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Staging 101
Staging is HOT
now, but…
For the
longest time no one knew what I was talking about when I mentioned that
I was a Real
Estate Stager®. So I would say “Homes that are Staged® have been
cleaned, de cluttered, and depersonalized. And then they are often
refurnished or rearranged to have that open, spacious, light-filled
inviting look that buyers want” And the blank stare would start to
fade—a little.
Now I hear “
Oh, you mean like on the TV shows!” Thank Heavens for the TV shows like
“SELL THIS HOUSE” and “Designed to Sell”. Many more people have heard of
staging. In fact, now everyone wants to get in on this “hot new” trend
that was conceived back in 1972 out in California, by a woman named Barb
Schwarz. Just so you know, the word Stage® is a federally registered
trademark of StagedHomes.com. Barb was a realtor® with listings that
weren’t selling and she figured there must be something she could do to
change that, and the rest is history.
So, Why Stage Your House?
There are
four things that affect the sale and the selling price of your house.
You can’t
change the location, you can’t do anything about the current real estate
market, but you can change the condition of your house and it’s
presentation. A real estate stager® helps you to do these last two
things and can positively improve the selling price of your house.
Notice I keep saying the word ‘house’. That’s because the minute you
decide to put your ‘home’ on the market, it becomes a house—a product to
sell—that must look, feel, and show better than the other houses, like
yours, out there on the market.
Staging is
best done before the home ever goes on the market. But it can also help
homes that have been on the market and aren’t selling. Vacant homes and
model homes need to be staged® as well with small vignettes of
accessories and minimal room furnishings to give that welcoming feel.
The stager® goes through the property, with a trained, objective, “
buyer’s eye” and uses an extensive checklist to determine what needs to
be done. They need to be totally frank with you, as gently as they can.
After all, this is information you NEED to know. Depending on time and
budget, the homeowners can then do these things or hire the Stager® to
complete some of the things on the list for them.
 Of
course I was “ preparing homes for sale” 20 years ago, I just didn’t
have a name for it. Now, there are many terms used: House Fluffing,
Dressing To Sell, and Home Presentation to name a few. After all, in
reality, your house is only worth what someone else is willing to pay
for it! Harsh words, but true. And how do you increase the value of
your home in the buyer’s eye? STAGING®! Usually, Barb Schwarz’s phrase
-- “The way you live in your home and the way you sell your house are
two different things” or, “Would you like some ideas and techniques
that will help you sell your house?” get the point across.
So here are a
few of my basic tips for selling your home:
Curb Appeal,
Clean, De Cluttered, and De Personalized.
Curb appeal--
Buyers will judge your home by what they see from the street. If they
don’t like what they see on the outside, you’ll never get them inside.
Overgrown shrubs, anything dead, weeds, driveway cracks, peeling paint,
and plants growing in the gutters give off negative messages about your
home. Don’t forget to check the front door & entry area for dirt,
cobwebs, fingerprints & chipped paint. Remove any personal nameplates
from the home now.
Clean, Clean,
Clean— as I tell my clients “like it ‘s going in for surgery.”
Especially Kitchens, Bathrooms, and Windows.
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Fingerprints, grease, dirty grout, moldy cracked caulk, and ugly
stains anywhere are a real turnoff to buyers.
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Worn carpet
or flooring should be fixed or replaced. Fresh paint where needed for
walls and trim in neutral colors please.
-
Odors from
pets, smoking, unpleasant cooking smells need to be dealt with as
well. Don’t cook cabbage, fish, etc the night before an open house or
showing.
Clutter— for
the homeowner has a way of disappearing into the background after a
while. They don’t even see it. But you can bet the buyers will and it
lowers the value of the house in the buyer’s eye. One person’s treasures
are another person’s clutter. When in doubt, don’t leave it out!
De Personalize
by removing family photos, trophies, awards, vacation souvenirs, family
treasures, personal quilts or wall hangings and pack them away. Yep, you
read that correctly. Any personal valuables and other expensive items
should also be put out of reach and sight. You’re selling your house,
not your things. This is not the time to try to impress anyone with your
belongings.
There should
also be no pj’s and nightgowns on the back of the bathroom or bedroom
doors or
personal toiletries out in plain view. They all represent the
personality of the owner and their “life” in the house. By removing
these personal things from the house or from view, the seller is really
giving the buyer “permission” to mentally move their things into, and to
“buy”, the house. Until they can do that, they’ll never make an offer.
But we have
to live here! Yes you live there, but the closer you get to the ideal of
the “model” home, the better off you’ll be. These temporary
inconveniences will really pay off in increased offers. Just think of
that great vacation spot you go to or that nice hotel suite you stayed
in. They are designed to be just relaxing, uncluttered, comfortable,
impersonal spaces. No personal photo’s on the walls or tables. Yes there
were towels and toiletries in the bath, but they didn’t look like they
had been used or “ belonged” to anyone before. You would have checked
right back out if they had!
And now-- the rest of the story
So these are
the basics. They’ll give you a great start. Beyond this is where the art
and science of staging® really begins. It’s not just about decorating.
This is where the Stager® provides a critical buyer’s eye opinion that
is so important.
-
Some
homes need some un-decorating. Others need a bit of “sparking up”.
You’re really showcasing the architecture and positive features of the
house, not the belongings of the current owners.
-
Old drapery
treatments, faded bedspreads, stained dingy towels, shower curtains
and throw rugs all leave negative impressions about the house on the
buyers. Not fair but true.
-
On the other
hand, fresh flowers, at least in the kitchen, the smell of cookies
baking, or a lightly fragranced candle gives a positive impression.
-
And along
these lines, neither the homeowner nor the pets should be in the home
while it is being shown. Pet food and water dishes should be placed
out of sight as well or at least out of the traffic path buyers will
be taking.
-
Room
editing, and furniture arrangement for an easy traffic flow and a
spacious look is critical. Closets, cupboards, drawers should all be
organized and have space in them.
-
Lighting is
very important as well. Show all rooms in the best possible light.
Windows and curtains open and lights on even during daytime. It adds a
richness and warmth to the rooms. And leave a few of the “prettiest”
lights on in the house at night, for those “drive by first’ lookers.
Feeling
welcome and comfortable and free to move about in this “house” is
critical to the buying decision to make it their “home”.
 I’ve
never heard anyone complain about a house having too much light, too
much space or storage or being too relaxing!
Sound like a
lot of work? When you sell your house, it’s a job. And you are earning
back your equity. I can guarantee you that no matter what you spend on
your home to get it Staged® and ready for the market, it will be far
cheaper than your first price reduction would have been when it didn’t
sell.
“When you
stage® your home you are selling on purpose, not just leaving it to
chance”~ Tracy Susick
Tracy Susick
is an Accredited Staging Professional™ and owner of Room Works in
Saegertown. She specializes in Interior Redesign and Real Estate
Staging® and works with all homeowners and home sellers with or without
a real estate agent.
Tracy
Susick -
Room-Works
www.room-works.com
tracy@room-works.com |
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