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Statistics say that 90% of your buyers will not be able to imagine how they can live in your home other than the way you’ve staged each space. It means this: if your home has no formal or dedicated space for dining, and your small living room is staged as a living room AND a dining room… the majority of your buyers will likely feel that their living room furniture will not fit into this dual dining/living space… and they’ll move on.  The other 10% will see that removing the dining feature out of the space opens up the entire room for their living room furniture.  This is a real-life scenario that was shared with me… the buyers loved the house, but the staging was too crowded in the living room, and the buyers walked away.

Here’s my take: I’m all about showcasing possibilities but be careful to not to crowd a space in the name of creating options. In the above scenario, the home was older, with no formal dining room except a small eating area in the kitchen. The stager could have painted the picture of dining in the living room by  using a small round table with a chair pulled up in a corner… (instead of a full size dining table and 4 chairs). This could have looked like a place to eat, read a book, or catch up on emails.  In one of my recent stages, the dining chairs we brought ended up being too big for the room… potentially causing buyers to turn away for lack of walking space. So we took the chairs back and swapped them for a different option with a slimmer profile. Problem solved!!  The dining space looked pretty AND had plenty of walking space.

Buyers are looking for space… and your staging can go a long way to showcase a gorgeous, spacious home for buyers to fall in love with! Remember to stage for the 90% … if a space is crowded, that’s what they’ll feel. If a room looks spacious, that’s what they’ll see. You cannot afford to leave your potentially largest investment up to the imaginations of your buyers. Help them see how your home is where they’ll live their best life!

Staging a vacant home is nuanced. There are decisions to make regarding which rooms to stage (only main living spaces?), how to stage them (as a bedroom or an office?), and what to stage them with (current homeowner furniture, thrifted pieces, new?)… and regardless of how you answer the first 3 questions,  there’s one key that will make each space amazing… and that is STYLE!  Staging a vacant home is about creating an emotional connection between potential buyers and the property… and style plays a key role in that! A well-styled home, using current and relevant design, can make the space feel warm, welcoming, and lived-in, helping buyers imagine themselves living there. On the other hand, a clean but un-styled home can feel cold, uninviting, and impersonal. So, while cleaning is important for creating a good impression, it is not enough to create the emotional connection that is crucial in selling a home. Style helps to elevate the property, making it stand out and appealing to potential buyers.

Think about purchases you’ve been influenced to make because they were styled (marketed) well. Imagine a beautiful dress just hanging on a rack… verses staging the dress on a model with appropriate accessories! Style sells!! Style is pretty… and we all want it. It can be the reason someone wants your home!!

However you stage… think about styling. Make it attractive, and the people will come!

A reader recently posed this question: ”Home Staging seems like it could be super expensive to hire it done… could we do it ourselves?” The bottom-line answer, in short, is… maybe!!  There’s two parts to this question… is it expensive, and can we do it ourselves?

Homeowners view home staging as an expense, but in reality, it is an investment that can pay off in many ways. Here are a few reasons why Home Staging is an investment and not an expense:

1. Faster Sale: Staging can help your home sell faster, often within a few weeks or even days. This means you can move on to your next home more quickly, saving you time and money in the long run.

2. Higher Sale Price: A well-staged home often sells for more than one that is not staged. This is because buyers are more likely to be attracted to a home that is clean, well-organized, and visually appealing. The added value can be substantial, making home staging a wise investment.
3. Better Return on Investment: If you are looking to maximize your return on investment (ROI), home staging is an excellent choice. The costs associated with staging are often small compared to the potential return, making it one of the most cost-effective ways to increase your home’s value.
4. Competitive Advantage: With so many homes for sale, it can be difficult to stand out from the competition. Staging gives you an advantage by making your home more attractive to potential buyers. A well-staged home is more likely to receive offers and sell faster than a similar home that is not staged.
5. Reduced Stress: Selling a home can be stressful, especially if it takes a long time to sell. Staging can help reduce the stress associated with selling by making your home more appealing and helping it sell faster.

The second aspect is: can we do this ourselves?!  No doubt there are many talented homeowners who could do an exceptional job readying their home for the MLS. They would have a natural talent for design and have likely already designed and styled their homes beautifully. If this is you… I would still encourage you to invest in a Home Staging Consultation. At The Inviting Home, this is a service we offer consisting of a 2 hour walk-through during which room-by-room recommendations are given for the home seller to implement. The reason is this: we don’t look at our homes objectively. We think everything is perfect for us… and therefore must be perfect for other buyers! Maybe! But more often than not, a fresh set of eyes in our spaces will reveal staging tips/tricks that the typical, though talented, home seller hasn’t thought of.  The consultation is a small investment for the sale of your (most likely) largest investment.

And for the home seller who doesn’t have a natural gift of home design, I urge you to research Home Stagers in your area. Check out their portfolio so you have an idea of his/her aesthetic. Typically, home sellers should expect to pay 3% of their asking price to prepare their home for the market.  This could include repairs, updates, and the marketing costs of home staging. As noted above, staged homes typically sell faster, and for more, than un-staged… so this will work to your advantage and the cost to stage will be an investment worth making.

The following home wasn’t staged … the home seller tidied and decluttered… and presented the home as is. It didn’t sell. After moving, and hiring The Inviting Home to vacant stage the property, the home had an accepted offer within days.  To the home sellers credit… they tried!!  The home didn’t look horrible… but it didn’t showcase the possibilities that home staging did. It was an expense… turned investment… that the sellers were pretty happy about!!

Bottom line: Home Staging is an investment.  Its part of the price you’ll pay to bring your product to market. As in most markets, you want a competitive edge… and Home Staging will give it to you!

1. Increased Curb Appeal: Vacant staging can make a house look more inviting, increasing its curb appeal and attracting more potential buyers.
2. Better Photo Opportunities: A staged home will have better lighting and furniture placement, providing better photo opportunities and attracting more online views.
3. Faster Sales Time: A staged home typically sells faster than an unstaged home, allowing homeowners to move on to their next chapter more quickly.
4. Higher Offer Prices: Staged homes often receive higher offer prices because potential buyers can envision themselves living in the space, which can lead to a bidding war.
5. Reduced Stress: Staging a house can take some of the stress out of the selling process, as homeowners don’t have to worry about moving all of their belongings or making the house presentable on their own.
6. Better Negotiating Position: A staged home can put the homeowner in a better negotiating position, as they can demonstrate the full potential of the space to buyers.
7. Improved Functionality: Staging can highlight the functionality of a house and draw attention to areas that may have been overlooked otherwise.
8. Increased Marketing Reach: A staged home can be marketed more effectively, reaching a larger pool of potential buyers and increasing the chances of a successful sale.
9. Increased Home Value: A staged home can increase in value, as potential buyers are more likely to make an offer when they can see the full potential of the space.
10. Better Online Presentation: A staged home will have better online presentation, as the photos and videos will showcase the house in its best light, attracting more potential buyers.

Vacant staging is a smart investment for homeowners who want to sell their house quickly and for the highest possible price. By attracting more potential buyers, a staged home can increase the chances of a successful sale, reduce stress, and provide a better online presentation.