Thank you Amanda for sharing your home staging post with us. I feel the exact same way. Presentation is key to marketing a home. It is important to have your home stand out from the rest. If staging can help get it sold why not.
Staging a house is all about creating illusions. It presents your home in its best light to be ready for the "first date" with buyers. Staging needs to occur after any minor repairs have been made, the house has been cleaned from top to bottom and all the clutter has been removed. It's like putting your wedding dress on after you've had your hair and make-up done. Proper staging makes your house look bigger, brighter, and cleaner. Most importantly it makes homebuyers want to BUY it. Remember, potential buyers walk into a HOUSE not a home. They need to be able to see themselves living there. Your children's photos from birth to age 10 going up the stairs doesn't allow that to happen. You want them to leave thinking they want it to become their home.
Who Should Stage Your House?
A professional stager is the best person to give your home its best look. It's an art form and takes a lot of creativity, planning and execution. They can look at the house from a buyer's prospective. Homeowners tend to have an emotional attachment and it's imperative to have an unbiased opinion on what needs to be done. Depending on the size of your home and how much staging is needed it can range from $500 up to and beyond $5,000. Homes that have been staged are proven to sell faster and/or for more money.
Don't Forget the Exterior
Staging isn't just about the inside. The outside of the house is important too. Does the front door need painting or training? Grass needs to be mowed at all times, shrubs trimmed, windows cleaned, walkway weeded etc. Plants at the front door can add a nice touch as well and make for a nice welcoming entrance depending on how large the space is.
When you start staging your house you need to say goodbye to your home. It's going to be emotional, uncomfortable and you're not going to like it. Focus on the positive that it WILL get you a faster more profitable sale.
Remember, you can't change the location of your home, current market conditions or your competition but, you can always change presentation.
JodiAnn Garone
Cell 732-221-9331
Email: JodiAnn@Realtor.com
Website: JodiAnnGarone.com
33 West Main Street, Holmdel, NJ 07733
Phone 732-444-6555 x 127 Fax 732-444-6646
