by Jeffrey Johnson
Home Staging Design Pros
Plunging values have home sellers struggling desperately for anything that might help sell their home. Everyday we seem to hear more and more statistics that make sellers increasingly pessimistic. Take this case in point: According to the National Association of Realtors, the median existing home price dropped more than 9.5 percent compared with the same month last year, and home sales are down 10.5 percent compared with the same month last year, prices are actually still declining and foreclosures are on the rise. Not much consolation for the people that are either actively looking to sell their home, or due to circumstances must sell their home. So what is today's seller to do?
There are two key factors in getting a home sold that are often overlooked. These two factors can make all the difference between a home that sells quickly, and one that languishes on the market for months at a time.
First, a homeowner must price their home correctly. The first two weeks on the market is when the home statistically gets the most traffic. If the home is overpriced from the start, chances of it selling quickly and for top dollar are pretty slim. Unfortunately the homeowner that dreams of their home selling as it would in 2005 are more than likely in for a disappointment. Gone are the days of multiple offers in minutes of listing the home and people fighting in your living room over who can pay the most for the property. In today's real estate market pricing a home correctly routinely gives sellers a big advantage. Proper research and hiring a real estate professional who is realistic with pricing homes can help homes move quickly, even in today's market.
Second and just as important as pricing a home correctly, a home should be carefully prepped to appeal to any and all buyers. The fastest way to turn off a potential buyer is to show them a home cluttered with kids' toys, family photos, stinky dog and smelly kitty litter. Even old, grubby or outdated furniture can make a property difficult to sell. That's why many highly respected real estate agents employ professional "home stagers" when they want a home to look and show its best. The reason is that most sellers can't view their homes objectively because sellers are often emotionally attached to their homes. They don't understand that their personal space is the exact opposite of what a buyer is looking for. The last thing a buyer needs is to be distracted by a lot of personal effects, collectables, and family portraits. The inability of a seller to view their home as a commodity and prep it to a buyer's eye is the second reason a home is doomed from the start.
Hiring a professional home stager gives the seller the added advantage over similar homes for sale. Why? Because a professional home stager will view a home as a buyer would and then use their expertise to detract from any negatives, focusing instead on only positive aspects of the home, leaving nothing to chance. Stagers will do everything from maximizing the all important first impression and curb appeal to removing clutter and rearranging furniture.
When working with a vacant home the staging company will bring in rental furniture and accessories, giving buyers a much needed point of reference for furniture placement and room size. "Today's home buyers are often looking at upwards of 30-50 homes. What makes yours stand out from the rest? This is where staging plays a major role in attracting a buyer", says Brad Fletcher of Home Staging Design Pros. Whether you live in a cozy bungalow or a 5,000-square-foot penthouse, sellers must make the space feel as open and inviting as possible. Whether you need some simple professional advice, or a full vacant home stage, Home Staging Design Pros is the leader when it comes to affordable and effective home staging.
Hello.
