Do I Need A Stager To Sell My House?
Selling a home is an exciting and overwhelming experience. Future-Sellers are looking forward to a new start in a better-suited home. Yet, many aspects of selling a home make people stressed and worried. Sellers have to consider how to sell their current home, how much to sell it for, and who to sell it to. They also are experiencing a major life transition, choosing their next home and putting in offers.
Perhaps the seller's most sincere desire is to sell their current home for the best market value. No one wants to feel swindled!
Do sellers need a home-stager to increase the value of their property, or is it wise to do it themselves? This article will discuss the pros and cons of hiring a home stager and answer the question ‘do I need a stager to sell my house?’
Is It Better To Sell A House Empty Or Staged?
Sellers can breathe a sigh of relief when they successfully move from their past home into their new home. It’s a time of celebration…unless your old home hasn’t sold yet. Empty houses are harder to sell. Here’s why:
Empty rooms look smaller. You want every room to feel spacious, ready to fill with the buyer’s family and belongings.
Researchers at Redfin concluded that occupied homes sell for $11,000 more on average.
But don’t stop reading there. Occupied homes can hinder sales and decrease the perceived value of the home!
If a seller’s home is full of clutter, large, old furniture, not thoroughly cleaned, looks dark, and is outdated, potential buyers are likely to give low-ball offers or skip out on it completely.
What Is A Home Stager?
When you think of staging, you might think of tacky bowls of plastic fruit they use in furniture stores. Home staging doesn’t have to be that way if you hire the right interior design professional.
A home stager examines your home and notes the unique features that potential buyers will love! They analyze everything from natural light to spacial measurements. They create color schemes that will soothe, relax, and energize buyers. With these things in mind, home stagers have an inventory of furniture and decor to bring your home to life.
Home stagers know what photographs well. Did you know that 95% of buyers first view their future home online? This means sellers need their pictures to stand out and compel buyers to enquire about the property! First impressions are everything.
A good home stager has a background in reality and interior design, knows the laws governing property sales, and has a network of buyers and sellers who know their name.
What Is The Home Staging Process?
First, sellers need to vet their home stagers properly. Look at reviews, view portfolios, and choose two or three home staging companies to contact based on your findings. Next, potential stagers will contact you to set up a consultation. A consultation will include an in-person appraisal of your property. Then, stagers will submit bids based on their findings. Findings can include:
The amount of furniture a home needs
An estimate of hours on the job
How long the seller will need the home staged for
Whether the seller wants to clean the space or will require that of the stager
Location
Seller’s budget
The seller will need to consider the expertise, perceived integrity (likely from reading reviews or word of mouth), and their price point to decide which stager will fit their budget and bring value to their home. Remember the statistic from the beginning of this article: on average, staged homes sell for $11,000 thousand more.
What If I Can’t Afford A Stager?
Don’t worry. There are a lot of online resources that can guide you through staging your own home. Though you’ll want to set time aside for this as it will take both time and effort - it is absolutely not impossible! Sellers will want some knock-out photos to use, so focus on creating a picture-perfect space with these tips:
Audit the light
Do you hang dark curtains so that you can get decent shut-eye? Dark curtains will block natural light, which is a camera’s best friend. Pull them away from the windows or take them down completely if possible.
Declutter
It’s time to organize and donate what you don’t plan on taking to your new abode. Put all belongings away properly and try to keep items off of the floor as a general rule (i.e., don’t place miscellaneous items underneath desks, beds, dressers, or entertainment centers). This will make things look messy.
Remove Photos
If your walls and shelves are filled with family photos, even if you think they are the best things ever, put them away. Potential buyers will see it as your home, not their future home.
Clean
You know that friend’s house in middle school that always smelled like soup? Don’t let that be you. Clean your heart out. Then clean some more. Smudged mirrors and grubby countertops will make buyers say ‘ew, David’. Rent a carpet cleaner or get your carpets professionally cleaned - carpets don’t only contribute to the overall look of cleanliness but also the smell.
Learn How To Make Staged Beds
Follow a youtube video on how to make the fluffiest, comfiest, chicest bed. Make sure to make every bed in the house look its very best!
The Take Away
‘Do I need a home stager?’ 95% of buyers see their home online first. First impressions are everything! A home stager increases the value of your home, earning you at least $11,000 more than an empty home.
Home stagers are there to take the stress away from selling and are qualified professionals. It’s not the end of the world if you can’t afford one, though. A thorough clean, natural light, and some well-made beds can certainly help you sell your home!