Staging By Charlotte Slideshow

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Staged Homes are Strongly Recommended by Top Agents

Eight Reasons Why

1. They make more commissions:
Listings sell quicker
Listings sell for more money
Less money spent on advertising because home sells faster

2. Less chance of negotiating commissions if price drops

3. Avoids having to be a bad guy and tell their client negative things

4. Home is shown more often, increasing there reputation community awareness

5. Builds their reputation for excellence and marketing

6. Appraisers may appraise a home that looks sharp higher than one that doesn't

7. More time to pursue other deals because their listing sells faster

8. Ego - Every agent loves to have a beautiful home as a listing. Well staged homes are a win-win situation for both the listing agent and the seller. So take advantage of this opportunity.

Three Key Elements to get Top Dollar

Fix and repair things. Buyers expect their home to be in good repair. They do not want dripping faucets, leaking roof's or damaged doors. They expect that the garage door will go up and down in a normal fashion and that the doors will open and shut easily. They're not looking for everything to be new, they only want things to be undamaged and operate properly.

Clean the home. When buying something new, you want it to be clean. Likewise, when buyers are buying their home, it is new to them and they expected it to be clean. Clean and shiny things sell much better than dirty and messy things. The same is true with your home.

When a home is clean and well repaired, it doesn't mean that it is desirable. To have your home sell faster and for more, you need to have it be desirable. You want buyers to desire your home over all the other homes on the market.

Staging creates the strong desire. Through properly staging your home you will create focal points and a sense of lifestyle. One where buyers picture themselves relaxing, raising a family or entertaining friends.

Curb Appeal

Make Your Home Standout

Without this, your home will not stand out and may lag on the market. By using what you already have you can make your home more appealing.

• Create focal points - ones which buyers will remember.
  
• Edit how the rooms are arranged. Furniture, photos, lighting, flowers, etc.
  
• Stage both the interior and exterior areas to create interest and desire.

Staging Pays - 12 Reasons Why

1. 1. Faster sales time

Staged homes sell much more rapidly than non-staged homes. Marketing experts indicate that staged homes sell 30 to 50%. The longer a home is on the market, the more likely there will be a sales reduction. Buyers think that if a home has been on the market for some time, that there must be something wrong with it or that the seller will be anxious to sell and will take much less than the asking price.

2. Positive impression

First impressions are positive on staged homes, rather then negative.

3. Less than a minute

Research has shown that buyers initially make up their mind in less than a minute on whether they want a home or not. Therefore, curb appeal is key. After a buyer's initial decision in the first minute, they will either confirm that decision or rescinded it in the next 6 to 20 minutes as they view your home.

4. Ready to move in

Staged homes appear to be in “Ready to move-in” condition. Buyers overwhelmingly prefer homes where they can just move-in and start enjoying life in their new home. They will pay a premium for this.

5. No imagination needed

When only 5% of the population can truly visualize how beautiful a home can be or see past the clutter, grime and so-so appearance; then staging becomes paramount for a fast sale at a great price.

6. Competitive advantage

Staged homes have a competitive advantage over other homes that are not staged.

7. Well maintained

Staged homes give off the appearance of being well-maintained and cared for. This is the underlying psychological message that is sent to potential buyers.

8. Appraisers

Appraisers see the home in a more positive light and are more likely to appraise the home higher than a similar non-staged home.

9. Shown more

Properly staged homes are showing much more often by realtors. For they, enjoy showing a property that is attractive and excites buyers. Well staged homes are always at the top of the list when it comes to which homes an agent will show.

10. Extra showings

Homes which do not meet a buyers exact criteria, but which are well staged, often get shown anyway, because the agent feels that the beautifully staged home, may be an exception to the buyers criteria

11. More advertising

Brokerage firms enjoy advertising beautifully staged homes, for they draw more business to their firm. You, as the seller, will benefit from their extra promotional materials and marketing

12. Higher sales price

The better home shows, the more that it will sell for. This is more dollars in your pocket. Non-staged homes are more likely to require price reductions in order to sell , versus staged homes, which are more likely to have a number of offers and possibly a bidding war or to sell over the asking price.

Kitchens #1 Influential Room

Family life and socializing has shifted to the kitchen.




Where buyer's see themselves talking with
friends and preparing gourmet meals.

Kitchens have now become the Center Stage for home life and entertaining. No longer a closed off room where food is prepared and then brought out to another room.

Lifestyles have changed, as well as, buyers expectations. Stage your kitchen properly and you will be surprised how beautiful it will be, regardless of age. You will not need to spend tons of money or remodel your kitchen to make it Center Stage.

Fabulous Kitchen 3 Necessary Steps

The first step, involves making the kitchen appear larger; that it has more room than it presently appears to have. This involves, reducing clutter and items on the counter tops, as well as removing extra pots, pans, and other stored items in the cabinets.

Second step is the proper cleaning the kitchen. Windows, floors, countertops, appliances and cabinets. This is the least costly, but most critical of the three steps.

The third step is adding the Wow. Staging the kitchen. flowers, fruit bowls, and new kitchen towels. Add a little ♥ Sex Appeal to entice your buyers.

Develop focal points that buyers’ will remember later. Distinguishing your home from others.

Tablescapes

Simple to Complex

Tablescapes should have focal points. Often these are a center piece.

Most often:

Floral arrangements
Candles
Fruit displays

Keep in mind colors and theme.

Create Luxurious Baths

Baths are the Second Most Important Room

Bright, clean and luxurious baths sell homes. Buyers just love luxurious looking bath rooms. Does this mean you need to spend lots of money and remodel. Absolutely not. But you do need to clean, brighten and stage your baths.

Romantic touches that create "sex appeal" and stimulate the imagination will remind buyers of how wonderful their life would be, if only they had your home.

Luxury with a Limited Budget

Clear all counter tops except for a few staging items.

• Plush towels, color-coordinated and staged throughout the bath.

• Flowers and striking floral displays.

• Decorative soaps and cleaned dishes or holders.

• Fresh paint or new wallpaper.

Tropical Pool Half Bath

Cabinets

Remove everything except clean soap dish with a new bar of decorative soap and staging items.

Under cabinet and in drawers

Remove and store everything possible, except bare necessities, such as you might take on a 3 week vacation.

Contact paper or shelving paper should be replaced if dirty or tore. Replace all linings with new. If none then fresh paint in these areas, for buyers often peak in the drawers or under the sink.

Toilets

• Clean toilets thoroughly. Remove all stains and calcium deposits.
• Seats. Any worn, stained or damaged toilet seats or lids should be replaced with new ones. They really make the toilet look so much better.

• Bolts – caps are often missing at the bottom edge of toilets. Put new clean bolt caps over these bolts.
• Cloth tank and seat covers should be removed. They are old fashion.

Toilet seats should always be in a down position. No blue toilet bowl cleaners left in the tanks or toilet bowls. Water should be clear.