The merits of presenting a beautifully maintained, well-decorated home cannot be denied. No matter how busy or slow the market may be, the house that stands out is the one that receives the most attention from buyers.
Expert preparation is even more critical when there is a lot of inventory and few buyers searching for homes. The question is how far to take it.
Is a full transformation necessary, or will a thorough cleaning and a few minor touch ups do the trick? In this post, we’ll explore the concept of home staging from all angles.
Do you want to simplify the home selling process? Check out one of our comprehensive guides for sellers.
What Exactly Is Staging?
Home staging has been the talk of the real estate world for years now, ever since the 1970s when interior decorator, Barbara Schwartz, came up with the term. By now, the word has been thrown around so much it has almost become meaningless.
Before going any further, let’s get back to basics and clarify. Staging simply means “setting the stage” for a buyer to imagine living in the home.
A light refresh might be all you need with a new or very well-maintained home. Some serious dusting, mopping, and decluttering help to eliminate any distractions. Once that’s complete, you can further enhance the aesthetic by rearranging the existing furniture and decor.
Deep, fully immersive staging could also involve some renovations and upgrades for a house that needs more care. If the design itself is out of date, a real estate agent might suggest a new design theme to help capture buyer interest.
Looking for even more tips to impress potential buyers? Check out the posts below:
- Why Landscaping Matters When Selling Your Home
- What Are the Best Ways to Increase Your Home’s Value?
- Renovating Vs. Selling Your Home As-Is
Is Staging Always Necessary?
Technically speaking, we could argue that staging is never necessary. As long-time real estate agents in Guelph and the Tri-Cities, we have seen listings fly off the market in all conditions, good and bad.
If a buyer wants a specific location badly enough, or is in an urgent situation, or the market is particularly hot, or your price is low enough, your house will almost certainly sell, staged or not.
That said, if you’re hoping to earn top-dollar from your transaction, staging is a valuable component.
Remember: that only about 10% of people can go into an outdated house and visualize it with modern decor. Because of this, a staged property will sell on average for 5-10% more than a cluttered or vacant house.
Staging Happens Earlier Than You Realize
The importance of making a positive first impression goes without saying. However, if you want the best possible results, the process starts long before a buyer comes to visit.
The first step is to attract that buyer’s attention in the first place, and that means beautiful, eye-catching photos are absolutely essential. That’s why all of our staging strategies begin early, and they aren’t just directed at the buyer; they are also for the photographer. Quality images are a foundational part of all real estate marketing.
Your Staging Questions Answered
Fine-tuning the final presentation is one of the most challenging aspects of staging. Numerous questions arise:
Should you hire an interior designer or do it yourself? A DIY approach is definitely more cost- effective, whereas a professional will likely (but not always) get better results.
What colour and design theme should you go with? When decorating for your own purposes, your house is a reflection of you. When selling, we want the opposite. There should be as few traces of your presence as possible so the buyer can imagine their own picture.
How can you best arrange your furniture for maximum flow and light? An effective layout enhances the sense of space, while a poor design can make a room look smaller.
What decor pieces should you display? Think tasteful and sophisticated, but nothing that stands out too much. We want the overall impression of your home to be the star of the show.
Every design choice should cater to the highest number of potential buyers. If you work with an interior designer, be sure they have experience in real estate and understand this critical distinction. A house that looks gorgeous doesn’t always sell faster or command more money; the strategy must be intentional.
Planning to buy a house once your sale is complete? Start your planning by reading the posts below:
- 10 Things To Consider When Buying a Home
- Should I Buy Or Sell First?
- Can You Buy or Sell a Home Using an App?
Is Staging A Lot of Work?
Effectively staging a house can be an involved process. It requires extensive decluttering and depersonalization to create a blank canvas to build upon. Some strategic repairs and upgrades will also be beneficial when performed to a high standard.
Most of all, expert presentation takes time and patience, and an eye for design definitely helps! However, it is also well worth the effort of getting everything just right. As part of a well-thought-out selling strategy, staging can lead to a faster and more profitable result.
Do you want complimentary, personalized staging when selling your home? It’s all part of the package when working with our top Guelph real estate agents! Connect with us at info@gowylde.ca or call 519-826-7109 to learn more.
