Selling a home can be a major process, especially for first time sellers. There are so many factors that go into a successful sale that many don’t usually take into account. Think back to when you were first buying your house. So much went on behind the scenes through the sellers that attracted you to the home in the first place.
One of the most integral aspects of buying a home is the initial visit— how a buyer feels walking through the house for the first time. What’s important isn’t only what they physically see, but what they feel, what they imagine. So how can you, as a seller, create that same desired feeling. After you’ve finished all your repairs, cleaning, etc., the question becomes: to stage or not to? What is Home Staging? Why? Staging isn’t simply tidying a house up or putting up some decorations, but rather, showing prospective home buyers how your house can work for them. Staging is the crossroads where marketing and design intertwine, creating a new space for buyers to envision their futures. This process can span from reworking the design of your current home to better fit a wider audience, to completely refurnishing the space. In reality, living spaces are specialized to those living in them, with niche details about upcoming dates and specifics of your life pertinent to you. These details can often serve as distractions. Staging one’s home climates such distractions, controlling the space to show only what you want prospective buyers to see. The way you stage your home can draw buyers to the details you want them to focus on, and the home’s winning features.
As we touched on previously, first impressions are so critical to the final decision of wether someone buys a home. Some people are capable of seeing a vacant house and picturing their own furniture, belongings, style, etc. within its walls. Others, not so much. Typically, it can be hard to visualize one’s future in a home without a chair in the kitchen. Obviously the buyer knows there will be one in the future, but having one staged there in their initial visit saves that extra mental step for them. The process of staging lifts extra pressure off from potential buyers, and creates a homely feeling physiologically from their first step in the home. In fact, 82% of buyers’ agents said staging a home made it easier for a buyer to visualize the property as a future home (National Association of Realtors). Another massive benefit to home staging is that its reported to dramatically shorten the time a house spends on the market. According to License Solutions, “A 2015 Real Estate Staging Association survey found that professionally staged homes spent 72% less time on the market. And, according to NAR’s 2019 survey, 53% of real estate agents said it took less time to sell their staged homes.” This extra competitive edge transforms your house into a home in the eyes of prospective buyers. Lucido Global has high standards when it comes to staging: Now that you’ve decided home staging is the right move for you, here are some important tips on what to do successfully stage, and dangerous mistakes to avoid. As shown in the Do’s and Don’t infographic, lighting can be key in staging one’s home. Along with that, when photographing your staged home– the lighting and display there matters even more. For many, your displayed photos of your home online are their first impressions. See some Lucido before and afters that change everything about your home.
Finally, we’ve attached a checklist below for more home staging helpful tips! Along with information on home staging, should you have a need for real estate in the North Atlanta area, Lucido Global with Keller Williams North Atlanta is here to answer any questions or concerns you may have. Give us a call at 404-242-9908 or email us at GinaSharma@LucidoGlobal.com
