Home staging—May bring you a quicker sale.
There are some folks that really have a knack for interior design, but the average person, let’s face it, needs some help. This is particularly important in today’s real estate market at a time where the buyer is in the “driver’s seat.â€
Consider staging your home for a quicker sale and a better selling price. The goal is to highlight your home’s strengths and downplay its weaknesses. You want to appeal to the biggest possible pool of prospective buyers. Any Realtor will tell you that the longer your home sits on the market, the lower your price will be. Statistically, homes get the best price if they sell within 30 days of listing.
In today’s challenging market, it is critical that you use a Realtor to bring traffic to your door and you may also want to think about hiring a professional home stager to help sell your home in today’s buyer’s market. The ultimate goal of staging is to place your home in the best “showcase†condition, so it sells quickly for the best possible price, and in the shortest amount of time.
Your home should be free of clutter, so potential buyers can see the home and its features, and not be distracted by the current homeowners “stuff.â€Â I find that when showing property, most homes have way too much “stuff†in each room.
The home, upon entering, should be clean and tidy, and free of clutter. The home should smell nice too. Consider a reed diffuser placed in several rooms. Beds should be made; dirty dishes, laundry, children’s toys, newspapers, trash, etc. should all be cleaned up and put away. Your bathrooms should sparkle; no robes, clothes or shoes “hanging around,â€Â and this would include your pets as well.
Remember this, “you never get a second chance to make a first impression,†so consider getting some professional help and make your home memorable to every buyer that walks through your door.
Sharon Brown R(S)
March 22, 2011
How true Kathy. Thanks for putting it so succinctly.
Sharon Brown R(S)
March 22, 2011
How true Kathy. Thanks for putting it so succinctly.
Kathy Awai, R(S); ABR
March 22, 2011
Sharon, I’m certain you have also walked into homes that were positively in a state of a mess! Just picking things up is common sense. I think most Sellers try but honestly, most people just don’t “get it”. Take my Seller on Niu HaoHao Pl. They had a wall in their hallway that had gorgeous photos of their wedding, their children who are very young,etc; really beautiful candid shots; Seller was smart enough to take it all down and hang 1 large piece of artwork on the wall. This particular house is always orderly and the dogs are almost never on the property when we have a showing. This is the kind of Seller I love because they totally “get it”.
Kathy Awai, R(S); ABR
March 22, 2011
Sharon, I’m certain you have also walked into homes that were positively in a state of a mess! Just picking things up is common sense. I think most Sellers try but honestly, most people just don’t “get it”. Take my Seller on Niu HaoHao Pl. They had a wall in their hallway that had gorgeous photos of their wedding, their children who are very young,etc; really beautiful candid shots; Seller was smart enough to take it all down and hang 1 large piece of artwork on the wall. This particular house is always orderly and the dogs are almost never on the property when we have a showing. This is the kind of Seller I love because they totally “get it”.
Listing your home
March 23, 2011
Actually I think this is among the most vital information for me. And i am glad reading your article. But want to remark on some general things, the web site style is ideal, the articles is really excellent. Thank you for sharing with us. I think it would be effective for all. Good job, cheers!
Listing your home
March 23, 2011
Actually I think this is among the most vital information for me. And i am glad reading your article. But want to remark on some general things, the web site style is ideal, the articles is really excellent. Thank you for sharing with us. I think it would be effective for all. Good job, cheers!
Kathy Awai, R(S); ABR
March 23, 2011
Well, thank you and I am glad if anything I said will help a prospective Seller when it is time to list. It is so vital that a house look like a “model”. It is hard for a Seller to make certain it always looks that way for showings but that is what it sometimes takes to get the property sold. Just think in terms of “less is more”.
Kathy Awai, R(S); ABR
March 23, 2011
Well, thank you and I am glad if anything I said will help a prospective Seller when it is time to list. It is so vital that a house look like a “model”. It is hard for a Seller to make certain it always looks that way for showings but that is what it sometimes takes to get the property sold. Just think in terms of “less is more”.
Diane Chavez
March 23, 2011
Kathy,
I think staging is key and often makes a sale happen.
Diane Chavez
March 23, 2011
Kathy,
I think staging is key and often makes a sale happen.
Catherine Klug
March 23, 2011
Kathy, you said it so well: “first impressions count”. Sellers or tenants should be reading your blog!
Catherine Klug
March 23, 2011
Kathy, you said it so well: “first impressions count”. Sellers or tenants should be reading your blog!
Claire K. Bajo RS
March 24, 2011
This is so true Kathy! I know of an agent who hired a home stager and purchased a furniture package for $10,000, and the buyers loved it so much, they bought the unit at full price, including the furniture, as-is! Whether you are helping your clients by giving them this information or in hiring a professional home stager, it’s a win-win to clean up the property when trying to sell it for top dollar… and attention to detail matters always! Mahalo for posting that Kathy! So informative!
Claire K. Bajo RS
March 24, 2011
This is so true Kathy! I know of an agent who hired a home stager and purchased a furniture package for $10,000, and the buyers loved it so much, they bought the unit at full price, including the furniture, as-is! Whether you are helping your clients by giving them this information or in hiring a professional home stager, it’s a win-win to clean up the property when trying to sell it for top dollar… and attention to detail matters always! Mahalo for posting that Kathy! So informative!
Kathy Awai, R(S); ABR
March 24, 2011
Thanks Claire, my article was targeted mainly to Sellers and folks who are thinking of Selling their homes but if it gives the staging industry a boost, that’s ok too. They are trained to do this sort of thing. Actually, I could do it too but that is another career of it’s own and takes a lot of time. I have a design background and if you stepped into my home, you would know it so I am a HUGE believer in keeping your listed property in showcase condition. In the end, it pays off!
Kathy Awai, R(S); ABR
March 24, 2011
Thanks Claire, my article was targeted mainly to Sellers and folks who are thinking of Selling their homes but if it gives the staging industry a boost, that’s ok too. They are trained to do this sort of thing. Actually, I could do it too but that is another career of it’s own and takes a lot of time. I have a design background and if you stepped into my home, you would know it so I am a HUGE believer in keeping your listed property in showcase condition. In the end, it pays off!
johan239
July 27, 2011
Its really nice idea. I think it would be helpful for all. Thank you for sharing with us.
johan239
July 27, 2011
Its really nice idea. I think it would be helpful for all. Thank you for sharing with us.