- Find a Real Estate Professional
- Realtors®
- Mortgage Lenders
- Home Improvement Pros
- Other Real Estate Services
- Review an Agent, Lender or Pro
- Marketing on Zillow
- Real Estate Agent Advertising
- Join the Professional Directory
- Popular
- Real Estate Market Reports
- More
- sunnyview
- Contributions:25139
You can't pack your stuff into the basement or attic if you are selling. It make the home look small and like no storage. You are better off paying for 3 months of storage off site. For many homes, it is worth it.
- Steven Modesto
- Contributions:1
A definite yes...most people can't visualize past others collectibles and clutter. It's best to store everything in an attractive cabinet or invest in a storage area of the home be it an attic or basement.
- Kim Ziton, "kim ziton"
- Contributions:467
I believe staging is a critical part in selling a home. I wrote an article that I pass out to my clients when they are in question. Feel free to pass it along...I hope it helps.
Lives are put on hold during a Cooling Market----STAGING can make a difference
Ready to move into your dream house? Not having any luck selling? You only need 'one' buyer. Don't be held hostage in today's market. In today's cooling real estate market you need to do more than your neighbor. Despite your home's many selling points, such as upgrades, updated appliances, four bedrooms, and good schools -- you probably have not received an offer. Don't feel powerless. Despite the challenging market, there is a buyer who has been waiting to make a purchase. It's time for a reality check for the 'sellers'. You need to determine wht is fair. Ask your self what the market will bear. It's time to get creative in today's market. Hit the high points with the attributes; physical appearance is very important. I have included simple stepping stones to sell your home:
Fix it up:
Buyers don't want to fix items when they move in - fix obvious problems - minimize work for the buyer. The buyer wants to move right in without having to make significant changes.
Staging:
Staging is more than decorating, it's creating a mood. The purpose is to make your home look bigger, brighter, cleaner and warmer. It can entail simple tasks such as removing clutter; you want to create neutral colors, harmonious and spacious environments. Freshen up paint, clean the inside and teh exterior of your home. Take out most of the personal items which can be a distraction. Arrange sparse pieces of furniture in an appealing grouping, known as a vignette. Organize your closets and kitchen cabinets; neatly stack dishes, jars should be facing out, shirts organized and not cluttered make a difference. Set the table for dinner. In the bathroom tie the towels with a ribbon and put scented soap in the room; simple details. Layering with accessories in the finishing touch, for instance, on a side table you might hae a lamp, flower arrangement, with a book and small box. Keep in mind that you do not have a second chance to make a first impression. Really step back and imagine how your house will look for a buyer.
Keep in mind when marketing your home make sure it is not confusing; make sure the main attributes are clear. This will help generate traffic.
You want to make the home attractive and inviting, making the visitors able to visualize living in the home.
If your house has been on the market for some time, I would sugguest incorporating some of these ideas. You need to get over what your home was worth two years ago. Lastly, be optimistic, it's a matter of time before your house sells.
Lives are put on hold during a Cooling Market----STAGING can make a difference
Ready to move into your dream house? Not having any luck selling? You only need 'one' buyer. Don't be held hostage in today's market. In today's cooling real estate market you need to do more than your neighbor. Despite your home's many selling points, such as upgrades, updated appliances, four bedrooms, and good schools -- you probably have not received an offer. Don't feel powerless. Despite the challenging market, there is a buyer who has been waiting to make a purchase. It's time for a reality check for the 'sellers'. You need to determine wht is fair. Ask your self what the market will bear. It's time to get creative in today's market. Hit the high points with the attributes; physical appearance is very important. I have included simple stepping stones to sell your home:
Fix it up:
Buyers don't want to fix items when they move in - fix obvious problems - minimize work for the buyer. The buyer wants to move right in without having to make significant changes.
