Desperate to Sell? Home Staging can give you an edge...
Home sellers need help in today’s market! Debbie Fiskum of
PTStaging.com
says,
What’s the best investment you can make when selling
your home? A few hours spent with a professional home stager can
pay off big! Instead of listing your home at a lower price because it
doesn’t look as large as it could, or it needs paint, repairs or
landscaping, talk with a home stager and find out what changes will make
the most impact and get you the best price. If a home sits on the market
too long, you’re most likely looking at a reduction in price. Before
that happens, try spending a little on staging and keep more of your
money in your pocket.
Jennifer, from Boulder writes: "I moved from my college condo into my
first house and needed to sell the condo. After re-carpeting, painting
and cleaning 'til my arms hurt,' I put it on the market. Potential
buyers came through looking, but no one seemed serious. The realtors
suggested I cut the selling price by $12,000! I couldn't afford to lower
my price that much, so I called Debbie Fiskum, who staged my empty condo
with minimal furniture, splashes of color and a few accessories. A few
well-placed plants, some pictures on the wall - and ta-da! The Perfect
Transformation! The next buyer that looked at the condo made an offer
and it was sold!"
Here are some key reasons for staging your home:
•
A staged home invites buyers inside. It
starts with the picture that you use to advertise your home. The
walkways and driveway should be clean, and free of toys, snow, debris or
cars. Lawns need to be mowed, and shrubs need to be clipped. If
possible, have colorful plants and flowers near, or leading up to the
entrance. Potted plants placed on either side of the door says, “Come on
in!” And don’t forget that welcome mat, says Debbie Fiskum, owner of
Perfect Transformations Home Staging.
•
Once inside, it’s important to show off your homes
best features. Do you have a great fireplace? Are your windows
(and the views) SPECTACULAR? Don’t hide these powerful selling points!
Most homes need to remove furniture and could benefit from a little
professional advice to re-arrange the furniture and create a focal point
in each room. You aren’t selling your “stuff”; you want people to see
your home, and lots of SPACE!
•
Buyers want to imagine themselves moving in!
That means de-cluttering every room, including the garage, basement and
sheds. You may not even see the piles of papers anymore, or the extra TV
on the floor. According to Debbie, staging your home for sale means
de-personalizing it and making it appeal to the broadest range of
buyers. Take down personal pictures, collections, awards and trophies.
Think about walking into a model home. You can see yourself living there
because you imagine adding your own photos and personal items. You want
buyers to form an emotional connection with your house. “We try and work
with what you already have to create interesting areas and show people
how their pieces would work,” says, Debbie. “We can create ambiance with
lighting and simple window treatments.”
•
The money you spend will pay off in a quicker sale.
Whether you do it yourself, or have us do the work, you’ll benefit
because staged homes statistically sell faster and bring a better price
than non-staged houses. If yours sits on the market for several weeks,
your realtor may likely recommend a price reduction – and that usually
means $5,000 - $10,000 or more! You’ll spend about $200 - $1000 for
staging (or maybe more if rental furniture is needed or the home hasn’t
been updated in awhile). So, an investment in a few hours of time with a
stager pays a good return on your investment.
•
Finally, it takes the stress off you, knowing that
your home is “showing ready”. Whether you have open houses or
individual showings, you’ll learn strategies to keep your home
“show-ready” and how to quickly put items in their place to show it at
it’s best. Selling your home is stressful enough. But if you are
organized, you won’t have to worry every time the agent calls and wants
to show the home.
Home Staging has become a very important strategy in
this flat market. You have to make your home stand out and give
buyers a reason to give it a second look. Debbie Fiskum of PT
Staging.com, says, “Think of it as a blind date! You want to make the
best impression you can and you want to make sure that potential buyers
can’t stop thinking about your home. You want them to make an emotional
connection.” Before you put your home on the market or take those
all-important listing photos, take a good look around and ask yourself,
“Would I buy this home as is?” If the answer is, “it needs a little
work,” you may need to call a stager!
Perfect
Transformations is a home staging company serving Metro Denver and the
Front Range. Started by Debbie Fiskum, we’ve helped many homeowners make
the most of their property and get it sold quickly. Check out before &
after photos online and ask for your FREE Home Staging Tips. You can
find more info about the company at:
www.ptstaging.com
or call Debbie at 303-359-0280.
Read another home staging article...
FAQ’s - HOME STAGING AS A CAREER
So you think you would like to become a Home Stager?
