Hello Realtor friend! 

Because staging is relatively new in this area, as well as it having changed tremendously in the last 5-10 years, I want to clarify a few common misconceptions about staging to help you when talking to your sellers. This is so important because by skipping this essential step, you and your sellers are missing out on selling faster and/or for more money, in any market.

It used to be that "staging" involved slapping some pillows on a random couch, or putting a folding table in a dining room with plastic plates and calling it a day.  Thankfully, that has changed!! 

Today, effective staging is a powerful marketing tool combining interior design elements, the understanding of photography, the psychology of space, color, and what buyers want to see and how they want to feel; all to attract the buyers in the target demographic market by appealing directly to their emotions.

1.  MISCONCEPTION:   Staging costs too much money.

       DETAILS:  A mind-shift is needed here!  Staging isn't a seller's "cost," but an investment in their largest asset that will most likely reap the rewards of a faster selling time and a higher sales price. Owners opt out because they often see it as an extra expense and not necessary, and want to keep more money in their pockets initially (but then resort to reducing the price by $5,000-$20,000, or it sitting on the market for longer than necessary, costing even more).

        STATS:   However, according to NAR, the ROI on staging is four times the money invested into it -- "for every $100 invested into staging, the potential return is $400." (Bankrate puts it even higher, at an average ROI of 586% --over 5 times!)  Thus, using either numbers, a $2500 investment in vacant staging will typically bring a $10,000 - $15,000 higher asking and/or selling price; that's thousands of dollars of VALUE!

But what are the costs of NOT staging?  The average price reduction is 10-20%, so if a $300,000 house is reduced by even just 10%, obviously the seller's pure profit loss is $30,000....not to mention the seller's extra home costs during the weeks or months of sitting on the market, or the stress of a long for-sale process.

I can assure you that beautiful, professional staging ALWAYS costs less than your first price reduction!

(And, my Occupied Home Consultations are from $200-$300 for up to 2.5 hours in the home! Talk about a valuable few hours!)

2.    MISCONCEPTION:  Home staging is just decorating houses that anyone can do.

      DETAILS:   When you take the time to stage, you are entering the market with one of the strongest marketing tools available. Great staging is a combination of interior design, psychology of space and color, and understanding of photography to attract buyers to the all-important in-home visit. 

Staging-done-right is what creates the emotional connection for buyers, as well as increases the perceived value of the home.  Yes, we "decorate" houses, but from the layout to the color selections to the arrangement of each and every item, it is all done with an additional eye for the market and the prospective buyers, to highlight certain features and distract from others.

The goal is to ensure each house represents a particular lifestyle that buyers are looking for. .... Because no matter how logical home buying seems, buyers really and truly buy on emotion.

      STATS:  According to a recent national Zillow survey of Realtors, hiring a professional home stager was listed as one of the BEST investments a seller can make. 

The ROI is tremendous, and statistically, they sell 80-90% faster and for up to 20% more than similar but unstaged homes.

In the end, the sellers are the winners $$$, YOU are the Rock Star Realtor who made it happen, and their friends are your new clients!   :-)

3.  MISCONCEPTION:  Getting the house on the market ASAP is more important than staging.

                             DETAILS: Will be in an upcoming Newsletter!

4.  MISCONCEPTION:  This house is probably going to sell at the same speed and price as the neighbor's house.

                             DETAILS: Will be in an upcoming Newsletter!

Staging is a powerful marketing strategy. And statistically, it's one of

the most effective strategies you can invest in. 

Give me and call and let's market the heck out of your listings!

NOTE:  I am a small company, so can fully vacant-stage just up to three houses at a time, so the earlier in the process you can contact me, the better your chances of getting a timely spot are!

Personally, I just retired as a Reading Coach at GCASD, so now I have more time for staging, design and color consultations!  I'm SO looking forward to this next phase of life!  Thank you all for supporting me since I began this business just two years ago.

I would be interested in meeting with you and your team in person to discuss how staging can help you stand out from the competition.  Contact me and let's talk!

**  All photos are examples of my own staging and taken by me. **

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