Debe Maxwell, CRS states the obvious that so many miss! Statistics really do prove that staging works and I’m a firm believer. I have a favorite stager in Austin, Brian Morris with Brian David Design and he makes my listings pop. Whether they are vacant and he does full staging or a consultation with my sellers who are living in their home..he makes a difference. I call it the “Brian touch!”
To Stage or Not to Stage? It’s REALLY not an Agonizing Question!
When meeting with Charlotte home sellers, I share our own personal experience with home staging. Quite often, I get a response, “Gosh, I really don’t think we need it – it will be vacant & clean and allow the buyers to see a clean slate for their own furnishings.”
You see, that’s not what really happens; fewer than 10% of the population can actually visualize that blank slate. To the other 90%+ of the population, a vacant room appears too small for their furnishings. Even with a fully furnished home, the majority of home buyers can’t look past what’s in front of them in order to appreciate a room’s (or home’s) potential. Staging eliminates the buyer’s guesswork. That, in and of itself, is the primary reason that homes that aren’t at least somewhat staged, don’t sell as quickly or realize the amount of profit that homes that are staged.
That doesn’t even address the homes that have sellers residing in them – what if the furniture is too big, making the rooms look smaller than they are? What about those heavy draperies that are a seller’s personal taste? Most of us decorate our homes for US, not for the masses; and most sellers don’t realize that their professional decorator is NOT a professional STAGER. Stagers are, in a sense, professional decorators with a pHD!
Staging is an art, one that creates an increase in the perceived value of your home. Staging makes your home look bigger, brighter, warmer and neater, ultimately making home buyers want to buy it – and buy it NOW!
So, after you’ve completed any updating or remodeling, cleaning, de-cluttering, painting and addressed any minor repair items, it’s time to call the stager for the final, magical touch! The stager will magically transform your blank slate into something that is appealing, not just to a few buyers but, to the vast majority of buyers.*(Above: See both the before & after photos from this home – Before – two Realtors® and nearly a year on the market. We had it staged and VOILA! This home SOLD in days!)
No, not all sellers are receptive to staging in the beginning but, experience has shown me that after trying a home sale without staging and with no success, home staging always magically brings great results. The problem with that is, sellers have already lost money because they’ve had to reduce the price of their home while the home is vacant. You can’t stage a home and then increase the price – once reduced, increasing the price after staging isn’t going to get you back what you lost from not staging initially. My advice: STAGE BEFORE LISTING!
According to a report by the Real Estate Staging Association, homes that were staged PRIOR to listing (the first time), spend 90% less time on the market! Considering the monthly carrying costs — mortgage, taxes and utilities — that translates into a lot of money in the bank for sellers.
You don’t have to stage your entire home (as you can see in the infographic at the beginning of this article) but, staging the main rooms (living room, kitchen, master bedroom & bath and dining room) can really make a difference. Why not put your best foot forward to sell your home faster & for top dollar by staging it? So far, in my career, I have yet to see home staging not be a benefit in accomplishing sellers’ goals.
If you’re thinking of selling your Charlotte home, I would be happy to meet with you to share our staging professional’s information, as well as our marketing strategy that gets the job done for YOU too! Preparation is KEY to a successful sale. See how we help our sellers surpass their goals by taking the time to properly prepare their home for the market before listing it for sale. Visit www.ListMyCharlotteHome.com, call or text (704) 491-3310 or email me at DebeM@remax.net.
Hiring the RIGHT Charlotte Realtor® is critical to your home selling success!
© Debe Maxwell | The Maxwell House Group | Debe@DebeMaxwell.com | To Stage or Not to Stage? It’s REALLY not an Agonizing Question!
(THE best Charlotte home search available – no kidding!)
Charlotte NC Real Estate Agents
Debe Maxwell, Realtor®/Broker/CRS
CharlotteBroker@icloud.com
Direct: (704) 491-3310
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