Should a Seller Waste their Time and Money on Staging

Is it really worth a sellers time and money to put an effort into staging a home when they selling? The question arises, will a seller benefit from the resources they put towards preparing their property? There are many Agents and Sellers that question the value of staging.

Let’s look at some of the common objections:

Staging a home is time-consuming and can be expensive.

If you find you do not have the time or resources to get your property in top condition the time it takes for your home to sell will increase along with your expenses, in order to keep the interest in a property markdowns will need to be taken therefore not gaining top dollar for your biggest investment- your home. If you stage first and summon the support of a professional stager they will help you concentrate your resources towards the areas where you will gain the biggest bang for your buck, and help you create the best presentation that will resonate with buyers. Typically the cost you invest in preparing your home will reap you a 300% return. Your goal should be to sell your property in the shortest time, for the most money.

If you are living in a home, staging becomes another chore to contend with- more of a hindrance than a help.

Yes in order to prepare a property to “show well” the effort put into the presentation will profit the seller.  Think of going to a bakery, do your eyes gravitate towards the beautifully iced and decorated cakes or the ones that have had nothing done to them? Which would you be willing to pay more for? Most likely the beautifully decorated one; more effort went into making it look like that, and it is perceived to have more value. So by putting an effort in the preparation of your property, it will be perceived to be worth more and bring you more money.

 Unless you are selling a new house, buyers understand they are looking at a “used” house and expect to see minimal wear and tear on the home.

This is true and the buyers are also realizing the new house has a brand new roof, heating system, clean septic, updated kitchen, clean flooring, freshly painted walls etc. etc. – fewer headaches so why would they want to bother to buy a “used” house?  If you want your home to be considered as a contender you need to make sure you have addressed all the concerns that a buyer will have purchased a “used” home, otherwise they will offer less than what the property might be worth

Staging does not leave much room for the buyer’s creative imagination, leave the house “as is” to let them envision the house as their own.

Studies have been done to find that less than 10% of the population is capable to see beyond what is in front of them, they cannot look at a room and see beyond what is in that room, they cannot envision. If you use a professional stager they can help you utilize your furnishings neutralizing your specific tastes and creating the space so the buyers see the beauty of the home, not the objects in the house.

  When selling your property there are many decisions that sellers need to make. As with all decisions do your homework, gather the facts to understand the pros and cons. If it will help sell your home and makes financial sense, staging is worth the investment.