TO STAGE OR NOT TO STAGE: DOES IT MAKE A DIFFERENCE WHEN SELLING?
When selling your home, it can be difficult to know what’s right and what you need to do before you go to market. You may be thinking the walls need a lick of paint, and perhaps that the garden needs a bit of work.
A lot of people also ask if staging is worthwhile, and what exactly it entails. To clear the air and make your sale a little easier we’ve had a closer look at staging and if it’s the right option for your home.
Nothing fires the imagination of a buyer than recognising the potential of your property.
When that magic happens, you can be confident of attaining an optimum price and dodging the distress of your property staying on the market longer than anticipated.
Styling a property, also known as home staging, is a great way to inspire prospective buyers.
It presents the property in the best possible way, using suitable furniture and accessories to maximise the impression of space and light. You will see the immediate impact in the photography used for your marketing campaign.
During inspections, you will have removed any possibility of a buyer’s bias against your own interior design tastes. Also, over-sized furniture and family bric-a-brac contributes to the impression of a small, cluttered property.
Styling focuses on the key areas – entry, kitchen, lounge and the master bedroom. All personal touches, such as family photos, will be removed along with the clutter that gathers from everyday living.
Some specialist companies can also undertake any repairs, install new flooring to replace a worn carpet or scratched floorboards, and even spark up the garden.
Employing a stylist is an additional cost but evidence suggests your return on investment is handsome, possibly between 7.5% to 12.5%. When you consider that your home is your largest asset, the case for employing a stylist is compelling.
Styling a home is proven to sell faster and generally exceed market average prices.
Stylists will usually use modern contemporary pieces, unless the home is period. It’s not about selling the furniture but selling the home.
The cost of hiring furniture might start around $2,000 and there will be the additional cost of storing your own furniture while the property is on the market.
We’d be happy to advise you on the potential benefits of staging your home for sale and recommend local companies that can assist.
If you want to style your own property, focus on
Small furniture that gives the impression that rooms are large
• Modern fitting and accessories
• Bright artworks
• Neutral colours, including bedding; and
• Declutter, taking away personal effects such as family photos, trophies and so on.
Lastly don’t forget to budget for removal storage if you are to take away your own furniture as part of this process.
WHAT EXACTLY IS STAGING?
In a nutshell, home staging is a process where you accentuate a home’s positive aspects and minimise its negative ones. This is done by arranging furniture, art and accessories in such a way that your property’s appeal is maximised.
Staging will also remove the personal feel of your home and present it in such a way that buyers will better be able to imagine their lives in it.
In theory, this helps create a good first impression with buyers and improves your home’s appeal, which should mean more interested buyers and a higher selling price.
There have been relatively few studies to prove its effectiveness, but many agents stand by staging as a brilliant way to guarantee a sale
IS IT REALLY WORTH IT?
The short answer to the above question is ‘it depends’. Each property is different and buyer preferences vary in different areas – however, there is some hard evidence available that says staging is generally worthwhile.
CAN I SELF-STAGE MY HOME?
While a professional stager will most likely do a better job (it’s their profession after all) if money is tight you can definitely stage your home yourself. Remember the following essentials when doing so and you could add value to your home and help it to sell quicker:
Depersonalise: remove family photos and personal items. This will allow buyers to visualise living in your home rather than making them feel like intruders.
• Declutter: get rid of mess and excessive clutter such as small appliances on the kitchen bench.
• Go neutral; bold colours or quirky designs may put some buyers off, so it’s always best to go for a neutral palette.
• Emphasise space: use smaller furnishings, mirrors and light colours to make rooms seem larger and more spacious.
• Remove the eyesores: have a look around your home – are there any pieces of art or furniture that stand out as ugly or dated?
• Add greenery: flowers, even if they’re fake, will make your home a more pleasant place to be. Add a few potted plants in key rooms around the home.
• Tidy the garden: get rid of weeds, dog toys, hose reels, cut and edge grass, and make outdoor living areas appear comfortable with cushions and throws.
• Don’t over stage: petals on the bed, cookies in the oven or a setting for a fancy meal may make buyers think you have something to hide.
When self-staging, you may want to hire furniture to add to the look of your home. You can do so for far less than the cost of a full staging package.
GET THE BEST ADVICE YOU CAN
If you’re selling a one bedroom apartment in the suburbs staging may not be worth the extra expense. However, if you’re selling the family home, a city centre apartment or any type of premium real estate the few thousand it costs to hire a professional stager could be well worth it.
Before you make any decisions, speak to your local real estate agent for advice on whether staging is worthwhile for your property. They’ll be able to help find a brilliant stager to help if it’s necessary or help you get your home into shape if it’s not.