Home Staging WHAT EXACTLY IS IT?
H
ome staging is simply decorating, preparing and styling a home to sell quickly and for top dollar. Did you know that a ready, willing and able buyer typically knows within 15 seconds if he or she is interested in a home? Did you know that 90 percent of potential buyers begin their home search on the Internet basing much of their decision to move forward, or move on, solely on the photographs provided for the home? Staging can really be as simple as de-cluttering and rearranging furniture, or as involved as furnishing an empty house from top to bottom including furniture, artwork and accessories. Most home staging projects fall somewhere in between. Staging allows your home to stand out from the competition and allows for an emotional attachment with a prospective buyer, so that he or she can visualize a life in that particular home. A professional home stager will help you to maximize your home’s appeal and value to prospective buyers. Every staging project will be unique because every home is unique, but the following list will be helpful to everyone considering selling their home. DE-PERSONALIZE As much as you love your personal photos, diplomas and religious artifacts, buyers will have a difficult time visualizing themselves living
6 OCTOBER • NOVEMBER 2011 | FIRST COAST REGISTER
in the home. Pack them away now and get a jump start on what will have to be done anyway when your home sells. DE-CLUTTER Get rid of absolutely everything that is not necessary, prohibits a free flow of traffic, and prevents a buyer from seeing what the space is really meant to be used for. Don’t forget closets, garages, basements, pantries and cabinets. Buyers will look there. TAKE CARE OF REPAIRS Any repair, whether big or small, should be addressed before your home goes on the market. Don’t assume that a buyer will be happy to negotiate on price or take a credit at closing. Generally, when a buyer can see areas that are in disrepair, he or she often assumes the areas that can’t be seen are in disrepair as well. CONSIDER LINENS This may be the ideal time to consider new towels, bedding and shower curtains. It will evoke freshness, help create a homey feeling and provide a wonderful addition to your new home when the current home sells. CLEAN, CLEAN, CLEAN Never underestimate the power of clean. Clean your home as if no one is living there. And then, clean, clean, clean. A professional stager will help you to get your home “showing ready.” A professional stager can help you to take care of details that you may not have time for, or know how to do. Staging doesn’t have to be expensive, complicated or time-consuming. Think of staging as an investment. A staged home generally costs far less than the amount of the first price reduction. Donna Mancini is the owner of Donna Mancini Staging & Redesign Inc. Email dmstaging@aol.com