Home Staging For A Quick Sale At Maximum Profit
Home Staging is a fairly new trend in merchandising homes for sale to move them more quickly and at maximum price. With the real estate market suffering from foreclosures, decreased valuations, and large inventories, selling a home has become increasingly difficult. Savvy homeowners and real estate agents are using home staging techniques to help overcome these unfortunate circumstances to make their properties stand out and come out on top.
Home staging has been shown to have dramatic results. In a national survey done by HomeGain.com in 2009, it was shown that this method of merchandising offered a whopping 586% return on the investment with 82% of real estate agents recommending it as an important part of sale strategy. Home staging specialists work with homeowners to present homes in the most positive way to highlight advantages and downplay any negatives, doing it as inexpensively as possible. Unlike real estate agents who are often hesitant to advise on clutter and overly personalized decor in the fear of offending clients and losing listings, home staging experts will offer objective advice that can pay tremendous returns.
Following are some tips that will help to stage a home for a quick, successful sale:
The outside of the home makes the first impression on potential buyers. Surveys show that 63% of buyers drive past listed homes before selecting the ones they wish to view. Maximizing the “curb appeal” of the home to make it appealing is a first step.
Interior clutter and over-furnished rooms create negative statements. It makes spaces appear smaller and less livable. Closet and cabinets that are stuffed signal a lack of storage space.
Personal items such as family photos and collectibles add to a cluttered appearance and also make it more difficult for buyers to see themselves and their families in the space.
Most buyers are unable to picture their furnishings in a vacant home, making it important to stage it for sale. Vacant properties also project an image of desperation on the part of sellers, suggesting that sellers may be carrying dual mortgages. Surveys show that staged homes sell 78% sooner and at higher prices than vacant properties.
A spotlessly clean home enhances not only the appearance but the appraised value, showing that the home has been cared for and maintained. A move-in ready home will be more appealing and sell much more quickly.
These are just the beginning steps of home staging that will sell a home quickly and at maximum value in today’s down market. A home staging specialist is a valuable resource that will offer a significant return on the investment.