To Stage Or Not To Stage When Selling Your Home
We don’t sell homes, we sell a lifestyle, and that is the first thing you should think about when you are assessing the need to stage a home. But first let’s define what it means to “stage”. Home staging is the strategic arrangement and presentation of a property to highlight its best features and appeal to a wide array of potential buyers. It involves decluttering, depersonalizing, and overall enhancing the aesthetic appeal of the space to create a welcoming and inviting environment. From furniture placement to lighting and décor choices, every detail is carefully curated to showcase the property's potential and evoke an emotional response from buyers. Of course as an interior designer I know how important this is in drawing people in and in helping them envision themselves in the space.
In fact, maybe your home is vacant, in which case, you will want to allow potential buyers to imagine themselves going about their daily routine in your space. You’ll want them to dream of sleeping, living and gathering at the table. We also seek to give the home a wow factor, a vibe, because as they say your vibe attracts your tribe, and we know that in a sea of MLS listings those that have great design standout and get the coveted click thru. It’s really simple, homes that have inspiring furnishings and a trendy design attract more buyers and that equals more showings and more offers (fingers crossed).
In fact, in a 2021 NAR Survey, 82% of buyers agents said that staging helped their client in visualizing the property and how it could work for their family and lifestyle. And additionally, NAR also says that “a quarter of buyers are willing to overlook faults if the home was staged well.” Appearances really do matter, and when your home is tidy, sparkling clean, and professionally staged you send a message to buyers that you have taken care of your home.
So, here’s our quick list of reasons to stage:
First Impressions: They matter. Buyers will judge your property and make a decision in the first few seconds after they walk through your front door. So, think about it what impression are you giving, what do they see first, and are you making a positive first impression?
Enhance Property Features: Staging helps to draw attention to your stand out features. Think unique architecture, large windows, fireplaces, high ceilings.
Create an Emotional Connection: When buyers can see themselves in your space that becomes emotional, and when you evoke emotion you create a buyer that now feels like the home needs to be their home. Also, a good staging designer will allow buyers the opportunity to also see how they can customize the property to make it their own.
Evoke the Impression of Space: Professionally staged homes make large and oversized rooms look cozy and intimate while allowing smaller rooms to appear larger and more functional.
Photography: Homes that have a consistent design theme and are properly staged simply look more attractive in photos, and great photos means stand out listings.
Greater Return: Statistics demonstrate that staged homes typically sell faster (3-30x according to the International Association of Home Staging Professionals) and for 5-20% higher (according to RESA).
Appear more Exclusive: Homes that are staged are set apart from those that aren’t and appear to be more premium, which can translate in a home not only looking ready to go and move in ready, but potential higher marketability and offer prices.
So, while we might be bias, we honestly believe that when buyers walk through your front door, they aren’t just looking for a place to call home, they’re searching for a lifestyle. So, by helping them envision a future you begin to resonate with them on an emotional level, creating a compelling and irresistible opportunity.
Ready to sell your home? Let us help you prepare the home with our design expertise and knowledge of the current Charleston market. We’d love to connect.