If You List My House for Sale, Will You Insist on Staging?

A few years ago I enrolled in a staging course. I did so, not because I want to stage houses, but because I wanted to learn about the process to educate home sellers.

It was an eye opener, and I can now pass on much of what I learned to my clients.

Sometimes when I view a house before placing it on the market I just have a few suggestions for the home owners. Sometimes a professional stager needs to be hired. Sometimes I am able to use a “virtual stager”.

Doing what is required to present your house so it compares favourably, or is better than, other houses in the same marketplace need not be costly. Don’t forget, if a buyer views a staged property, and then views one where the same care has not been taken, that buyer is going to gravitate towards the one that “shows” better. Or they are going to present a low offer.

First rule of staging: declutter. Let the buyers walk through unobstructed by objects and furniture that is in the way. Pack up unneeded items, or dispose of them. After all, you are moving and you don’t want to take it all with you. If you have to rent a storage space, do so. Or if you must store in your present house, pile it up as neatly as possible and store all in one place – the garage or an unfinished area of the house.

Next, discover what repairs are needed. Do you need to replace a badly worn carpet? Paint some woodwork? Or make sure all pet “accidents” are not issues.

Arrange furniture in a pleasing manner. Check that light fixtures have working light bulbs. Pretend you are a buyer and see how each area of the property is viewed through new eyes. Go to some open houses and see how others have presented their homes.

Clean up gardens, make sure steps and walkways are safe.

Staging your houses for sale puts money in your pocket, and shorten the period of time you must be on the market.

I can help you get started on readying your house for sale.