Much like detailing your car before selling it, staging your home is a MUST in the current market. Buyers have a large inventory to choose from these days leaving no margin for error when it comes to preparing your home for sale.
"Staging" is a buzz word that is being thrown around a lot these days but many people don't really understand what it's all about. If you watch HGTV you see shows where a design team goes in and knocks down walls, replaces kitchen cabinets and does other major renovations to help a property sell. But there are many levels of staging -the one depicted on HGTV being the most costly.
Another level you may be familiar with is what is known as "vacant staging" where an empty property is filled with rented furniture resulting in a monthly rental fee being paid by the homeowner. The goal here is to highlight architechtural elements and enable potential buyers to envision living there. (A good stager can work with many different budgets.)
But have you heard of "occupied staging?" This is where a staging professional comes into your home that you are still living in and performs a comprehensive evaluation. The homeowner is then presented with a "to do" list which includes simple, low, or no cost things that can be done to make a lasting impression on potential buyers. Things as simple as cleaning, painting, removing extra furniture and de-cluttering may be suggested and could be just what it takes to make your home stand out from the others. Although most of these things seem obvious, you'd be surprised at how many homes that are currently on the market could benefit from these simple suggestions.
It's definately worth spending a small amount now for a staging consultaion rather than reducing your asking price later!
Happy Decorating!
Missy
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