If you haven’t bought or sold a home recently, you may be unaware of some of the subtle changes which have occurred in the marketplace. One such change – buyers today are much more savvy than they used to be, say, 10 years ago. Specifically, today’s buyers have total online access to the housing inventory, they know that they have a huge advantage in the current buyer’s market and they demand higher standards in homes that they preview. What does this mean for sellers? It means that today’s sellers must take the necessary steps to make their home show worthy in order to attract serious buyers. No longer is it acceptable to simply present a clean house. Sellers who want to sell quickly and get top dollar must consider getting their home “staged”. Home owners who try to do the staging themselves often find it difficult to adequately de-clutter and de-personalize since they have an emotional attachment to the home and its contents. A professional home stager brings an objective eye to every project and has been trained to prepare the house so that it shows at its very best.
A general guideline for staging the whole house is 1%-3% of the list price, but this is highly dependent on the condition of the home. Think this sounds like a lot? Consider that “staged” homes typically sell 2 to 3 times faster than non-staged homes and that the return on investment is 8%-10%. In addition, home staging costs are tax deductible in some states (please check with your accountant). If you are thinking of selling your house in the near future, make the process a little easier on yourself … enlist the services of a professional home stager.