Hot MArket or not: 5 Reasons Why Sellers Still Need to Stage Their Homes
By Laura Harvey- Jan. 25, 2021
Hot MArket or not: 5 Reasons Why Sellers Still Need to Stage Their Homes
By Laura Harvey- Jan. 25, 2021
We’ve all been through a tumultuous year filled with historic events that will shape our lives forever. So much has changed, the way we do business, socialize, entertain and educate. But one thing remains the same, the value and presentation of a staged home still outshines the competition that is void of staging. Despite the challenges faced in 2020, the housing market has continued to flourish and some would say it’s a hot one right now. So why bother staging?
Staging sets the precedence right out of the gate. It displays a home in its finest state and accentuates the positive and diminishes the negative. When potential buyers first view your home, usually online, they look at how well the home shows and how it will meet their needs. Believe it or not a house that is staged will enhance the listing photos and entice more buyers.
Here are 5 reasons why Sellers need to Stage their homes before putting it on the market:
1. First Impressions Count
We’ve all heard; “You only get one chance to make a great first impression.” When buyers initially view your home on such sites as Realtor.com they are creating an impression of how they perceive your house. In essence, they are virtually walking through your property. And according to the National Association of Realtors (NAR) when Buyers view a home in person they spend only an average of 6 minutes in the home and they form an opinion in the first 15 seconds. Buyers linger in a Staged home an average of 40 minutes.
2. Your Property Looks Current
Buyers are looking for the current trends in design, furnishings and accessories. If a home is staged with current and ‘in demand’ décor it will appear more updated no matter the age of the property. Think of it as ‘eye candy’ for the discriminating buyer. It gives an appearance of a well-maintained and quality structure.
3. Helps Detract From Undesirable Qualities
Let’s face it, not all sellers want to put money into new flooring or fixtures just to sell their home. Often they want to move on and sell ‘as is.’ Staging allows sellers to do just that. By adding current or trendy furnishings and décor a seller and their agent can project a more attractive product.
4. Buyers Can Envision Living There
When a home is professionally staged it will be enticing to buyers as they’ll be able to envision themselves in the space. Purposeful and designated spaces for home office, dining and living will yield a greater desire for purchase. Sellers will be able to deliver a ‘model home’ experience for the potential buyer. Who knows, that buyer may even want to purchase the staging furnishings as well.
5. Helps Get Highest and Best Offer
Added value means more money in the seller’s pocket. If you appeal to the masses and showcase a great looking staged home, the buyers will line up to put in an offer. This sometimes leads to backup offers or a bidding war on the property. As any real estate agent will tell you, the longer the house sits on the market the less it’s likely to obtain a higher dollar amount.
Whether the market is hot or not, sellers will benefit from staging their homes. At Staging Arizona we’ve often found that having a home staged throughout the listing process enables the home to still be well-presented should something fall out of escrow. Additionally, a staged home enhances perceived value during the appraisal process.
Schedule your Vacant Home Staging or Consultation today at StagingArizona.com or call 480.559.8328
Laura Harvey
CONTRIBUTING AUTHOR
Laura Harvey is an Interior Designer, Writer and Stager with Staging Arizona Design Group. She has a B.A.A. in Interior Design and loves home improvement and spending time with her fur baby, Ranger. When she’s not writing you’ll find her refurbishing and repurposing old furniture.