Page 48 - Selling secrets 5 18 2023

START STAGING WITH WHAT YOU ALREADY HAVE

Often, the trick with staging is to take out, rather than bring
in. At base, home staging is about creating more space by
clearing clutter, unnecessary objects, or furniture, giving
the rooms a fresh, neutral color, and making necessary (and
even cosmetic) repairs. Replacing carpets and floors is
common.

To avoid investing in new furniture (some do this or rent
exquisite furniture) and avoid spending thousands of
dollars on this project, your or your professional home
stager’s first step is to do as much as possible with
everything you already have in your house. The priciest
items will probably come with making updates and repairs
inside and outside your house. The least costly bits are
maximizing your space by moving objects around and
cleaning/clearing your house out. Rearranging existing
furniture and cleaning the house and rooftop are some of
the simple steps involved in this process.

To enhance the effects of staging, you’ll probably want to
select new accessories and furniture to create a welcoming
environment and dress up your newfound space after you’ve
decluttered. According to one survey, 90% of home
buyers in the U.S. first search for houses on the Internet.
So, when you’re listing a house, the photos need to be
captivating to buyers—so much so that they can’t wait to see
the house in person!

Don’t think of money spent on staging as a waste, but as an
investment or cost of doing business—and it will be
recovered when the property is sold. It will pay off in the
long run, when it boosts the house’s perceived value.

38