Staging:
Staging is more than decorating, it's creating a mood. The purpose is to make your home look bigger, brighter, cleaner and warmer. It can entail simple tasks such as removing clutter; you want to create neutral colors, harmonious and spacious environments. Freshen up paint, clean the inside and teh exterior of your home. Take out most of the personal items which can be a distraction. Arrange sparse pieces of furniture in an appealing grouping, known as a vignette. Organize your closets and kitchen cabinets; neatly stack dishes, jars should be facing out, shirts organized and not cluttered make a difference. Set the table for dinner. In the bathroom tie the towels with a ribbon and put scented soap in the room; simple details. Layering with accessories in the finishing touch, for instance, on a side table you might hae a lamp, flower arrangement, with a book and small box. Keep in mind that you do not have a second chance to make a first impression. Really step back and imagine how your house will look for a buyer.
Keep in mind when marketing your home make sure it is not confusing; make sure the main attributes are clear. This will help generate traffic.
You want to make the home attractive and inviting, making the visitors able to visualize living in the home.
If your house has been on the market for some time, I would sugguest incorporating some of these ideas. You need to get over what your home was worth two years ago. Lastly, be optimistic, it's a matter of time before your house sells.
- Kathleen Turner, "KathleenTurnerRealty"
- Contributions:163
Absolutely! In fact, I have now partnered with a professional stager whom I bring in to all of my listings to get the property ready to go on the market. My stager shared with me a really stunning statistic - according to the Internationsl Association of Home Staging Professionals, professionally staged home sell, on average, in 33 days or less, compared to an average days on market of 196 days for non-staged homes! I show my sellers that by professionally staging their homes, they will not only save time, but cold hard cash!
- Anthony Sampson, "AnthonyaSampson"
- Contributions:5
Staging is definitely worth the effort. You can't go wrong. As long as you keep it simple, at little to no cost you will learn that it will pay off. Just keep it simple.
I have sold several properties in a short period that other agents had on the market for years prior all due to my staging skills. However great staging won't work if the house is over priced so remember pricing is apart of your staging.
My best advice is to keep the floor plans as open as possible. remove all valuable items from the home. Put away all family photos, religious items, pets. Staging should appear inviting yet easy to to remove once purchase. I suggest taking a few classes as well. Such as online tips, Feng Shui, or just asking that family member who seem to have an eye for these things. and remember to keep It simple.
Anthony Sampson
[contact info removed by moderator]
I have sold several properties in a short period that other agents had on the market for years prior all due to my staging skills. However great staging won't work if the house is over priced so remember pricing is apart of your staging.
My best advice is to keep the floor plans as open as possible. remove all valuable items from the home. Put away all family photos, religious items, pets. Staging should appear inviting yet easy to to remove once purchase. I suggest taking a few classes as well. Such as online tips, Feng Shui, or just asking that family member who seem to have an eye for these things. and remember to keep It simple.
Anthony Sampson
[contact info removed by moderator]
- Shirin Sarikhani, "Seattle Staged"
- Contributions:10
I don't think home staging is a hipe anymore. Staging is proven and an important marketing tool. Numbers don't lie.
Many times, I'm called to stage homes that have been sitting on the market, vacant. Once I staged them, the SOLD sign goes up. The sellers of these homes would have saved money, if they staged their homes at the beginning of the process.
Home staging+marketing+right price= success.
Many times, I'm called to stage homes that have been sitting on the market, vacant. Once I staged them, the SOLD sign goes up. The sellers of these homes would have saved money, if they staged their homes at the beginning of the process.
Home staging+marketing+right price= success.
- Ryan Dressel
- Contributions:12
Yes... absolutely and especially now. Homeowners can "do it themselves" with the advice of a professional stager. Investors can sell their homes for Top Dollar in any market, Agents can bring their buyers to homes that they know are ready for sale. Everyone benefits from a beautifully staged home.
- Debo Cornett, "Debo Cornett"
- Contributions:46
You bet it is. In today's market it is worth every cent to a seller to compete with other properties in their price range. Buyers and Sellers are very savvy now, due to the many home selling TV shows. So if one property has taken the effort to have it properly presented to appeal to as many buyers as possible, it's definitely going to be more likely to sell quicker and at a higher price than its competitors.
- Michelle Melton, "Michelle Melton"
- Contributions:96
Not in all cases...but, that being saidI have seen it take a lack luster home and really make it shine to the point of bringing a quick sale.
