Why Staging Still Matters in a Seller’s Market
SE Portland staged living room. Sold with multiple offers in one week. sold over asking.
In a market where home inventory is low, your sellers may think that their home will move in mere minutes—and at a price that defies even the loftiest expectations. When left untethered, these dreams of big prices and warp speed sales can spell disaster—and major disappointment—for you and your clients.
Even in this market, home staging showcases the property by creating an environment that attacts the highest number of ideal targered buyers and leads to selling the property faster and for more money.
With a few smart, premeditated steps you can head-off seller miseducation and common misconceptions and start your client on the path to a successful sale from the get-go. Here some simple points that your sellers need to know before their home hits the market.
1. Staging Matters—Big Time!
Every agent knows the old adage, “Homes that don’t show well don’t close well.” But still, time and time again we see sellers rail against the time and cost associated with staging a home. After all, if they love their home as it is, why shouldn’t everyone else? This is a situation where sometimes showing trumps telling. If you have a particularly stageing-averse client, take them on a two-home showing; one where the home is staged and one where the home is not.
2. The Home Is Decorated in a Specific Personal Style
If your current sellers feel that they must share their gift for interior decorating with the world, remind them that now’s not the time. When it comes to staging, urge them to keep their penchant for purple ceilings and leopard print carpet on the down low — those design decisions may be bold, but they aren’t for everyone
The challenge is this: staging is an investment, one every seller can’t afford to make (although studies have shown professionally staged homes sell faster and for more than non-staged counterparts). Plus many may not know that its a tax write-off as a marketing expense.
The below staging for Joy Dickover Keller Williams Real Estate Professional had multiple offers in a week and sold over Asking price.
SE Portland staged bedroom-imaigne stagers
SE Portland staged kitchen. Imagine stagers
SE Portland staged office-imagine stagers