Hello Bend! I’ve been in Real Estate for over 20 years now, and during the span of my career, I’ve developed a keen eye for what makes a home more desirable than others to target a quick sale. Over the years, I have paid close attention to the details–what gives certain properties an edge over others, what are the key components that draw in offers over asking price, etc. One of the tools I draw upon when representing a seller is staging. It is critical to neutralize the property as much as possible so it appeals to the highest number of people in photos and in person. The vast majority of buyers shop online and decide whether they would like to see a home or not based on the online photos. Staging your home and high-quality, professional photography makes it stand out amongst the competition.
Staging can be done in a couple of different ways, depending on whether the property is vacant or occupied. If the property is vacant, a staging company will bring in furnishings and decor to help potential buyers visualize the space and make an empty house, that may seem cold and uninviting, feel like home.
If the property is occupied, a staging consultation will itemize the various areas in the home that need attention and whether furniture should be removed or relocated to create a greater sense of space.
We’ve partnered with our local friends at Staging Spaces & Design to bring you a comprehensive blog post highlighting the ways staging your home can help you achieve a quick sale!
IMPACTFUL FIRST IMPRESSION
Staging can mean the difference between sitting and selling. When listing your house for sale, it needs to stand out to give you an edge over your competitors. For this reason, more homeowners, real estate brokers, and home builders are enlisting the help of home stagers to sell their properties faster and for top dollar.
YOUR HOME WILL SHINE ONLINE
Over 98% of buyers look online when shopping for real estate (especially now)! Whether a potential buyer goes to see your property in person will depend on the photos. It is so important to create a space that is visually pleasing in the photographs. Often times sellers make the mistake of not clearing out the clutter, which can be a huge distraction in photos and in person. This takes away from the home’s appeal. Buyers make their first decision in the first seven minutes so you want to make the first impression count.
STAGING FOR IMPACT
Home staging is the process of preparing and presenting your home so that it sells more quickly and at a higher price. By making a home appealing and attractive to the widest possible audience, a recent buyer study reports that sellers who stage their houses receive more money for them.
SEE IT THROUGH A BUYER’S EYES
According to a survey carried out by NAR (National Association of Realtors) in 2019, more than 83% of buyers said that they found staged properties easier to visualize as their next home. Buyers make an emotional connection to homes that are organized, spacious, and inviting.
STAGING FOR LIFE AND STYLE
Staging should focus on the targeted buyer’s lifestyle and needs. As experienced stagers, we provide recommendations for a specific style of furnishing and décor for the home, based on the demographics you want to attract. 10 Questions to ask when hiring a Stager
ENHANCE KEY FEATURES
It is important to strive to accent key features of the property: carpeting or clutter hides key features that buyers can’t look past. Choosing a neutral palette with the right furniture arrangement; simple and elegant accents will allow architectural features to become a focal point, increase the perceived size of rooms, and improve overall flow. Here are 5 components to consider when staging your home (and why you should hire a pro):
1. Color: Use warm and soothing colors to paint your home. Lighter shades are more attractive to the eyes and helps buyers to visualize their household items in the house.
2. Maintenance: Make your house look clean and smell nice (avoiding any harsh or fake fragrances). In addition, try to complete any home improvement project you are carrying out on your property.
3. Depersonalization & Decluttering: Remove all family photos to help potential buyers visualize the property as their home. It is also recommended to remove religious symbols. Remember, the goal is to neutralize so it appeals to the most number of people. Clutter on the countertops distracts home buyers in photos and during the viewing of your property in person.
4. Emotional Cues: Help buyers to emotionally connect with your home by decorating with neutral items such as candles or plants.
5. Furniture Placement: Place minimal furniture in your home in order to showcase the large space to potential buyers. The goal is to make the rooms feel as spacious as possible. A tip I learned early on is to show as much wall as possible by removing unnecessary furniture. Every time I personally sell my property, I rent a storage unit to store the extra furniture I remove.
Helpful Sources and articles:
“When staging a home, 22% of sellers’ agents reported an increase of one to five percent of the dollar value offered by buyers, in comparison to similar homes. Seventeen percent of respondents stated that staging a home increased the dollar value of the home between six and 10 percent.” -2019 Profile of Home Staging
https://realestateagentu.com/11-incredible-home-staging-statistics/
“A survey by Coldwell Banker Real Estate Corp. found that staged homes sell for more than 6% above the asking price.” -RealEstageAgentU
https://www.nar.realtor/infographics/infographic-effectiveness-of-home-staging
Recently, I’ve had the pleasure of working with two different sellers that had their properties on the market with another brokerage firm for six months with no offers. Once I took over the marketing and we did some key staging, we were able to get offers relatively quickly to the delight of my clients! What an amazing difference staging and high-quality photography can make! Follow along with Staging Spaces & Design on their Instagram & Facebook for fun design inspiration!
If you’ve been thinking about selling your property here in Central Oregon, I would love to help you achieve top dollar! Whether bringing in my staging partners to fill an empty space or pulling from my personal experience to guide you in how to effectively prepare your home to go on the market, I would love to help!
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Brenda Menzel, Broker
Cascade Sotheby’s Int’ l Realty ~ Hello Bend Real Estate
541-640-2125
Manta Home offers top class home staging services in California, LA. Our team is expert in the home staging, designing, and furnishing, giving your home an attractive finishing look that your potential buyers find irresistible to buy.