Top 5 Misconceptions about Home Staging
1. I’ll need to get rid of all of my stuff
Home Staging encompasses many different things. Sellers are often nervous about a stager coming in. They fear that they will be told to trade all of their furniture in for newer, more modern items. While this can certainly be done if needed, it's not usually the case. It depends on the condition of the items, function of the spaces, budget of the sellers and selling price of the house. You may need to rent some furniture in order to add function to an odd, empty room but chances are we can use most of the household items that you already have! We also give you lots of clever tips to help you keep things where you need them (i.e., remote controls) while still being hidden for showings. Of course, you can always pre-pack out of season clothing or items that you know you won't need in the next [insert anticipated sale time here]... it will need to be done anyway so why not get a head start?!
2. It's a seller's market... I don't need to stage
You are correct in one sense. Your house will likely, eventually sell. Consider the reason you are moving and whether you have extra holding costs. If you have already purchased another house, you're now holding 2 mortgages and paying bills for 2 places. Buyers will make a financial offer based on how much work they need to put into the house and how much they truly love and need the house. Staging addresses simple repairs that buyer's often jack up in cost when considering their offer. For example, painting usually needs to be completed and even though it's a pain, it's a pain for buyers too. Now they may be delayed in moving in or have more headaches trying to work around the rooms that need to be painted. They will tell you the painting is going to cost ' x ' amount of dollars, when in reality it is probably half of that! In the long run, it will be less expensive for you to complete the painting and repairs yourself before listing the house, leaving buyers with less reason to negotiate price!
3. It will be impossible to live here while selling
You're already overwhelmed and busy enough with day-to-day life! Now you constantly need to keep your house clean, pick up after everyone and leave the house for hours at a time- all on short notice. Talk about a bummer... Our experience in the home staging field has allowed professionals to chat with many home sellers about their experiences. We've also had time to hear what the issues are and come up with solutions for them too! For example, we ask that you clear out your bathtubs and showers entirely. Rather than tossing all of the individual gooey soaps and kid's toys into any old hiding spot in a rush, we recommend that you purchase (or perhaps already have) a plastic container with holes in it for drainage. All products should be kept in these containers even when they're in use- just set it on the floor of the shower. Then it's quick and easy to dry off the bottom and place the entire basket with all products under the vanity-in it's pre-determined clear spot, of course! Similar practice for kitchens... we all have things that we leave out on our counter because we use them every day. Not all of these items can stay out when we have a showing. So rather than hiding wherever they fit, clear a cupboard or two so you have space to put these items away hassle-free! It also saves you searching far and wide when you need to get them out again... you're already tired enough after a long day!
4. I need to like the final staged look of my house
There is a huge difference between home staging for selling and styling for living. Staging is done to create an atmosphere for buyers- many buyers who are looking for the same basic features. Boring, I know, but it's true! So you may love your fire engine red living room and not want to paint it soft beige when we recommend to do. The point is that typically, a beige paint will appeal to more people than a bright red room. Do you see where I'm going with this? We're not saying we disagree with your design style but staging brings the house back to a neutral point so buyers can *quickly and easily* put their own personal touch on it. It is no longer about you! Stop thinking we are decorating your home for you and your style because that mindset will only hold you back and make things more difficult. This is the time to hold the memories from this house in the back of your mind and start to get excited about your next journey in your new home, whether you have it yet or not! Put together a vision board on Pinterest and bring your personal style to life in your next place!
5. Hiring a professional stager will be too expensive
While the cost of hiring a professional can seem high at first, you need to consider the what they are going to do for you. Staging services are not an expense but rather an investment (because you will gain a return from it). Depending on the service provided, you may spend anywhere from $300-$5,000+. A staging consultation will leave you, the seller, with a plan to execute the staging yourself. Of course things get more costly when you'd like a pro to do the hands-on work (sooo worth the final result) or when you need to rent furniture to fill spaces. Even at that, when you consider selling a home for $200,000- $1,000,000+, this number is minuscule! Our team offers cost-effective solutions in order to showcase your house properly!
Images: unsplash.com
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