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Feb 2006
Index of all
past
Affiliate Corner columns
Stage Right: Make The First Impression a Great Impression
By Carolyn Brake
Colorado Home staging, Inc.
What’s all the “home staging” buzz about? The following are some frequently asked questions:
What is home staging?
Home staging is the art of preparing a home for market to achieve a quicker sale and higher sale price. This hot trend is rapidly sweeping across the U.S. The bottom line is that you want your listing to be the shiniest penny on the block to get that house SOLD! “Just average” does not cut it in Denver’s current buyer’s market.
What are the different types of staging?
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Hands-on staging – Staging on the spot! This is typically an hourly fee.
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Staging consultation – The home stager reviews the home with the homeowner for one to two hours, then provides a detailed/prioritized report for the homeowner to do the work. This is typically one flat fee.
- Vacant staging – Furnishings are provided for a monthly rental fee, a staging services fee, and a delivery/pick-up fee.
Does staging a vacant home with furnishings help it sell?
Absolutely! Home builders’ model homes are furnished and those floor plans sell the best! It’s the same theory with resale homes. An added bonus – now you have photos that you can add to the MLS system and brochures that are so much better than photos of vacant rooms.
What are the advantages to a REALTOR® for hiring or referring a home stager?
- Takes the REALTOR® out of a potentially offensive situation.
- A higher sale price and quicker sale equal higher commissions.
How should a REALTOR® approach the homeowner about staging?
Most homeowners are pretty savvy about home staging due to the popularity of cable TV shows such as “Designed to Sell” and “Sell This House.” Chances are, they will ask the REALTOR® to recommend a stager. Tips to offer include:
- The way we live in our home every day is not the way we live in our home when we are trying to sell it. Staging techniques will help get the home in “show home” condition.
- The goal is to play up the positive architectural features and downplay any minor flaws or negatives. Furnishings are arranged to attract attention to the focal points.
- Another goal is to neutralize the home so that it appeals to the most potential buyers.
- Packing up early is less stressful in the end!
REALTORS® who don’t feel comfortable talking to the seller about these issues should call in a professional home stager. The agent can either hire a home stager or recommend a stager to the client. Those real estate professionals who offer home staging as part of their menu of services have a distinct competitive advantage. And in the near future, home staging might not just be a competitive edge but an absolute “must have” service to offer.
Remember – a seller has 10 seconds to make a good impression. REALTORS® can make sure their listings are staged right, so the first impression is a great impression! Pride in a listing makes it an easier listing to sell.
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