Something that ALWAYS works...clean, declutter, depersonalize, neutralize and add pop to the landscape. Without a doubt put your best foot forward.
Something that ALWAYS works...clean, declutter, depersonalize, neutralize and add pop to the landscape. Without a doubt put your best foot forward.
- Connie Wildasinn, "Connie Wildasin"
- Contributions:1178
not always... but cleaning and decluttering always is worth the effort... and placing the furniture to show off the room never hurts...
- Teri Arbogast and Team, "Teri Arbogast"
- Contributions:3512
Yes. Staging works!
- Nancy Lee, "An OrderLee Home"
- Contributions:1195
Hey Kate!
I usually add one item to the list of things that sell a home, and I make the list somewhat differently:
When a house is for sale it should:
1) Be priced right for the area and for it's condition
If the house is over priced, it may not even be seen by it's target audience (not be found by price-based internet searches.) If it is found, and if potential buyers like it, the buyers may assume the seller is unwilling to negotiate if they receive a significantly lower bid. We are talking about selling something here, price is key.
2) Be in the best condition the seller can afford.
By this I mean catch up deferred maintenance, have a home inspection and address as many items on the inspection report as possible then acknowledge in a disclaimer any items that are not addressed.
3) Show in a manner that makes sense and appeals to the greatest number of potential buyers (be staged).
This is why I frequently refer to 'staging' as 'presentation marketing'. This runs the gamut from upgrades/improvements like painting, replacing knobs on cabinets, replacing flooring, etc; to the standard decluttering, depersonalizing, neutralizing, cleaning, and deodorizing; to storing excess furniture and accessories; to bringing furnishings into a vacant house; to arranging the furnishings so each room makes sense and feels right. Again, this is done within the seller's budget. If new flooring would really improve the marketing but would also 'break the bank', then the old floors get cleaned.
4) Be advertised correctly.
Pictures of the house should be the best quality possible (in some cases this means hiring a professional RE photographer), and should NOT be taken before the presentation marketing is complete. Those pics, and a really clear, inclusive written description should saturate the internet. All other advertising venues, publications, open houses, brokers open houses, etc; should be employed.
I do run on, don't I? Think it may be because I have seen some amazing things happen when everything is done right?
I usually add one item to the list of things that sell a home, and I make the list somewhat differently:
When a house is for sale it should:
1) Be priced right for the area and for it's condition
If the house is over priced, it may not even be seen by it's target audience (not be found by price-based internet searches.) If it is found, and if potential buyers like it, the buyers may assume the seller is unwilling to negotiate if they receive a significantly lower bid. We are talking about selling something here, price is key.
2) Be in the best condition the seller can afford.
By this I mean catch up deferred maintenance, have a home inspection and address as many items on the inspection report as possible then acknowledge in a disclaimer any items that are not addressed.
3) Show in a manner that makes sense and appeals to the greatest number of potential buyers (be staged).
This is why I frequently refer to 'staging' as 'presentation marketing'. This runs the gamut from upgrades/improvements like painting, replacing knobs on cabinets, replacing flooring, etc; to the standard decluttering, depersonalizing, neutralizing, cleaning, and deodorizing; to storing excess furniture and accessories; to bringing furnishings into a vacant house; to arranging the furnishings so each room makes sense and feels right. Again, this is done within the seller's budget. If new flooring would really improve the marketing but would also 'break the bank', then the old floors get cleaned.
4) Be advertised correctly.
Pictures of the house should be the best quality possible (in some cases this means hiring a professional RE photographer), and should NOT be taken before the presentation marketing is complete. Those pics, and a really clear, inclusive written description should saturate the internet. All other advertising venues, publications, open houses, brokers open houses, etc; should be employed.
I do run on, don't I? Think it may be because I have seen some amazing things happen when everything is done right?
- Kate Case, "Kate_HomeStager"
- Contributions:78
There are three things that sell a home:
1.) It needs to be priced right for its area.
2.) It needs to be staged correctly.
3.) It needs to be marketed correctly online.
