Nearly half of all Realtors believe that a staged home can bring a higher price than a non-staged home. According to the National Association of Realtors 2015 Profile of Home Staging, 32% of buyers’ agents believe staging a home increases the dollar value buyers are willing to offer by one percent to five percent. Another 16% of agents believe it increases the dollar value buyers are willing to offer by six percent to 10 percent. With so much money at stake, why do some people still fail to stage their homes? Possibly because of a few myths and misconceptions still surrounding home staging…
Myth #1: Staging is only necessary for unoccupied homes.
No way! While vacant homes do benefit from the addition of furniture and accessories, staging an occupied home can have a tremendous impact on your listing photos and on how potential buyers view the space. The best part? It usually costs less because a professional stager can work with what you already own. Often something as simple as rearranging furniture can better showcase the hidden potential in a room.
Myth #2: My stager will just tell me to paint everything beige and make it neutral.
Sometimes–but here’s the thing: buyers must be able to envision themselves living in the house. This is much easier for them to do when they’re NOT surrounded by the seller’s taste-specific design choices, family photos, and references to hobbies/sports/universities/religion throughout the house. Buyers need to see your house, not your stuff. On the other hand, there are sellers at the opposite extreme who completely eliminate all coziness and create an environment that is far too empty and sterile. A good stager will help you find the right balance between effectively depersonalizing and creating a comfortable, welcoming space that invites buyers to picture a romanticized view of what life could be like if they purchased that home.
Myth #3: Staging is basically just decluttering.
First of all, let’s talk about that terrible word “decluttering.” I hate it and don’t use it with my clients. Simplifying is a much more accurate word. Decluttering implies that your stuff is either messy or junky, and the bottom line is that, no matter how great (or not) your belongings are, removing extra distractions will help potential buyers focus on the architectural details of the home. That being said, adding decor in a very intentional way (eg., a large bowl of bright, beautiful lemons to highlight a gourmet kitchen island or setting an elegant table in the dining room to help buyers envision how easily they could entertain) is an important part of styling the home for photos and for visits from buyers.
Don’t believe the myths and misconceptions about home staging. When guided by a trained, accrediting professional, home staging WORKS — than means a faster sale and a higher profit for the homeowner!
If you need a little professional guidance getting your home ready to go on the market, get in touch with Three Bears Home Staging! We specialize in positive, empowering home staging consultations (both online and in person) that teach homeowners how to maximize what they already have!
Or are you more of a DIYer? We don’t have to meet in person to teach you how to better prep your home for a faster, more profitable sale! Home staging is has one of the highest returns on investment any homeowner can make — and we can teach you how to do it! Our self-paced, online home staging course walks homeowners through the step-by-step process of properly preparing and staging their own home for a faster, more profitable sale!
