“Staging” is the art of getting your house ready to show to prospective buyers so that they see it in its best light. While typically thought of as something agents do only for sellers, an agent’s staging skills are also beneficial to buyers.
Let’s look at both aspects – staging for sellers and staging for buyers.
As a seller, you want your house to show its best. Buyers tend to choose emotionally and then justify their decision logically. Staging, done well, can make an emotional connection with a buyer – providing them with a “wow” experience when they open the door to your house.
With staging, its best to start with the no-cost and low-cost strategies. Rearranging furniture, removing clutter and painting can make a space feel larger and more inviting. Accessorizing is another great way to add flair. It costs little and the accessories that you buy can go with you to your new place.
In some cases, it can make sense to make more substantial improvements. New floor coverings, countertops, plumbing fixtures and lighting may help. Even remodels of kitchens and baths can make financial sense in some cases. We have to be much more judicious about these kinds of things, however. Are the time and effort worth the return even if we get $1.50 back for every dollar spent on the upgrades?
What about staging for buyers. How can staging expertise help you when you are buying?
It can help in two ways.
1) Most homes have not been staged very effectively. We will need to look beyond the current cosmetics to the underlying home and visualize how a different arrangement of furniture or some low-cost improvements will make the space shine. Often you can get a better deal on this type of home as most buyers and agents have trouble seeing beyond the current conditions.
2) You will need to sort out and be wary of the emotional impact you might feel from a well-staged home and make sure that you are paying attention to the house itself. There is nothing wrong with falling in love with the house you buy. You want to feel an emotional attachment if it is a house you are going to live in. However, situations where the effective staging causes buyers to forget about their initial needs and wants (that extra bedroom or that third bathroom) can be misleading and devastating once reality sets in.
Bottom Line: Staging is important for both buyers and sellers. It is something we’ll need to pay attention to on either side of the transaction.
(c) Colorado Home Realty
(c) Colorado Home Realty
