Home Staging: The Key to First Impressions When Selling Your Home

When you have a potential buyer request a viewing of your home, you have passed the first test. Your home meets some or most of their search criteria and the listing looks appealing enough for them to want to see more! One of the most important things you can do now to ensure your home makes a great first impression for buyers, both online and in person, is to stage your home.

Why Stage a Home For Sale?

Home staging has been growing in popularity for many years in the real estate industry. It’s important to understand that staging goes much further than placing furniture in a home that is going on the market for sale. The prime reasons staging has become commonplace is due to consumer demand and the increase of online home shopping.

Most, if not all, buyers first see a home online, so the listing photos matter…a lot. If your home is too cluttered and the photos are not appealing, the buyer may not even take the time to look in person. Sometimes all it takes is the wrong first impression for a potential buyer to dismiss your home entirely. If you don’t wow them at first, chances are you won’t wow them at all!

What is Home Staging?

Staging uses design and conceptualization techniques, and it might not seem like a big deal but staging your home makes a big difference when you’re trying to get the best possible price on the sale. People are more likely to purchase a home when it feels like a home to them.  You want them to be able to picture their own things in your home, not view all of your family photographs and knicknacks. Staging helps people imagine themselves living in your space.

Is Home Staging Important to Sell a Home?

Home staging is effective because it emphasizes a property’s strengths and minimizes its weak points. It allows your home to be shown at its maximum potential, presenting a well-cared for home and creating a property that gives a positive first impression. It attracts the attention and admiration of house hunting buyers, and encourages them to consider how your property fits their  requirements.  According to the Real Estate Staging Association, staged homes spend 73% less time on the market than their un-staged counterparts.

Because homes are one the most valuable assets a seller has, it just makes sense to maximize your profit for a quicker and more seamless sale. Now more than ever, buyers are looking to simplify their lives. Staging and proper preparation are crucial elements of your home’s overall marketing plan. As your trusted real estate agent, I will work with you to determine whether staging is important for your home and to what degree. If it means a smoother sale, it’s worth taking on the task!