The “For Sale” sign is up and so are your hopes! But the house just isn’t selling.
You wonder, “Why hasn’t this beautiful home been snatched up by a new family yet?”
Nine times out of 10, you are in need of staging services. Over the past year, Yeager Design & Interiors has seen a significant increase in staging design.
placing fresh, colorful flowers is a simple and beautiful touch for showings
When a house goes on the market, it should be spick-and-span and in tiptop working order. It is a buyer’s market, and buyers typically expect nothing less than perfection.
Buyers want to walk into a home and feel that not only is it “move-in ready,” but that they can see themselves as well as their furniture easily adapting to the space. The key to this happening is to have each space perfectly defined for its use so that the buyer has no question as to how they would use it.
A trained designer can easily walk you through any space and advise you on to how to do this efficiently and effectively.
empty, this new house in Scott Depot languised on the market for more than 8 months, but it sold just two weeks after it was staged
In our business, we have identified three different types of clients who typically benefit from staging:
1. New construction.
2. Clients who have moved out of their homes for sale.
3. Clients who currently live in their home for sale.
When staging for new construction, most of the hard work is already done because the paint is fresh and the floors and finishes are pristine.
The part where buyers can find themselves confused most often falls in an open plan concept. Even though formal living and dining rooms are becoming a thing of the past, buyers sometimes find it hard to see where the line between eating area and family room furniture begins and ends. Bringing in a table and chairs as well as family room furniture not only can help the buyer to see this “line,” but also can give them an idea of how they could lay out their own furniture if and when they buy the home.
Showing multiple uses for the space can also help buyers see themselves in the home. Using area rugs can be a creative way to zone off the different spaces as well as to add a layer of warmth to the somewhat empty space.
soft, natural lighting and simple decor make this room look spacious and inviting
pared-down accessories, colorful accents, and furniture with clean lines help make this new home feel warm and inviting
Similar to a new build, a home that has been lived in but is now vacant can also benefit from staging. In our experience, furniture and accessory staging is crucial, as previously explained, but also a critical eye can be even more helpful.
A buyer’s first impression begins with “curb appeal.” When the homeowner has moved out, we often see that the level of cleanliness they would normally maintain starts to be neglected. Keeping up the outside look of the home is just as important as the inside. Making sure the grass is freshly mowed, keeping up with weeds, dead flowers or shrubbery, laying a fresh coat of rich mulch, as well as trimming back large trees can make a huge difference.
keeping curb appeal alive and well can give a stunning first impression that helps get potential buyers through the door
As for the inside — bugs in light fixtures, accumulated dust, cobwebs and musty smells can lead a buyer to negative thoughts during their visit. It is also important to remove any old furniture that did not make it during the move. This is not a storage building; it is a house you are trying to sell!
If you are living in your home while it’s on the market, it can be a daunting task to constantly keep your things in a state of perfection, especially if you have children and/or animals.
Even so, staging principles still apply. A staging designer can help show you how to make use of the furniture you have to make sure all rooms look spacious and all pathways are clear and open.
Think “less is more.” Keeping clutter to a minimum will let potential buyers keep their focus on what is important and not be distracted by your décor. If a designer removes some items that are of importance to you, keep in mind they are staging for mass appeal, not your specific taste. The goal is to sell the home by whatever means necessary.
this breakfast room is staged to sell with a romantic dining set that gives the room character and defines how to use the space
Here are some do’s and don’ts to keep in mind when selling a home:
Do
• Keep things immaculate.
• Burn a clean-smelling candle near the entrance.
• Bring in fresh flowers before a showing.
• Use social media for marketing your sale.
• Fix and repair anything in disrepair.
• Use soft lighting.
• Update anything out of date.
Don’t
• Neglect the outdoor curb appeal.
• Forget porches — they need to look relaxing and clean too.
• Fixate on personal style.
• Overdecorate small areas.
• Overstuff storage areas or garages.
• Get frustrated! Help is only a phone call away!
this mantel space has a large rough opening for a flat-screen TV. To cover the hole, we put in place a beautiful canvas
Typically the fees associated with staging a home are calculated by the number of rooms that need staged along with the square footage of these spaces, which determines the amount of furniture and accessories needed to finish them out successfully. Think of it as renting these items on a monthly — or hopefully, a weekly — basis, until the home sells.
In one experience, we staged a home that had been on the market as a new build — empty — for eight long months with no offers. After staging, it sold in two weeks after only two open houses.
The builders felt confident that the reason it had finally sold was because it was so much more personal and warm when their prospective buyers entered the front door that they fell in love with the charm of not just the house, but also the atmosphere.
Just remember: Keep it simple, keep it clean and keep calm. Call a designer to stage your sale today!
– To see more pictures of the projects featured in this article: Home Staging
– To read the full article:http://www.wvgazettemail.com/article