellers are now looking to find an edge in this faltering market in the hopes to make their home more market competitive. One of the ways a seller can find that edge is with HomeStaging.
• Home Staging, started by entrepreneur realtor, Barb Schwartz, is the simple act of cleaning and repairing your home while situating certain furniture pieces or decorative items to optimize its benefits while limiting flaws. And, apparently…it works.
• According to a survey cited on Stagedhomes.com, a staged home will sit on the market an astounding 80% less time than a home that has not been properly prepared. This survey, taken during the ‘08 – ‘09 season between November and May, states that 94.8% of staged homes will sell faster, on average, in 37 days or less. For those who are facing foreclosure or an impending short sale situation, this can prove a crucial benefit.

Here’s why:

A home that shows well says something. It says that the sellers care about the property. It tells a potential buyer that the constant maintenance needs of that home had been addressed in a responsible nature and are less likely to require repair. This idea of the simple, or “turn key” move in, is critical. If a buyer walks into a home where cobwebs are hanging, dog hairs are piling and dishes are crawling away on their own slime that tells them that the owners aren’t serious about the maintenance of the home and their considerations of buying it will drastically drop. They may even walk away without even a full walkthrough and thinking, “Why bother”?

• Realtors will tell you, staging your home, either by hiring a professional ASP, or Accredited Home Staging Professional, or by doing it yourself can alleviate any of the pitfalls when showing a home. Although hiring a professional may offer some relief as opposed to tackling the task yourself, doing so on your own is certainly a feasible, and cheaper, option. The costs of hiring a professional ASP can range from a consult price of $200 to $400 dollars and can go as high as over $5,000 for a more detailed staging on a larger home. But, the return on doing so either way is still beneficial as it can bring an increase in price of 3% at closing. That’s a profit of an extra $7,500 on a $250,000 home. And with median home prices at $232,100 and the average at $292,600 in the 2008 census, that’s not something to sneeze at.

With the majority of Home Staging rooted in common sense, following a few steps on your own can give you that sales edge while saving on hiring a professional.

 Consider the following:

• First impressions matter most: If a buyer drives by your home and sees weeds and overgrowth, they will assume the inside may be the same. Trim hedges and mow lawns every week as needed. Hide trash cans and if they smell, wash them. Keep toys and debris off of the front lawn. Clean the front door and any porch areas a buyer may walk through in entry. Repair anything broken like doorknobs or light fixtures. Paint anything that may look worn or cracked. Power wash drive and walkway areas to brighten them for appeal. Use flowers to brighten and greet a potential buyer. Keep lawn ornaments to a bare minimum and, a personal peeve, if it’s near a holiday and you’re trying to sell, forego decorations like lights and heavy decor. Use a small wreath on the door to celebrate. Using too much garb will distract a potential buyer even during a holiday season.
• Clean, Clean and Clean some more: Nothing will send a buyer running faster than a messy home. Toys littered, dog hair floating and filthy bathrooms will automatically turn off a sale. All details will be looked at with an eagle’s eye. Wash cabinets and clean carpets throughout the house. If your walls are dirty, clean them. If cleaning can’t take care of any stains, they will have to be painted. Since bathrooms and kitchens can make or break the sale of a home, make certain that these are highly cleaned. Sinks, toilets and showers should be cleaned each day in preparation for fast showings.
• Organize and De-clutter:  Buyers want to envision their things on those walls and their furniture in those rooms. Remove all personal family photos and items from tables and walls. If you have a shed in the back yard or a friend who can store your items, use it. Only keep items you will need for weekly use. This includes toys, dishes and clothing not normally used. A 10×10 room with a queen-sized bed in it will make the room look uncomfortably small. Consider downsizing furniture in small rooms to give it a roomier feel. Reduce all furniture in all rooms to only those pieces which are necessary. Remember, making the rooms look larger is critical. De-cluttering and organizing will also make it easier for you to keep these rooms clean on a day to day basis.
• Pets: We love our pets but others may not. All animals, caged or otherwise, should be removed before a showing. Placing animals in a safe area or taking them with you when you leave the home is always best. Make sure dog beds and food dishes are also hidden before a showing. Make certain no odors from your animals are noticeable during a showing.
• Brighten and Lighten: A lighter color palette makes a room look larger and more welcoming. Paint rooms a neutral color, light beiges or tans work best. Remove heavy curtains from windows and always turn on all lights and raise all blinds so that the sun can come into and brighten the rooms. Simple window treatments are always best. Some home shows feature experts using deeper colors like reds and browns, avoid this. Again, they are professionals and it’s better to be safe with a neutral tone unless using the services of a professional.

“People should understand we are still living here.”: The moment you utter those words is when you should know you’ve got the wrong attitude. You’re not selling “your” home, you’re selling their home, the buyer’s home. Keep this in mind when choosing colors and staging techniques as far as preference goes. Home Staging is all about appearance and during a home sale, the owners preference takes a back seat to what works. And Home Staging works!