Staging vs. Empty

Should I stage my home or leave it empty?

Like it or not, staging a home has become an essential step in the selling process.  Prospective buyers have come to expect neutral walls, minimal decor, and yes, even furniture with clean straight lines, appropriately positioned in each room.  Despite all the effort you may have to put in, the actuality is a well-staged home WILL SELL. Lately, our clients have sought our opinion on staging a home as opposed to leaving it empty.  Our own Realtors have seen everything, from staging, to empty, to lived-in.  Here’s the reason why we believe keeping it clean and nicely decorated is important:   Leaving your home empty leaves is susceptible to criticism Think about an empty room – what’s left to look at? - The walls, the molding, the ceiling, maybe a rack in the closet?  If everything is not up to snuff, you’re leaving your empty space pretty vulnerable.  People will critique even when there is little to critique about.  Filling a room with furniture may make them concentrate more on the overall room and not on a small hole left by a hanging picture frame. How should we use this room? Taking the guess work out of the layout of your home will make the selling process faster and more efficient.  Ultimately, buyers will step into your home and imagine their own.  They may be looking for certain types of rooms – an office, a playroom, a dining room, a guest bedroom, etc.  Showcasing these rooms gives them the opportunity to mentally check them off their list. It’s hard to gauge the size of an empty room Finding the perfect home is a mental process.  Upon entering a room, buyers are picturing how their own furniture and décor will come into play.  Will the king size bed fit in this room?  Where will we put the desk?  Having furniture in place, though it might not be the same size and dimensions, will assist in giving a good reference point as to how their own will fit. An empty house is not a home This is a fine line.  On one hand, you have to remove everything that says “you” – pictures, knick knacks, and any excess of décor.  On the other hand, emptying it completely makes it look less like a home and more like an abandoned house.  The key is to fill it with just enough to make it presentational.  Not “lived-in”, but inviting, so that anyone can picture themselves living there. Statistics have shown that a staged home will stay on the market for approximately 32 days, while an unstaged home will remain for up to 200.  Investing in something you’re ready to get rid of might not be what you want to hear, but the return is great. Homes that sit on the market, usually see 1 to 2 (sometimes 3) reductions in price – depending on how long they sit.  And, if you’re still making monthly mortgage payments, you can add that in as well.  A well-staged home will give you license to increase the listing price, speed up the selling process and in the end, put more money in your pocket.

Article by Kim Fromentin

for Compass Real Estate Group, LLC

www.compassreg.com

Tips to Sell Your Home faster

We all know the importance of a 

first impression.  

Apply these suggestions so your home

doesn’t overstay its welcome on the market.

CURB APPEAL

This is one of the most important steps.  People often judge a book by its cover, and if your home isn’t well kept on the outside, chances are you won’t get much activity on the inside. 

Keep up with landscaping – mow the lawn, trim any overgrown hedges and make sure your front walk is presentable.  In addition, remove any outside toys, wash the windows and make your front door welcoming – maybe a fresh door mat or a seasonal wreath.

DE-CLUTTER

When a prospective buyer first steps into your home, they should immediately notice the layout.  They shouldn’t be distracted by too much furniture, toys or wall hangings.  Remove everything that you can live without. 

KEEP IT CLEAN

When buyers look at multiple properties, they will start to associate certain things with each home so they’ll remember it.  You want your home to be remembered for a nice yard or a great location; not because it was dirty.  Vacuum, dust, make sure the kitchen and bathrooms are clean, and keep the house in a tidy condition – as if you were expecting company.

REMOVE YOURSELVES

Potential buyers want to picture themselves in your home, so images of you and your family must go.  Which leads us to…

START PACKING

Get a head start on your move by packing anything you don’t absolutely need.  You can give a buyer a better prospective of the closet space if you remove the seasonal clothes you’re not using at the moment.  People would rather see a neat arrangement of moving boxes in the basement rather than excess clutter.

LIGHTEN UP

Before showing your home, open blinds or curtains to filter in natural light.  Turn on any decorative lighting to create a warm atmosphere. 

MAKE YOUR ROOMS INVITING

Once you list your home, it’s technically not yours anymore.  What may have worked for you might not be appealing to someone else; so don’t be afraid to move your furniture around.  Highlight the features and focal points in each room, such as a fireplace, a window seat, etc.

NEUTRALIZE YOUR WALLS

Only if the color palette in your home might possibly remind your potential buyers of being under a circus tent should you consider slapping some neutral tones on the walls.  Ultimately, people will change the walls to what they prefer, but it doesn’t hurt to give them a clean slate to work with.

ADD AN EXTRA SPECIAL TOUCH

If you want to add a little something extra, a potted plant on the front doorstep, fireplace candelabra, and dining room floral arrangement are all nice touches. 

Article by Kim Fromentin