By Adam Rostocki
Home staging is an exciting real estate industry which is changing the way property is sold. Real estate staging has proven itself to be the best investment an owner can make in their property when they preparing their home for sale, featuring a dollar for dollar ROI second to none. Staging is fast becoming a necessity when selling a home, especially in today's sluggish and competitive real estate market.
Home staging is not interior design or decorating. Staging is a form of advanced real estate marketing which involves aspects of design, landscaping, psychology and sociology all rolled into an artistic science (or maybe a scientific art). Staging is defined as preparing a property for sale by improving the aesthetics of the home or commercial space to appeal to the greatest number of prospective buyers. Home stagers seek to create an atmosphere of universal appeal to the target buyer demographic, increasing the chances for a solid offer on the property. To put it very simply, home staging is all about removing your stylistic influence on the property and making it easier for the buyer to see themselves living there instead.
Home staging uses a variety of techniques to improve the desirability of a home. The exact methods used to stage a home vary depending on the specific details and circumstances of the property, seller, anticipated buyer type, real estate market condition and home price. However, there are some universal ways which virtually all home staging strategies have in common when enhancing the aesthetic appeal of a property.
The first thing which must be done in any good staging job is to de-clutter and de-personalize. This means to remove the footprint of the current owner on the home and replace it with neutral décor which will connect to buyers. Owners are encouraged to clean out their homes and move most of their nonessential possessions into temporary storage. This will give them a head start on their anticipated move and provide a nice clean and clutter free atmosphere for the home. De-personalizing means to remove taste-specific décor and accessories from the home, as well as any personal items, such a collections, photo galleries, trophies and souvenirs, as these can be incredibly distracting to potential buyers.
Now that the home is ready for improvement, owners are advised to redecorate using a combination of their own salvageable furniture or rented items which will bring out the best character in the home. Layout and proportion are key elements of good staging, as these will increase the perceived size and functionality of the space. The entire color palate should be neutralized to provide a warm, but universally appealing presence all around the home. It is crucial when decorating to accommodate the wish lists of prospective buyers, not base the decisions on the preferences of the current owner. After all, this is the purpose of home staging! Owners must put their needs behind their desire to make their home more marketable.
It is vital to stage a home both inside and out. Curb appeal is a term used to describe the first impression a property makes when potential buyers view it from the street. This first impression has been statistically proven to set the tone for the entire tour of the home, so it is truly crucial to make a good one! Additionally, yard space must be prepared with the same attention to detail as the interior of the home. Outdoor spaces and secondary property structures, such as garages, guest houses and sheds, should all be given personalized attention before listing real estate for sale.
In conclusion, it is extremely important to remember to stage the home first and then list it on the open market. This will maximize the value of your staging investment and will provide all the marketing buzz your home needs to stand out from the competition. After all, a staged home will appear flawless in those all so important MLS and print ad photos, as well as look fabulous when the first agents and buyers come knocking. As a final note, be advised that home staging is a safe investment, since it is tax deductible in the US and is known to create incredible increases in sale price, while minimizing the time it actually takes to sell the property. Home staging is a winning strategy for anyone who wants to sell their home for top dollar in the shortest time possible!
Adam Rostocki is a home staging consultant working in the New York City Metro area, including Manhattan, Queens, Brooklyn and Long Island. Adam has a long history of working in the design arts and is the author of the popular DIY home staging book, "Home Staging: A Practical Guide to Real Estate Marketing" (ISBN 978-1-4276-4191-5), as well as the creator of Home-Staging-Home-Stager.Com, the definitive free online guide to
Home Staging.
