Staging Your Home to Sell for the Most Money in the Shortest Time

in For Home Sellers, Real Estate

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Vicki Moore Pacifica Realtor

Homebuyers expect homes to be staged so it's become the norm, a standard, for sellers to - sometimes reluctantly - agree.  If you saw the difference in a consumer's face when they walk into a house that is a perfect 10 and one that isn't, it would be an easy decision for you.  You would know that staging is the only way to sell a house.

Think about it from a buyer's perspective

Homebuyers have been saving for years for a downpayment; maybe working extra jobs along the way, sacrificing vacations, and lowering their wedding day expenses.  They've been dreaming about it for just as long.  Talking to each other about what owning a house will mean, the plans they have for the house itself, sharing the excitement with friends and family.  

HGTV hasn't helped the argument that staging is too much trouble or too costly.  They've added to the expectation of what the perfect house means.  Pinterest is the online manifestation of their design ideas, paint colors, and garden plans.  Homebuyers have spent hours looking at images and virtual tours online, learning the market in their neighborhoods of choice.  And now they're actually out looking at homes in person.  Can you feel the anticipation?

Staging is a continuation of what they've seen online.  It keeps their imagination and dreams alive.  It's the investor or contractor who will walk into a dingy, smelly house and say, "I'll take it."  But you aren't going to get that response from most buyers.  And the response of more buyers is the goal when you're selling your house.  You want as many people as possible to swoon over it.

Buyers will overlook some repairs and upgrades if the house looks like Joanna Gaines decorated it.  And it allows the focus to be moved from defects to the bigger picture.  They're very visual.

Think about it this way:  When you go on a date, especially a first date, you're going to do your make-up and hair, get dressed up, making an effort to look and smell your best.  You're doing all this to make a memorable first impression with the thought that you'd like to have a second date.  In the case of staging your house, you want to get the buyer to make an offer - an over-the-asking-price offer!

After all the work you've done: decluttering, packing, painting, repairing, and landscaping, staging is the next logical step. The goal is to neutralize the house so it appeals to as many home buyers as possible. We suggest depersonalizing the spaces by packing away family photos so visitors spend more time looking at the house than they do looking at your family story. 

Degrees of staging

Home staging can be limited or unlimited in scope depending on how much time and money you have and whether or not you'll be occupying the home during the marketing. 

Do staged homes sell faster?

According to the Real Estate Staging Association's 2020 survey, 85% of the staged homes surveyed sold for 5-23% over list price. Staged homes sell faster, averaging just 23 days on the market. Their survey doesn't indicate the average days without staging. 

The pros of staging

Modern look
Professional stagers are always on top of the current design trends and bring that knowledge to your house, giving it a modern, clean and updated feel. Using antiques or furniture from decades past will make your house appear older and will be less appealing to buyers.

Depersonalization
Staging allows home buyers to look at your house and not the things in it. They're not going to get distracted to stop and look at family history in pictures on the wall. I have to admit, even I do that. I love pictures and will take the time to pause and look. You don't want buyers focused on the wrong things.

Neutral decor
Very personal, specific colors and design taste could be a turn off to buyers. A stager knows what pieces will suit the home and will choose furniture and decor that will attract the most buyers.

Perfect floor plan
Very few houses have a perfect floor plan, especially if the house was built in decades past; however, a stager will use their magic to showcase the layout that works best for today's buyers.

Spacious feel
Home stagers know how to edit and will limit what they use for a particular project. Closets, cabinets and pantries seem a lot larger when staged with a few items rather than stuffed with a collection of things accumulated over many years.

Professional photos
In the market today, professional photos are a must. An expert photographer and a well-skilled stager make an excellent team encouraging buyers to come out from behind their computers and into your house.

Get The Ginormous List of Staging Tips for Selling Your Home Quickly and for More Money

Cons of home staging

Staged homes can be undistinguishable and start to look the same as the next one. It's important to have bold pops of color on pillows and decor to separate your house from the others on the market.

Slows the process
Getting on the stager's calendar and getting a truckload of furniture moved in can delay the initial marketing. That will have to be considered in your sale timeline.

Cost
Staging can be expensive and payment is required upfront. If the funds aren't available, you'll have to look at a DIY, limited or a virtual staging option.

Additional Resources

You're going to need Bill Gassett of Metrowest Massachusetts' 33 Tips for a Less Stressful and Easier Move

Staging is one part of selling your home the way buyers want to be sold, but read Kevin Vitali's in-depth take on what buyers expect in his article Understanding Today's Home Buyers.  Kevin sells real estate in Essex and Northern Middlesex Counties, Massachusetts.

If you're selling your house now, you'll need to take social distancing into consideration.  Lynn Pineda, a Southeast Florida Realtor, has shared what you need to know in What Can You Do To Sell Your Home Safely?

Vicki Moore Pacifica Realtor