The real estate market is strong – why should a home be staged? 

Yes, in a hot market just about every house or apartment will sell or rent, but the question is when and at what price.  Even if it did sell or rent quickly and at a good price, it doesn’t mean it was sold or rented at its fullest potential.  Imagine having multiple bids on a home instead of the couple you might get without staging. 

The real estate market is soft – who would want to spend money in a down market? 

The softer the market, the more you must differentiate the property from others crowding the market.  Wouldn’t it be great to get a bidding war going because your property looks so much better than everyone else’s?  

Remember, staging is an investment not an expense.  It can increase profit in two ways - by increasing value and by reducing expenses (mortgage, taxes, utilities) by decreasing the time the home is on the market.

How much does staging cost? 

An investment in staging can cost as little as a few hundred dollars for a consultation to a few thousand dollars for staging services, furniture and accessory rentals, and minor repairs and updates.  The fees also depend upon the size and condition of the home, how much work the owner is willing to do themselves, and the price point of the home. 

Remember, staging is an investment that can yield a potentially significant return.  Contact us at Designed to Appeal for a complete description of services and fees. 

Who pays for the staging – the owner or the realtor? 

In some cases the realtor pays for the initial consultation.  Some will reimburse the owner for the consultation fee only once the home is sold.  However, many owners and realtors look upon it as another fee just like a home inspection or a real estate lawyer. 

If staging is not brought up by the other party when the home is listed, it is strongly recommended that one of the parties gets the dialogue going.  Owners should keep in mind that realtors might be afraid to suggest staging because they think their client would be insulted, and they don’t want to endanger the relationship.  Realtors should keep in mind clients want to sell or rent the home probably more than they do, and would be willing to seek the objective advice of a professional home stager. 

Why can’t the realtor or owner stage a home? 

Realtors should spend their time doing what they do best – marketing and showing their listings to potential buyers and renters.  Homeowners would rather know their realtors are doing this instead of spending hours rearranging furniture, shopping for accessories, and managing repairmen. 

Owners can’t stage their own homes because they’ve stopped seeing all of its flaws.  Most homeowners don’t have the “buyer’s eyes” that a professional home stager will when walking through the home.  The owners have gotten used to walking past the overgrown bushes in the front yard blocking all of the light from coming into the windows.  The dated wallpaper and lighting fixtures have been in the bathroom so long that they seem to be part of the family. 

And owners will be overwhelmed enough with the stress of finding a new home and moving that they won’t have the time or energy to focus on making their home look appealing. 

Why can’t buyers or renters just look past the décor and envision themselves living there?

Only 10% of buyers or renters can visualize the potential of a home.  Most buyers and renters cannot look past a cluttered or unappealing room.  And while most of them start out looking for a home based upon logical criteria, for example, 4 bedrooms, family room with a fireplace, they end up purchasing or renting based upon an emotional connection they feel when they’re in the home.  When a house feels like home, they will reprioritize their list. They may be willing to give up the fireplace because staging has transformed the property into a “dream” and they can envision themselves living there. 

What if I have a vacant home to sell? 

Remember, only 10% of buyers can visualize the potential of a home.  Vacant homes sit on the market even longer than poorly furnished homes.  Vacant homes can appear cold, sterile and boxy.  That’s why builders always furnish model homes.  

And with no frame of reference in the form of furniture and accessories, the buyer has no idea if their furniture will fit (empty rooms actually appear smaller than furnished rooms), or what the purpose of the room is (an office or extra bedroom?).  Buyers also tend to focus on the little defects because there’s nothing else to look at. 

And not to be overlooked is the perception by buyers of a vacant home:  empty houses = desperate sellers.  They’ve already moved out and now have two mortgages to pay, so they must be willing to settle for less. 

At Designed to Appeal, we will spend time evaluating what furniture and accessories are needed to fit the style of the home and the market it’s in.  We will find just the right furniture and accessories to rent or purchase.  We’ll be there to arrange it all properly when the furniture and accessories are delivered, and we’re there when the home is successfully sold and everything needs to be moved out. 

What should a homeowner do to prepare for a consultation or staging? 

There really is nothing a homeowner should do to prepare for a consultation.  Unlike most people, professional home stagers can see past a person’s clutter and furnishings.  Trying to get organized or clean up will waste the homeowner’s time and only cause stress. 

If a half-day or full day of staging services is going to follow a consultation, we may request that recommendations we made in the consultation such as de-cluttering, painting and repairs be done before we come in to rearrange furniture or add accessories. 

*Sources: Department of Housing and Urban Development and Coldwell Banker study.