Everybody has heard the term “staging” but what does it really mean?
Staging is the preparation of a home for sale that involves drawing attention to the property’s most desirable features and defining rooms and unused spaces to increase the space’s hidden functionality, leading to a space that feels like home for everyone that walks through the door. This can involve everything from decluttering, removing, and re-arranging existing furniture and re-designing or renovating the space to enhance the home’s most attractive features.
The results are two-fold; the property appeals the largest audience possible which in turn creates a larger pool of interested parties, potentially leading to a more competitive scenario. It also leads to both a faster sale and higher purchase price on average since there is a much higher demand for the home.
Photography also plays an immense role in determining if a perspective buyer is interested in visiting the home in person. First impressions are almost always through online marketing and the use of photography and video content. A home that is staged to photograph well is of the upmost importance so that your home is introduced to the highest number of buyers, in turn leading to a faster and higher priced sale.
Not only do people have an emotional reaction to colour, they also have a psychological and physical response when a room doesn’t feel right. When spaces are too small, too dark or over cluttered, this creates tension and a sense of being overwhelmed. This will deter a potential buyer from seeing the room’s potential. Hiring a stager can turn uninviting spaces into harmonious and tranquil rooms, that buyers can see themselves living in.
What do home buyers want to see?
Most buyers want to see a turnkey property that is ready to move in. They don’t want to see a lot of clutter or dated furniture. According to the Canadian Certified Staging Professionals, today’s buyers want to see freshly painted walls, current flooring (i.e. hardwood throughout) and a property that offers organized storage solutions.
First impressions sell homes.
Did you know that potential buyers will make a decision whether or not to purchase your property within the first 15 seconds of entering? Creating the most appealing site lines as soon as you enter is a necessity. Staging your home will provide your potential buyers with the “wow factor” as soon as they open your front door
How Much Does Staging Cost?
This is one of the most common questions asked by my sellers and Agents.
The honest answer is, I don’t know…YET!
- In order to prepare a quote for Staging, a visit to the property is essential to ensure the staging directly reflects the property. This is extremely important as the room dimensions, the layout, window placement, style of the home and finishes ALL play a role in determining what furniture, artwork, bedding, lighting and accessories are used.
- A tour of the property will ensure that each recommended piece suits the space, will bring all the best features of the home into focus, and give it that WOW factor that everyone wants. Who doesn’t love an HGTV reveal?
- After the visit, a full Proposal will be provided which indicates the inventory, the Moving and transportation fees as well as the Showcasing (and removal) costs associated with staging the property.
- As every property is different, the answer is we don’t know yet. But we would be happy to take a look and give you an exact answer. Just give us a call 613-808-0696.