Considering Home Staging to Sell Your Home?

So, you're selling your home, or at least considering it. But how do you compete with the rest of the market around you? Pricing? Condition? Listing with an agent that knows how to market your home properly? YES!

For the purposes of this post, we're going to concentrate on the condition of the home...

Why to Consider Staging

As a seller, you want to put yourself in the best position to get buyers' attention and have them perceive a value for your home, in comparison to other homes on the market in the area. A buyer needs to see themselves living in your home. Whether you're currently living in your home or have left it vacant, home staging may be what you need to set your home apart from the rest.

The purpose to home staging is to give your home an updated look, and to give a buyer the ability to see what the home would look like in it's best possible condition. It helps highlight the home's best features, with the goal of appealing to a broad range of buyers, selling faster and for a higher dollar amount. According to statistics from the Accredited Staging Professional website, the success rate (see below) can be quite substantial.


Return on Investment

Costs can vary, depending on the size of the home and how much staging work is done. It can be a few hundred dollars to several thousand, but if it results in a quick sale for top dollar, it may prove to be well worth the investment. According to staging professionals, it can provide a 3-7% higher sales price.

The following is a summary of the results of HomeGain's national survey, based on the ten areas of home improvement identified by real estate agents in HomeGain's survey. They are listed from the highest to lowest returns on investment:


Bottom Line

As I always advise my sellers, if there is something that can place your home above all the rest, it should always be considered. In regards to home staging, if the results and the return on investment can be achieved, it may be a way for a seller to "beat the market" in a time when the market heavily favors the buyer.

11 Reasons To List Your Home During The Holidays

You’ve heard it from real estate agents before. “The Winter season is slow.” Or, “No one is really buying or selling.” And even, “I’ll get started in the New Year, it’s a new start right?”  Wrong. The truth is, it’s better to be ahead than behind.

Here are 11 reasons to have your home listed during the holidays:

11. By selling now, you may have an opportunity to be a non-contingent buyer during the Spring, when many more houses are on the market for less money! This will allow you to sell high and buy low.

10. You can sell now for more money and we will provide for a delayed closing or extended occupancy until early next year.

9. Even though your house will be on the market, you still have the option to restrict showings during the six or seven days around the Holidays.

8. January is traditionally the month for employees to begin new jobs. Since transfers cannot wait until Spring to buy, you need to be on the market during the Holidays to capture the market.

7. Some people must buy before the end of the year for tax reasons.

6. Buyers have more time to look for a home during the Holidays than they do during a work week.

5. Buyers are more emotional during the Holidays, so they are more likely to pay your price.

4. Houses may show better when decorated for the Holidays.

3. Since the supply of listings will dramatically increase in January, there will be less demand for your particular home. Less supply and more demand means more money for you.

2. Serious buyers have fewer houses to choose from during the Holidays and less competition means more money for you.

And the number one reason why your seller should list during the Holidays…

1. People who look for homes during the Holidays are more serious buyers!


*Information courtesy of the Keller Williams Greater Cleveland SW blog

Consider Home Staging to Sell Your Home

So, you're selling your home, or at least considering it.  But how do you compete with the rest of the market around you?  Pricing? Condition? Listing with an agent that knows how to market your home properly?  YES!

For the purposes of this post, we're going to concentrate on the condition of the home...

Why to Consider Staging

As a seller, you want to put yourself in the best position to get buyers' attention and have them perceive a value for your home, in comparison to other homes on the market in the area.  A buyer needs to see themselves living in your home.  Whether you're currently living in your home or have left it vacant, home staging may be what you need to set your home apart from the rest.

The purpose to home staging is to give your home an updated look, and to give a buyer the ability to see what the home would look like in it's best possible condition.  It helps highlight the home's best features, with the goal of appealing to a broad range of buyers, selling faster and for a higher dollar amount.  According to statistics from the Accredited Staging Professional website, the success rate (see below) can be quite substantial.


Return on Investment

Costs can vary, depending on the size of the home and how much staging work is done.  It can be a few hundred dollars to several thousand, but if it results in a quick sale for top dollar, it may prove to be well worth the investment. According to staging professionals, it can provide a 3-7% higher sales price.

The following is a summary of the results of HomeGain's national survey, based on the ten areas of home improvement identified by real estate agents in HomeGain's survey. They are listed from the highest to lowest returns on investment:


Bottom Line

As I always advise my sellers, if there is something that can place your home above all the rest, it should always be considered.  In regards to home staging, if the results and the return on investment can be achieved, it may be a way for a seller to "beat the market" in a time when the market heavily favors the buyer.