Are you truly familiar with home staging? You may have seen many TV shows on HGTV that make home staging seem like it's a lot of work and money. Does it make a big difference to stage your home when selling your home and if so, how?
Here are a few quick FAQs I cover with all my home seller clients before we put their home on the market.
What Is Home Staging?
Staging is the process of arranging and decorating your house to highlight its best features and make it as appealing as possible to potential buyers. It can range from simple touch-ups to more extensive setups, depending on your needs and budget. In the Dallas/Fort Worth area, home buyers will also consider buying a new home. When they do, they always stop in to the builder's model home that always looks amazing. In home staging, the goal is to make your home as "model home ready" as reasonable.
How Does Staging Help Me Sell My House?
Studies show good staging does have an impact on your sale. Staging your house well can help you attract more attention from buyers, which ultimately helps it sell faster and maybe for a higher price than an unstaged home (see visual):
What Are My Staging Options?
Now that you see the value, let’s think through your options. The most common is leaning on me, as your listing agent for expert advice. I know what buyers like because I'm showing buyers other homes all the time and hear that feedback first-hand. That expertise is crucial to getting your house market-ready. Basic staging advice I provide begins with my "HOME PREPARATION GUIDE" I give to my clients that covers general staging plus important home preparation advice to minimize home inspection surprises. Basic home staging includes:
- Declutter and depersonalize by removing photos and personal items so your home's presentation does not distract buyers when envisioning themselves living in your home
- Arrange your furniture to improve the room’s flow and make it feel bigger and providing a buyer with ideas of what size furniture fits in key rooms
- Add plants, move art, or re-arrange other accessories to make your home feel welcoming and appealing
The good news is that I offer these services through my team to make this easier for you. This may also include full-service staging if you need more hands-on attention. This could include having my professional home stager providing recommendations for you to follow or do the work for you. If your home needs extensive staging services that include renting furniture and decor to more fully transform a space, this level of work is more costly but again, I will assist my clients with handling this service with my premium marketing option.
How Do I Know Which One To Pick?
Not sure which one you need? You don’t have to figure that out on your own. As your agent, I will help determine what level of staging will make the most impact on your house and market.
I will share all staging options and recommend the level of staging your home needs by also considering the following factors:
- Market Conditions: If the market is slower, going all in on staging can make your home look move-in ready and attractive to buyers who may otherwise be hesitant. If your local market is very active and homes are selling fast, you may be able to get by with doing less.
- Your Home’s Condition: If your home is vacant or has a unique layout, using a professional stager who can bring in the right furniture and accessories may help buyers truly visualize its full potential.
- Your Budget: The good news is that I offer complimentary home staging services that will not typically add any additional costs to your budget for typical staging services as that is part of my service to you. Staging can be the difference between your house selling and sitting.
Staging your house properly can make it much more attractive to buyers, but it’s not a one-size-fits-all solution, and every home shines differently. Let’s connect to talk through what your home really needs to stand out and sell for top dollar. When we meet, I'll be prepared to offer the best solution for home preparation and home staging based on the current market conditions and location. Just reach out today to schedule a FREE home seller consultation.
