Lights. Camera. Action.

3 Reasons to Stage Your Home Before Listing

All of us have seen programs on HGTV where prospective home-buyers walk away from a beautiful house for reasons as seemingly insignificant as paint colors. But there’s more to it. It’s an overall feeling that isn’t obvious to the viewer.

Take a master suite, for example. It’s large, has a custom walk-in closet to die for, and a recently renovated master bath. But there are clothes on the floor, the bed’s unmade and you can’t see past the makeup and wet towels to the double vanities and incredible tile work in the bathroom.

Imagine how different that overall feeling would be if the bed wore beautiful sheets and a faux fur throw. If the unique sinks sparkled in light from bubble glass pendant lights. If vases of flowers graced the bedside tables next to candles that smelled like a spa.

Staging your home for sale could be the difference between those prospective buyers walking away and writing a check.

Here are 3 important reasons staging your home prior to listing is worth your time, money and effort.

1. According to The Real Estate Staging Association, staged homes sell 73% faster than those that haven’t been staged, and buyers are willing to spend 1-5% more than less appealing homes. It adds value without breaking the bank like major renovations prior to sale. Very importantly, when you list your house online, with or without a realtor, professional pictures of a clean, well-dressed home are attractive. This beats the competition, gets you a walk through more quickly and means you’re more likely to sell at market value or above.

2. Even inexpensive improvements can make a huge difference. Here are some simple things you can do without a professional stager:

• Improve curb appeal by clipping the hedges or power washing the sidewalk.

• Deep clean and remove all clutter.

• Set the dining room table. Make the buyer think Pottery Barn.

• Empty the bathroom garbage. Set out new bars of soap and clean towels.

• Remove all nasty smells, like kitty litter for example. You may have gone nose blind. Your potential buyers have not.

3. Real estate agents are more likely to show a staged home because it’s more likely to sell quicker, which means they profit sooner. They can bill your home as a “must-see” and that will bring more buyers - and other agents - through your beautiful front door. It’s a win-win for everyone.

Staging is an important part of selling your home more quickly for more money. It's definitely worth your time and effort, and can be done without a huge cash investment. So get creative, hit up Home Goods and make your house look like a million bucks!