If the home is overpriced, no amount of staging will ever get it to sell. Staging needs to be done prior to the digital pictures are taken and posted on the MLS. This way all the potential buyers will see the home in its best light. Today, over 85% of potential home buyers are searching the Internet first for a new home. This means that a home's MLS photos need to be clear, bright, and staged correctly to impress everyone who sees them.
I think staging has its place in (1) of the (3) steps needed to sell a home quickly and for the right amount of money.
1.) It needs to be priced right for its area.
2.) It needs to be staged correctly.
3.) It needs to be marketed correctly online.
If the home is overpriced, no amount of staging will ever get it to sell. Staging needs to be done prior to the digital pictures are taken and posted on the MLS. This way all the potential buyers will see the home in its best light. Today, over 85% of potential home buyers are searching the Internet first for a new home. This means that a home's MLS photos need to be clear, bright, and staged correctly to impress everyone who sees them.
I think staging has its place in (1) of the (3) steps needed to sell a home quickly and for the right amount of money.
- Ryan Dressel
- Contributions:12
You should know Kathleen Lordbock. (as REA and stager) Staging encompasses a whole range of services. When hiring one, the client should ask their qualifications, training, view portfolio, ask for references and ask to see an existing property. When priced correctly, in a good location, with some aspect of staging and preparation... the home should sell quickly and for more money than area comps.
- Kathleen Lordbock, "Kathleeen Lordbock"
- Contributions:121
As a Keller Williams REALTOR/Staging Specialist in the Brainerd Lakes area of MN - I can tell you that my listings are all staged and sell very quickly. The last 3 were: in under 30 days, 4 days and the first day on the market. Why? They show very well, white glove clean, repairs made, priced right and marketed to the max. Do not leave staging out of the equation..
- Ann Alderson, "AnnAlderson"
- Contributions:2
"The truth that any seller must know is that in the end, pricing gets you in the game -- staging gets you the offer,"says Gary Keller, author of SHIFT, How Top Real Estate Agents Tackle Tough Times. "In a shift, staging may determine if it sells at all. Staging is that important."
- Jill Morgan Seitz, GRI, "jmseitz"
- Contributions:63
I think that first impressions are very important. The more attractive a home is the easier it is to sell. If the home is vacant sometimes Buyers have a hard time "picturing" where to put the furniture especially if the room has some design issues. Sometimes furniture stores will let you use furniture in return for advertising them in the home and we have even gone as far as to buy some pieces in the past that can be used over and over in homes, generic type couch etc from clients that were selling their home and wanted the furniture gone...great deal for them, even better deal for us when staging a home.
If the home is occupied then get rid of the clutter...nothing is worse than a home with too much stuff. Suggest that the sellers get a bunch of boxes and start packing things away and get a storage unit.
I think that first impressions are important with todays market being so competitive. I believe in staging the outside of the home even more than the inside. Clean yard, new door mat, paint the front door, clean off spyder webs, sweep the front porch and put potted flowers...it makes all of the difference if the buyers see that the sellers "take care of the home" when they first approach the home.
If the home is occupied then get rid of the clutter...nothing is worse than a home with too much stuff. Suggest that the sellers get a bunch of boxes and start packing things away and get a storage unit.
I think that first impressions are important with todays market being so competitive. I believe in staging the outside of the home even more than the inside. Clean yard, new door mat, paint the front door, clean off spyder webs, sweep the front porch and put potted flowers...it makes all of the difference if the buyers see that the sellers "take care of the home" when they first approach the home.
- sunnyview
- Contributions:25139
Actually a stager can bring in the furniture until the house sells so that it looks good for the showing too and not just the photos. I do not know the cost, but I have spoken to Nancy Lee in the past online about staging costs overall. Some stagers are flat rate depending on the period of time the house is on the market, size of the house and amount of staging done. Other stagers charge a small percentage based on the final selling price. Miss Nancy may be able to give you a ballpark or a referral to someone in your area that could give you an offhand idea. Here is her profile. Hope it helps.
