Embrace Staging as a Marketing Tool

Staging is a marketing tool that will help a seller convey the proper message. A professionally staged home shows better, no matter what its age or price. Staged homes also tend to sell faster in all markets, compared to comparable properties that have not been professionally staged, according to statistics compiled by the Real Estate Staging Association. Give up the idea that a home on the market has be expensively furnished or reflect the latest design trends.

Real estate agents note that prospective buyers view staged homes during home showings as well-maintained; the homes also present better in photographs and website listings than comparable unstaged properties.

Primary Elements of Home Staging

Is there anyone who hasn't heard the message about decluttering and depersonalizing? Getting rid of unnecessary distractions may be one of the primary goals of staging, but there are five essential ingredients to consider when staging. They include:

• Color
• Maintenance and Repairs
• Furniture Placement
• Emotional Cues
• Focus

A well-staged home will maximize the views and interior sight lines, highlight space and amenities, have an appropriate color scheme and accessories, be sparkling clean, and in prime condition both inside and out. Curb appeal is also vital.

Top Reasons to Stage a Home

Staging is closely linked to the idea of making a home more livable, but the core principle of staging a property is simply to suggest possibilities for room use, emphasize space and architectural features, and lead prospective Westshore buyers through the property in a logical way, allowing them to visualize the promise of a good life.

Barb Schwarz, president of the International Association of Home Staging Professionals, defines staging a little differently: "Staging is preparing a home for sale so that the buyer can mentally move in," she says. And it works, for the following reasons:

1. The home will sell faster;
2. It will sell for more money;
3. Online photos will be more impressive;
4. The return on investment is invariably positive.

A National Association of Realtors survey in the United States found that professional staging charges typical run between one and three percent of the listing price, but that the staging ROI is often in the range of 10 percent. It is perhaps the number one tool—after overall property condition—that builders, sellers and real estate agents rely upon to market a property.