MAXIMIZE THE RETURN ON YOUR MOST VALUABLE ASSET BY STAGING YOUR HOME

People decide whether to buy a home within minutes of walking through the door.  Sometimes they don't even go inside! It's an emotional reaction. Make your home the one they want to see and the one they want to buy.

BUYERS ONLY KNOW WHAT THEY SEE ... NOT THE WAY IT COULD BE

You must grab the buyer's attention, then help them visualize themselves living in the home. This is the purpose of staging to sell! It helps the buyers mentally move in.

When you place your home on the market it becomes a product. Similar to a product on the shelf at your local store, the product has features and benefits as well as pluses and minuses. It also has competition . To compete, your "product" (your house) must be priced right and look better than the other products (houses). Since your home may be no different than many homes for sale, you must present it in the best possible light.

THE WAY YOU LIVE IN A HOME AND THE WAY YOU SELL A HOUSE ARE TWO DIFFERENT THINGS.

WHAT IS STAGING TO SELL?

WHY YOU NEED TO STAGE YOUR HOME

HOW YOU BENEFIT BY STAGING YOUR HOME

WHEN SHOULD A HOME BE STAGED?

HOW IS STAGING DIFFERENT FROM DECORATING?

STAGING FAQs FOR HOMESELLERS

WHAT IS STAGING TO SELL?

Staging is the process of preparing a home for sale regardless of price, condition or location. Using a proven set of guidelines we will evaluate your home and determine what needs to be done to place your home in the best showing condition, so your home appeals to a broader audience of buyers.

WHY YOU NEED TO STAGE YOUR HOME

• Less Out-of-Pocket ~ What you invest in staging is LESS than your FIRST price reduction ! Costs to stage are reasonable compared to a price reduction, which is usually $5,000 or more and usually decided by your agent, not you!
• You Get More Money ~ Statistics gathered by stagedhomes.com showed that Staged homes netted 3-10% more on average than their un-Staged competition. Using a $300,000 home as an example, this would mean a potential $9,000 to $30,000 equity gain.
• Sell Faster ~ According to the stagedhomes.com statistics Staged homes sold 2 to 3 times faster on average than their un-Staged competition.
• Edge Over the Competition ~ To set your home apart from the rest it needs to have a fresh appearance. Your competition may be model homes. Even if you're competing with older homes you need the edge Staging provides. Many of the homes you are competing with will be Staged because more people are becoming aware of the benefits of Staging, thanks to TV shows such as Sell This House on A&E and Designed to Sell on HGTV .

HOW YOU BENEFIT BY STAGING YOUR HOME

• Increase Your Profit ~ Homes that sell faster usually sell closer to the asking price. This means more money in YOUR pocket.
• Have a Better Product & Beat the Competition ~ Staged homes stand out from comparable ones.  They also typically sell sooner.
• Reduce Your Stress ~ Selling a home and moving are stressful situations.  Staging your home speeds the process (and thus reduces the stress).  It also reduced the risk of carrying two mortgages.
• Condense the Timeframe ~ The less time your house is on the market, the easier it is to finalize plans for moving. You are eager to get back to a more normal life, especially if children are involved.
• Less Work ~ Keeping a home presentable for showings is difficult in the best of circumstances.  A fast-selling home reduces your daily work! Statistics prove staged homes sell faster.
• Less Inconvenience ~ A quick sale means fewer showings, less time when you must leave your home and disrupt your schedule.
• Prestige ~ When a home has been professionally Staged, it can be registered by the Realtor in the Multiple Listing Service as a Staged Home.  Staged Homes are recognized by real estate agents and result in more showing activity. The net result is a lot more exposure for your home. When a home is Staged by an ASP certified professional it can qualify for special promotional materials including special street signs and print material designations that increase exposure to potential buyers.

WHEN SHOULD A HOME BE STAGED?

BEFORE a Realtor views it
BEFORE the price is set
BEFORE photos are taken for the MLS listing
BEFORE agent tours
Why before? Because you want the home to look its best so it will list at the highest possible price.

HOW IS STAGING DIFFERENT FROM DECORATING?

Decorating reflects the homeowner's personality. The purpose of staging is to help the buyer envision THEMSELVES living in the home.

"The way you live in a home and the way you sell your house are two very different things!"
	Barb Schwarz, founder of the home staging industry

In a market loaded with stunningly decorated model homes, Staging give the resale house a better chance of selling quickly by making it appeal to the largest number of buyers. 

STAGING FAQs FOR HOMESELLERS

Q. My house is already on the market. Is it too late to stage it?
Absolutely not. It's not uncommon for homes to be Staged after sitting on the market for a while. In many cases, we may ask you to take the home off the market for a week while we perform the Stating and then re -enter the market with an open house.

Q. How long does it take to stage a home?
It depends on what needs to be done to put the home in its most marketable state. It could be as little as one day or as much as two weeks or more for a home that needs repairs and updating.

Q. My home is vacant. Should it be staged?
YES! Buyers need to see how their furniture will fit into your home. Staging it with accessories and perhaps some furniture vignettes allow the buyers to assess the scale of the house as well as bringing warmth and friendliness to the rooms. Furniture can be rented inexpensively through our local vendor contacts.

Q. I know my house needs a few repairs. Should I fix them or sell the house "as is"?
Our Staging consultation will identify the repairs that will increase the market value of your home and which will not recoup their cost.

Q. Why should I put money into a house I won't be living in?
Most home buyers want to move in and start living. While some people purchase homes for the specific purpose of fixing them up, most buyers don't have this in mind. Dollars invested up front statistically result in a higher selling price and more than pay for themselves. A professional Stager can tell you what enhancements are worth making. Curb-appeal enhancement can entice a buyer into a home that they may otherwise have passed over without visiting.

Q. I know I have too much stuff. What do I do with it all?
Since you will be moving anyway, and needing to pack up your items, we encourage you to start packing now as part of the Staging process. Clutter is one of the major hindrances to home sales. You may be able to store your items in an out-of-the-way place in the home or, we can connect you with storage vendors who bring containers to your home and, after you fill them, will remove the containers to storage facilities until you are ready in your new home.

Q. Can I do the Staging myself?
Moving can be stressful as you plan for your new home and prepare to leave familiar surroundings, however, if you choose to do some of the work yourself to economize, we can provide direction. During the consultation we will evaluate your house and advise which investments can best enhance the value of your home to increase the selling price.

Staging costs can be recovered in the selling price of your home.

We work with your Realtor. Their job is to market your home. Our job is to prepare it for marketing. A better product is easier to market and sells faster. Your Realtor is our partner in the sale of your home.