- westridge88
- Contributions:134
this could be a dumb question as I dont know alot about staging. If you wanted to stage a vacant home...i am under the impression that the stager brings in the furniture for a 1 day picture day and then removes the furniture....if the furniture stays i would think the costs would be high for a 3800ft2 home. any idea on the costs for this??
- sunnyview
- Contributions:25139
Yes, it makes a difference especially if the price is right.
- real estate mike
- Contributions:2001
In this buyers market if the sellers have the extra dough, yes. In a sellers market with an entry level or lower end house where the sellers are already neat, no. So right now in my opinion, yes. I also know that a short sale has to be emotionally draining on a seller but these houses should be neat also. Why not be the best looking short sale in your neighborhood?
- Mary Fasnacht, "Mary Fasnacht"
- Contributions:6
We often have a hard time seeing our own home objectively. A professional stager brings a trained and objective eye to the property and makes prioritized recommendations on how to best prepare the to have the best impact on potential buyers.
Effective staging is more important now than ever when there are more homes on the market and fewer buyers. Staging is a cost-effective way to set your property apart from the competition. The staging investment costs way less than a seller's first price reduction and the statistics show that staged homes sell faster, reducing carrying and marketing costs for the seller and the realtor.
In addition, buyers shop with logic and buy on emotion. Professional staging helps buyers to make the emotional connection with a home that leads to a purchase. Buyers pick the house that "feels right" the one that "feels like home" for them.
Effective staging is more important now than ever when there are more homes on the market and fewer buyers. Staging is a cost-effective way to set your property apart from the competition. The staging investment costs way less than a seller's first price reduction and the statistics show that staged homes sell faster, reducing carrying and marketing costs for the seller and the realtor.
In addition, buyers shop with logic and buy on emotion. Professional staging helps buyers to make the emotional connection with a home that leads to a purchase. Buyers pick the house that "feels right" the one that "feels like home" for them.
- Linda Strasberg, "L Strasberg"
- Contributions:2315
In this market it is.
- Liz Harrison, "Spruce It Up!"
- Contributions:40
Thanks for your comments Jeff. I have mentioned on other blogs that I always recommend to my clients that they pay for a qualified home inspector to assess things before the house goes on the market. That's the time to make repairs, on the sellers terms and time frame. Then there is little risk of an offer being lost because there are issues that come up on an inspection. I say, over and over again...don;t give the buyers a point of negotiation! Staging can alleviate any doubts for the buyer.
- Jeff Molloy, "CheckmanJeff"
- Contributions:42
As a professional Home Inspector I can tell you that a staged home is far more impressive and much easier to inspect then one that is "lived in"
In a buyers market you need every advantage and and I have seen time and time again how insulted sellers get when they are told they should change their home to sell it. Wake up Sellers....you are now the Store Owner and the Customers can shop elsewhere!
When a home if packed with items in every closet and cabinet I ask myself " Do these people really want to sell this place?" did they forget I was comming to inspect the home for the potential buyer.....dont they know that most problems show up at/after the inspection????
I go into homes everyday to inspect and people dont even flush the toilets! Amazing.
Im with Liz Harrison on this one....at least get a professional opinion and then HELP help yourself if nothing else. I also summize that virtually every agent thinks they are "stagers" also. ( You should see how many Agents I meet that are Home Inspectors too)
A real pro always knows when to hire someone else...this is one of those times.
In a buyers market you need every advantage and and I have seen time and time again how insulted sellers get when they are told they should change their home to sell it. Wake up Sellers....you are now the Store Owner and the Customers can shop elsewhere!
When a home if packed with items in every closet and cabinet I ask myself " Do these people really want to sell this place?" did they forget I was comming to inspect the home for the potential buyer.....dont they know that most problems show up at/after the inspection????
I go into homes everyday to inspect and people dont even flush the toilets! Amazing.
Im with Liz Harrison on this one....at least get a professional opinion and then HELP help yourself if nothing else. I also summize that virtually every agent thinks they are "stagers" also. ( You should see how many Agents I meet that are Home Inspectors too)
A real pro always knows when to hire someone else...this is one of those times.
- Liz Harrison, "Spruce It Up!"
