Home Staging: Why It’s Worth The Investment
Not only can home staging lead to greater interest among potential buyers, but research shows that staged homes achieve higher sales prices than those without any added décor or modifications.
So if you’re looking for ways to increase your chances of getting top dollar for your home, investing in proper home staging might just be the way to go.
In this post, we will discuss why home staging is worth the investment.
What is home staging?
Whether you are a first-time home seller or a seasoned real estate investor, the goal is the same: you want to get the most value for your money. This is where home staging comes in: Home staging involves preparing your property for sale to make it more attractive to potential buyers. Staging highlights the strengths of the home and downplays any weaknesses, creating a positive first impression that encourages more extended and more comfortable viewing.
Benefits of Home Staging:
Creates a Positive First Impression
The first impression is essential when selling a home. The first thing that buyers notice when they walk into a home is its visual appeal, and this can make or break a sale.
A well-staged home creates a visually stunning and welcoming environment that makes potential buyers feel comfortable and interested.
Simple improvements, such as painting the front door, updating outdoor lighting fixtures, and adding potted plants or flowers can significantly change how your home appears to prospective buyers.
Professional home stagers have the expertise to create a visually appealing space that highlights the best features of a home and minimizes its flaws.
Creates a welcoming and comforting environment
Home staging can help create a welcoming and comfortable environment by strategically placing furniture, decor, and other items throughout the home to create a warm and inviting atmosphere.
Professional home stagers know how to arrange furniture in a way that maximizes the flow of the space and creates a cozy atmosphere.
They also use decor elements such as artwork, plants, and soft furnishings like pillows and throws to add color, texture, and warmth to the space.
By creating a welcoming environment, potential buyers will feel more comfortable and will be more likely to imagine themselves living in the home. This emotional connection is crucial when it comes to selling a home, as it helps to make the potential buyer feel at home and envision themselves living in the space.
Helps Buyers Visualize Themselves Living in the Space
Home staging creates a neutral, non-personal environment that allows potential buyers to see themselves living in the home. This visualization can be the key to closing a sale.
A professional home stager knows how to create a neutral environment that will appeal to a wider range of prospective buyers. They may use neutral colors and decor, such as soft whites and grays, and remove any overly bold or distracting decor elements. This creates a blank canvas that allows prospective buyers to envision their own personal style in the space.
By creating a neutral and non-personal environment, staging allows prospective buyers to focus on the home's best features, such as its layout, natural light, and architectural details. This can help them see the potential of the space and imagine themselves living there.
Proper furniture layout can help buyers see how they could arrange their own furniture in the space. This is especially important in rooms with unique layouts, such as a living room with an awkward shape. A home stager can arrange furniture in a way that maximizes the space and highlights the room's best features.
Boosts Your Home's Value
A well-staged home can sell for more than an un-staged home because it creates a sense of value and luxury. Staging can highlight the best features of your home by accentuating the dining room and master bedroom. These two rooms are important selling points in any home, and staging them properly can make a significant difference in how they are perceived by potential buyers.
Additionally, staging can help emphasize your home's best features and make them more noticeable to potential buyers. According to a survey by the National Association of Realtors, home staging added around 1 - 5% to a home's value.
Reduces Time on the Market
Staging can reduce the time your home spends on the market in a number of ways. Here are a few examples:
Increased appeal:
When a home is staged, it appears more attractive and move-in ready, which can make it more appealing to potential buyers. This increased appeal can generate more interest in the property and lead to quicker offers.
Better online presence:
In today's digital age, most homebuyers begin their search online. A well-staged home will look better in online photos and videos, which can generate more interest and lead to more showings.
Improved first impression:
A well-staged home creates a strong first impression for potential buyers. When buyers walk into a staged home, they are immediately drawn in by the attractive furniture, decor, and overall aesthetic. This positive first impression can lead to a quicker sale.
Increased buyer interest:
When a home is staged, it can appeal to a wider range of potential buyers. By neutralizing the decor and creating a welcoming environment, staging can make your home more appealing to buyers with different tastes and preferences.
Quicker sales process:
Because staged homes are more attractive and move-in ready, they often sell more quickly than non-staged homes. This can reduce the time your home spends on the market and help you move on to your next chapter more quickly.
Association of Realtors, staged homes spend an average of 23 days on the market, compared to 184 days for non-staged homes.
Helps You Stand Out from the Competition
Staging can help your home stand out from the competition in a number of ways.
Staging can also help your home appear more spacious and inviting. By using furniture and decor that is appropriately scaled to the space, a home stager can make rooms appear larger and more open. This can be especially important in homes that are smaller or have an unconventional layout.
Staging can also help highlight the best features of your home, such as beautiful hardwood floors or a stunning view. By using the right furniture and decor, a home stager can draw attention to these features and make them more prominent in buyers' minds.
Increases Your Return on Investment
Staging may require an initial investment, but it pays off in the end. A staged home can sell for more money, sell faster, and attract more potential buyers, resulting in a better return on your investment. Home staging doesn't have to be an expensive endeavor. It can be as simple as decluttering, depersonalizing, and deep cleaning to create an inviting atmosphere. You can also hire professional stagers or designers to specialist in creating a full home staging plan, including furniture rental and decor.
While the initial investment of home staging may seem daunting, it is important to consider the potential return on investment. By investing in professional staging, you can help your home sell more quickly and for a higher price, ultimately saving you time and money in the long run.
A study by the Real Estate Staging Association found that staged homes sell for an average of 10% more than non-staged homes.
In the long term, staging can pay off in other ways as well. For example, staging can help you build a better reputation as a seller. If you stage your home and it sells quickly and for a good price, other buyers and real estate agents may be more likely to recommend your home to others in the future.
In conclusion, if you're selling your home, home staging is an investment worth considering. Talk to your real estate agent or a professional home stager to learn more about how they can help you sell your home quickly and for top dollar.