February 5, 2024 | Selling
Should I Stage My Home Before Putting it on the Market?
We love our homes, but will potential buyers love them as much as we do? While home buyers may love your location or landscaping, they might not fall in love with your favorite collectibles, family photos or sentimental decor. A fresh palette and neutral furnishings invite buyers to imagine themselves living in the space. Consider taking the time to declutter, remove personal items and refresh your home with staged furnishings. Suddenly, your home could feel like a buyer’s dream home.
In this blog post, we’ll discuss the critical role of home staging in the listing process. You’ll never get a second chance to make a first impression, and nothing makes a better impression on buyers than a professionally staged home.
Create a Connection
Staging your home is not just about rearranging furniture or removing a few items. It’s about creating that all-important emotional connection with buyers. Replacing personal items with neutral, modern decor allows potential buyers to visualize themselves living in the home.
A 2021 National Association of Realtors™ study on home staging revealed that 82% of buyers’ agents said staging a home made it easier for a buyer to visualize the property as their future home. When buyers visualize that connection, they are even more motivated to purchase and, as a result, staged homes can sell for a much higher price.
What About Vacant Properties?
Staging is just as important in vacant homes. If you have already moved out to your next destination, don’t leave your space empty. Bare rooms feel cold and impersonal, and it’s harder even to get buyers to come take a look. Staged homes allow buyers to use their imagination, whether it be hosting holidays in a tastefully appointed dining room, or snuggling up for a movie in a beautifully decorated room.
Great home stagers know how to define spaces to help buyers see their potential. Staging also makes any room feel more spacious, as furnishings are strategically arranged with a more minimal feel than the average, lived-in house.
Selling your North of Boston home? Explore these blog posts for industry-informed selling advice.
Get More People in the Door
Staged homes look fabulous in photos. And nothing drives buyers toward open houses and showings more than attractive MLS photos and videos. 99% of millennial home buyers start their search online, according to the National Association of Realtors®. In a competitive market, homes listed online can be passed over quickly. Staging provides an eye-catching visual picture for buyers, drawing them into a physical walk-through of your home. And don’t forget that first impression once they step foot into a well-appointed, staged home. Chances are, that first impression will be a lasting one!
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Sell Your Home Faster
There is no doubt that great home staging can get your home sold faster. According to HomeAdvisor, homes that have been staged spend between 33% and 50% less time on the market. Homes that stay on the market for long periods of time create suspicion among buyers. They begin to wonder about potential problems with the property and can become skittish about even viewing the home in person.
Having your home staged packs a punch. It drives traffic to your listing quickly. And once potential buyers feel that emotional connection to a beautifully staged home, they are more likely to move quickly to make an offer.
Searching for more specialized home-selling tips? Consider these other posts from our blog.
Increase Your Bargaining Power
Once buyers fall in love with your staged home, they are more likely to fight harder to secure its purchase. That often means better offer terms for sellers.
Buyers who feel connected to a potential new home tend to maximize the positives while minimizing its negatives. Over a quarter of buyers are less concerned with a property’s faults if a home is staged, according to the National Association of Realtors® 2021 Profile of Home Staging. Once you’ve pictured yourself sharing life’s biggest milestones in a home, you may be less panicked about having to upgrade a few lights or repair a few roof tiles. Home inspections can go more smoothly and the closing process is less likely to experience obstacles.
The Bottom Line
Staging your home prior to listing is one of the smartest decisions you can make as a seller. Yes, it may take more time to declutter and clean your home in preparation. And staging is certainly another listing cost to take into consideration. But the emotional connection staging creates with buyers is truly priceless! We encourage you to have your home staged. Create a space that buyers will fall in love with, and just watch how impactful it can truly be.
Considering the sale of your North of Boston home? Discover Andersen Group Realty’s unparalleled selling services today. Click here to send us an email or call 781-729-2329 to get started.
