Staged Homes are Strongly Recommended by Top Agents

Staging Facts

Courtesy of: www.StagingbyCharlotte.com

Charlotte Cochran

·  Most buyers form an opinion about a home within the first 7-10 seconds of arriving.

·  Over 90% of buyers look at homes they've found on the Internet. It is critical that your home makes a strong first impression online. Staging will help you do just that.

·  Sellers who spent $500 on staging recovered over 343% of the cost when they sold their home. (Homegain.com)

·  In controlled tests selling identical homes, professionally staged vs. those not staged, the non-staged houses sold in 102 days, while the staged houses sold in 45 days. (Real Estate Staging Association)

·  It is estimated that only 10% of home buyers can visualize the potential of a home. That means 90% are not going to be able to look past dirt, clutter, and imperfections.

·  According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR), the average staging investment is between 1 and 3% of the home's asking price, which generates a return of 8 to 10%. That's a pretty good investment.

·  In a 2009 Home Gain Survey of over 2,000 Realtors, it was discovered that home staging typically provides a 586% return on investment.

·  According to a 2011 study by HomeGain.com, these are some top updates you can make to prepare your home for sale that will result in the greatest return on your investment:

• Clean and declutter: 872%
• Lighten & brighten: 572%
• Landscaping (both front and back): 473%
• Paint interior: 250%
• Update kitchen: 237%
• Update bathroom: 172%

·  Staged homes spent 83% less time on the market than non-staged homes. (HomeGain.com)

Duke University conducted a survey to determine the importance people place on certain staging principles. In other words, they stated how important they felt these principles were when staging a home. The participants rated the principles on a scale of 1-7. These are just a few.

• Remove personal items: 6.5
• Use rooms for intended purposes: 6.49
• Remove evidence of pets: 6.48
• Turn on all the lights during showings: 6.39
• Show homes furnished (as opposed to empty): 6.39
• Remove personal photographs: 6.02

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Three Key Elements to get Top Dollar

Fix and Repair

 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 expect 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 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.

Bathroom Cleaniness

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.