Home staging defined... By Wikipedia...
Home staging is the act of preparing a private residence prior to going up for sale in the real estate marketplace. The goal of staging is to sell a home quickly, and for the most money possible by making a home appealing to the highest number of potential buyers. Staging focuses on improving a property to make it appeal to the largest number of buyers by transforming it into a welcoming, appealing, and attractive product for sale. Many people believe that staging raises the value of a property by way of reducing the home's flaws, depersonalizing, decluttering, cleaning, improving condition items, and landscaping. For vacant homes, staging furniture is used to create a living space the buyer can "see" themselves living in. Properly executed staging leads the eye to attractive features while minimizing flaws.
Is it necessary to "STAGE your home to SELL your home?"
I think it is necessary. (Nicky Dou)
How much you need to stage is the question... Some homes that I am asked to come over and look at during a listing presentation need A LOT of staging, others look great and may only need a few items removed or rearranged. I have checklists that for both interior and exteriors that if a seller will follow most of the items on the checklist - the difference that it makes it tremendous.
In 2008, I listed a handful of homes that had been on the market with another Realtor in Northwest Arkansas for over a year or more... (they were not all with the same Realtor)... I was so surprised when I went through the homes to find... photos and other items on the fridge, clutter throughout the home, so many things that just surprised me that a couple of the homes - after a couple of hours in the house and not much money at all (if any); the house transformed into a HOME - one that now a buyer looking at it - could see it as his/her own home - not the sellers... Taking personal photos down (most of them) is important. I have shown homes before when there are a lot of personal photos - the buyer truly just begins looking to see if they know the people then they get distracted from the TRUE reason they are there. This might be a physchological thing - but truly... the less personal the home THE BETTER! So a couple of the homes that I listed, just after a week or two - we had an offer! Tell me that didn't make the seller happy! I think so many Realtors just tell sellers what they WANT to hear and not what they NEED to hear... or maybe they are just lazy... I don't know but be assured that if you call on me - I will be very honest (like it or not) and make sure your home shows in its very best light!!!
Web Resources on Staging Homes:
About.com talks about tips on staging your home... "Home staging is about illusions. It's how David Copperfield would sell a house. It's beyond decorating and cleaning. It's about perfecting the art of creating moods. Staging makes your house look bigger, brighter, cleaner, warmer, more loving and, best of all, it makes home buyers want to buy it.
30 Can't-Miss Staging Tips... Designed to Sell designer Lisa LaPorta shares some of her best staging tips. From HGTV
13 Home-Staging Secrets... Highlight your home's strengths, downplay its weaknesses and appeal to the greatest possible pool of prospective buyers - or simply your inner designer - with these 13 secrets of home staging from HGTV...
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from Realtor.org - Field Guide to Preparing and Staging a House For Sale... Banish the clutter! Trim the bushes! Hide your Star Wars collection! Take down the family pictures! LOTS OF GREAT TIPS AND RESOURCES ON THIS SITE on staging your home for sale!
If you are selling your home in Northwest Arkansas (or anywhere) be sure to at least read through and take the advice about staging your home... The days of throwing up a sign in the yard are over and the professionals and sellers that are truly serious about selling will out sell the others!!! Nicky Dou is an Accredited Home Staging Specialist in Northwest Arkansas. Along with her marketing & negotiating skills as a TOP Realtor in NWA - Nicky is your key to a successful sale on your home. Give Nicky a call if you are serious about selling your home! visit Nicky Dou's website at www.NickyDou.com for great information about Northwest Arkansas and to search homes for sale on the Northwest Arkansas MLS!
STAGED HOMES SELL FASTER! Check out Nicky's page on the AHS website... Call Nicky Dou with any questions regarding selling your home in the Northwest Arkansas Market! 479.236.3457
Nicky Dou, "Serving Northwest Arkansas and YOU!"