- Contributions:40
Hype is about alot of talk and no action. Staging has been around for 35 years so its not a flash in the pan. Go to the Real Estate Stagers Association website (RESA) and look at the 2008 Stats for successful sales. Nationally, the average number of days on the market was about 190...unless the house was staged. For professionally staged homes, the average number of days on the market was 28. Yes 28! That's not hype, that's fact and magic!.
Sellers can stage a home but honestly, many just don't have the "eye" or the knack for it. The best way to DIY is to hire a professional stager to do a detailed consultation. For just a few hindred dollars, the seller will get all the necessary recommendations and tips to stage the home successfully. I have several of those "for Dummies" books but always find it a better use of my time and money to talk to the mechanic or the computer techie or an accountant. Watching all the Staging shows on HGTV doesn't make someone a stager!
Sellers can stage a home but honestly, many just don't have the "eye" or the knack for it. The best way to DIY is to hire a professional stager to do a detailed consultation. For just a few hindred dollars, the seller will get all the necessary recommendations and tips to stage the home successfully. I have several of those "for Dummies" books but always find it a better use of my time and money to talk to the mechanic or the computer techie or an accountant. Watching all the Staging shows on HGTV doesn't make someone a stager!
- Nancy Lee, "An OrderLee Home"
- Contributions:1195
As a professional stager, I believe there are people who can emotionally remove themselves from their home, do the research, and successfully stage their houses. I believe in, and support, these people so much that I provide them with a lot of how-to information. I was once one of them, and it took just over a week to sell my staged house. However, staging is like any other home improvement: some people can DIY it, some people need to hire a professional. The important thing is to correctly asses your abilities, limitations, available time, and budget. A poorly staged house can be as off-putting as an unstaged house. Whoever does it, it needs to be done right.
- DarlaBR
- Contributions:20
I agree that staging is worth it, but don't think you have to hire a professional to get the results you need. Do some reading (there are great articles on the Internet as well as books on the topic). Many agents can provide this service if they're willing to invest the time in learning. Or home owners can just do it themselves if they can separate themselves from the idea of it being "their" home and instead looking at it as if through the eyes of a buyer.
Just a side note to those who provide staging services (or otherwise promote it): When showing "before" and "after" pics, have the photos be from the same identical position and angle. Showing a before photo from one angle and an after photo from a different angle (or room) is just not very effective in proving the point...
Just a side note to those who provide staging services (or otherwise promote it): When showing "before" and "after" pics, have the photos be from the same identical position and angle. Showing a before photo from one angle and an after photo from a different angle (or room) is just not very effective in proving the point...
- NTETS, "Mr Caveat"
- Contributions:6436
reviving a thread from febuary 9th 2009... and you are wrong!
not saying that it will perform miracles but if given the choice between 8 homes with roughly the same square footage and price you will most likely go with the one that flows better, feels more comfortable, feels more open, and feels more finished... that is inevitably the professionally decorated, well staged home... note, dressing your home up like an office suite does not count...
not saying that it will perform miracles but if given the choice between 8 homes with roughly the same square footage and price you will most likely go with the one that flows better, feels more comfortable, feels more open, and feels more finished... that is inevitably the professionally decorated, well staged home... note, dressing your home up like an office suite does not count...
- kendall creighton, "Helsinski"
- Contributions:15
No.
Declutter to death, then declutter some more. Spotlessly clean, spartan, minimal personal artifacts, freshly painted, sterilized interior --goes further than re-arranging existing furniture or cheap rentals from Coit, etc.
Staging is passé.
Declutter to death, then declutter some more. Spotlessly clean, spartan, minimal personal artifacts, freshly painted, sterilized interior --goes further than re-arranging existing furniture or cheap rentals from Coit, etc.
Staging is passé.
Is staging really worth all of the hipe?
-
- 0.0/5.0
- (no reviews)
Contributions:1Stating a discriminatory preference in an advertisement for housing is illegal. If you think this content is discriminatory or otherwise inappropriate and feel it should be removed from Zillow, please let us know by completing the information above.
We will review this content. Thanks for helping make the site more useful to everyone. To learn more, read Zillow's Good Neighbor Policy.