To stage or not to stage…

home renovationhome stagingreal estateproperty managementhome buyinghome selling

Apr 13

I get asked often if my business is affected by the current market conditions and if I’ve seen a decline in people choosing to stage when houses are selling so quickly. The answer is no. To me, there are 2 types of sellers:

Those who want to sell their home “as is” with minimal work and stress and are happy with getting at or around asking price. Chances are good that you will still have a quick sale depending on the age/size/condition of the home. Always rely on your agent to price it competitively but do the research as well to see how your home stacks up against others.
Those who recognize that updates are needed but don’t want to spend a ton to get it ready. They want to get over asking and multiple offers and are willing to put some money in upfront for a better return at closing.

Of course, there are many factors to consider, but I often see listings with price reductions after a couple weeks on the market (sometimes as much as 10K!) and when I go into the listing, it’s always the same. Bedrooms painted in bright colors or rooms with busy wallpaper, over-sized furniture hiding the space's potential, outdated fixtures, appliances, and floor coverings. I think to myself, if the work to get it looking its best had been done prior to photos, would they have had to reduce the price?

Consider it like this, if you were to get ready for a first date, would you wear comfortable sweats and not take a shower? We get used to the way things are and expect others to see it the same way we do. However, not everyone loves the color pink for a bedroom and all they see is work and dollar signs if that is the house they choose. When an agent submits an offer, they will take into account the costs involved to get the home move-in ready and use that as leverage to negotiate the price. On the flip side, if the house shows well and doesn’t need a ton of work prior to moving in, there is less room to negotiate.

Our goal is to work alongside homeowners and agents to make sure houses are looking their best so that both the buyer and seller are happy at the closing table. We will offer suggestions and provide you with estimates so you can weigh out the options and make an informed decision on the best route to take. Ultimately, it is your choice, but if you do a little research, you will see listings of homes that have bright colored walls and over-sized furniture and some that are tidy, staged and appealing to the eye. Visually speaking, you might be more inclined to offer a full asking price for a house that you can see yourself living in rather than one you will have to change to make it what you want.

Moving is stressful, that’s why we are here to help. If something needs to get done, we can take it off your plate. We have a network of talented and trustworthy partners to step in where we can’t. You don’t have to spend extra time finding a cleaner, someone to tidy up the garden beds, or power wash the house. Don’t leave behind equity that could be yours!

Here is a list of services RE can do for you: