Staging Properties

One of the services that I have added to my repertoire is staging my listings. I urge all of my seller clients to allow me to help stage their home. I recently completed a staging certification class through Interior Excellence.

Here is a brief primer on home staging that every seller should read!

Why is home staging important?

• Staging decreases listing time - studies have shown that staged homes sell faster
• Staging increases the selling price
• Appraisers are more likely to place a higher value on staged homes
• Buyers view staged homes as well-maintained
• Staged properties have the edge over similar properties on the market
• A staged home is ready to move into NOW - which is exactly what buyers want in this market
  

The goal of staging is to create a model home environment, where virtually any buyer can imagine him or herself living in the home.

A model home environment means:

• Appealing exterior with manicured landscaping
• Welcoming foyer
• Generic and pleasant interior
• Good lighting
• Color coordinated
• Properly arranged and scaled furniture
• Good traffic flow throughout the home
• Spa-like bathrooms
• Completely free of clutter
  
• Clean, clean, clean!

These are the most important home staging guidelines, tips and strategies:

• Fresh smell and NO odors - remove any plug-ins or scented candles. The first thing buyers think when they smell any fragrance is, "What are they trying to hide?" Instead of using fragrances, clean your carpets, open the windows, and take care of any pet odors with the appropriate products.
  
• Less furniture is better - have the least amount of furniture that will convey to the buyer what the room is intended for - you are selling square footage.
  
• Replace all carpets or have them professionally cleaned at a minimum.
• When property is being shown - get out of the house! Leave the lights on, have no dishes in the kitchen sink, play soft music (jazz, classical, or soft pop is best), and take all pets and pet items out of the house (beds, food & water bowls, etc.)
• The patio and the deck should look very welcoming, even in colder months. Pots with flowers or green shrubs are key.
• Keep it PG-13 - remove large displays of alcohol, nudity in art forms, taxidermy, and gun racks filled with guns.
• Put away all collections and valuables.
• Pack up family photos. The home needs to be as neutral as possible and not tell a story about the current owner.
• Not everyone is an animal lover. Pets in the home can be a real deal breaker. Never keep a pet or pet bed in the master bedroom. Pets should never be in the house during showings if possible.

There are certain obstacles that will turn buyers off right away. Real deal breakers include outdated wood paneling on the walls, old light fixtures, unfinished remodeling projects, and stained or worn carpets. Buyers see this and know they will need to fix these things right away.

Homes that are heavily themed or decorated over the top are potential deal breakers. Some examples:

• Americana Country: Teddy bears, hearts, duck stencilings, lace, collections, greenery draping everything, lots of dried florals
• Sailboat/Boating Themes: Throw rugs, shower curtains, wall art, lamps, collectibles
• Mediterranean: Dark walls and draperies, heavy and massive furniture, deep dark rich colored carpeting. Dark is out!!!
• Disneyland: Children's bedrooms, bathrooms and playrooms that make you feel like you're in the magic kingdom

This merely scratches the surface of home staging. If you are contemplating putting your home on the market, please give me a call and I will give you a complementary market analysis and staging consult at your convenience.