This post about 8 Myths of Home Staging is well worth reading ... thanks to Donna Ross for her thoughts on this topic. A must read for sellers and their agents!
Home staging (or property styling as it's commonly known as on the Australian property scene) is really an art, not a science. One of the many things a professional home stager understands is that it's the house that's up for sale, not the home owner's bread baking ability or taste in music. So, from the sublime to the rediculous - here's 8 myths of staging to sell - busted!
1. Buyers can see past my stuff
No - they can't. 95% of house hunters shop with a 'what you see is what you get' eye. You'll be maximising your chances of a better and quicker sale if you take the time to clean out, clean up and keep your look simple.2. Baking bread, brewing fresh coffee and playing soft music will make a buyer fall in love with my house.
Maybe once upon a time this was true - but most would-be buyers are onto that old trick. It's more likely to trigger alarm bells, with many wondering what it is you're trying to hide. Your buyers will be happy with a place that looks and smells clean.3. I'll need to clear everything out to help buyers see themselves living here.
This is only partly true. Wall to wall family photos are distracting, as is your porcelain rooster collection. These things are best put away. But don't go overboard, otherwise you'll end up with a look that feels cold and sterile.4. If it's an original feature - it adds value.
Sometimes yes - but often no. Generally a property built less than 50 years ago without being updated is more likely to appear dated, rather than classic.5. My place isn't worth staging.
All homes are worth taking the time to present in a positive light to buyers. The trick to knowing where to start and what to do is in having a good idea of what buyers in your target market will expect, along with learning more about what competing properties in your area are offering.
6. Empty rooms look bigger.
This is rarely the case. Buyers will always prefer to see how a room is used and what will fit in it, rather than be left to guess. Very large rooms can also be too intimidating for some. Even borrowed furniture can help buyers get an idea of scale and give the eye something of interest to focus on.
7. Converting a bedroom into a home gym won't be a problem.
Bedrooms are one of the most valuable commodities of the 'for sale' property. Having a home gym set up in a bedroom will prompt buyers to wonder why that is. I remember once looking at a house where this was the case. When I came across the bedroom with the gym in it, I immediately began to question if a bed would even fit. Always give the rooms in your house a purpose.8. No need to worry about wardrobes and cupboards.
Home storage is a big deal to most buyers and is surprisingly valuable. Prospective buyers will open storage cupboards in kitchens and bathrooms, so keep them tidy. Keep only what you're using on a daily or weekly basis, and pack the rest away ready for the move.Have you got a staging myth you'd like busted? Share them with me here.
Donna Ross
Great Impressions Real Estate Staging
"I love helping Sydney home owners and real estate agents catch the eye of choosy buyers with their 'for sale' listings, with fast, simple and inexpensive decorating fixes."
Licensed • Insured • Accredited • Certified
2012 Professional Home Stager of the Year - Western U.S.
(Real Estate Staging Association)
Copyright © Room Solutions Staging LLC 2006-2012
"Staging That Sells Portland Homes"
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Excellent list...I like the emphasis on #3, too. Too often, in a staging, everything personal is removed, and then the house looks more like a furniture store "set"...important to feel that someone lives there!
I was surprised to read tip #2, but once it registered it does make sense. Thanks for bringing this to my attention.
Li ~ There's a great balance between cluttered and too stark ... just the right amount of appropriate accessories convey a warm, inviting look without being distracting.
Chris ~ It's true that the best smell in a home is "clean."
Maureen,
This is a great list and I agree about the too stark look. I've gone into client's homes who were expecting me. You could tell they had swiped the counters to a barren and cold looking emptiness. There's a balance as you say and it's important that owners find this.
I hadn't heard about the smell thing setting off alarms, but it makes a lot of sense to realize that a smell Mask might not be such a great thing. I do, however, still believe that soft music being played is a helpful thing to use. Just be sure music is turned down low and the selections are soothing melodies.
Thanks for sending this,
Mel
Brewing coffee or baking bread desn't make the house clean and doesn't stage the rooms is the point, I think. Clean is good. Squeaky clean plus staged plus the smell of baking bread would be divine.
The myth I love is when I hear sellers say, I don't need to stage, my house was professionally decorated. Ugh! You are the one that needs staging the most!! I just recently heard a seller out of my area say this. I'm going to blog about it.
Mel ~ we don't want a stark look at all in a staged home .... it should look warm and inviting. Soft music can be OK but many might not select the right type -- I've heard that soft jazz is the most "likable."
Bev ~ Sellers should start with Clean, then staging .... then they'll know their home will welcome potential buyers.
Michele ~ So true! Those "decorated" homes are usually the worst offenders. Looking forward to your post.
Thanks for re-posting Donna's blog Maureen. I missed it the first time and have encountered most if not all of these myths in the course of my work too.
Michele ~ Donna's post mentioned some great misconceptions about home staging. We need to keep educating the public (sellers as well as agents).
Maureen, what a great blog to repost! I think I will also repost this as well. Thanks for seeking out valuable info to share.
Annie ~ you're right, it's a great post and should be required reading for sellers!
Maureen, Excellent list of what the sellers think and the buyers see. It really is funny when those same sellers turn into buyers themselves and then their thinking changes to buyer thinking. Is it a rule? LOL.
Susan ~ What a good point -- the sellers who don't believe their home needs some help are often the most critical when viewing other homes as a buyer! Most homes need at least some level of staging advice.
What a good post! I'm so glad it mentions scents. I think sellers also have to be careful with commercial plug-ins. They can be overpowering and make a buyer wonder what you are trying to cover up. Also some people are allergic to them. One of my clients ended up in emerg. after viewing a home. I also agree with the professionally decorated homes needing staging. Even if it was well done, its focus is on 'living' and needs to be changed to 'selling'.
Great Post! This is why I love the reblog feature so much. I would have missed this post otherwise. I will be hitting the reblog button on this one also!
Thanks Maureen for sharing this. You know why I missed the original. Great information for all to see!
What a great list! I think everything is covered here. The thing I hear the most (from agents and homeowners) is that staging is just de-cluttering and cleaning. It's so much more and a professional stager can help homeowners figure out what will help sell their home. Thanks for the post!
I agree with you Maureen. Clean is the best smell for the house. Sometimes I go to some open houses and the agent is burning scented candles. A big no no. Not everybody likes strong smells and buyers like me, who are allergic to scents, won't even last one minute in the house; staged or not! We just have to keep on working on educating our clients.