Staging has become the number one marketing tool when preparing your home for sale. We all know how valuable MLS photos are these days and what is being photographed is even more important. Here are the Top 3 Reasons To Stage Your Home.
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After (Staged by LTW)
1. Interior Marketing
The interior of your property should given as much attention and effort as the marketing of your listing. No matter how much work your realtor does to market your property, if the MLS photos on the marketing material do not speak to your buyer demographic, the property will sit. A professional stager will know how to showcase the interior rooms to reach your potential buyer demographic. Staging is not decorating, it is a strategic marketing to reach a specific audience.
2. Return On Investment
According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR), the investment in staging your home costs between 1-3% of the list price and has a return on investment (ROI) of 8-10%. Staged homes tend to spend less days on the market which means less carrying costs and a faster sale. It is critical to know that staging is an investment, not an expense. Staged homes are more likely to garner the most attention from buyers than unstaged homes.
3. Target Your Specific Buyer Demographic
Knowing your potential buyer is one of the most critical pieces of the puzzle when preparing your home for sale. It is a team effort and a collaboration of sorts, consisting of you (the seller), your realtor(s) and your stager. The market knowledge and trends provided by your realtor and stager can zero in on identifying your buyer demographic. Once that is determined, it is the stager’s job to create a design that speaks to that specific buyer so they experience an emotional connection with the property. How a stager accomplishes this is entirely another article, however, a professionally trained staging designer will know how to get the job done.
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After (Staged by LTW)
When it comes time to sell what is often one of your largest assets, be sure to do your research and interview at least 3 staging companies that are professionally trained in home staging (not just decorating or design). Read their reviews, view their portfolio and get a good feel for what expertise they will bring to enhance the process of selling your home.