Is Home staging a good idea when selling your property?
10 Jun, 2024
Home staging involves strategically arranging furniture and decor to enhance a home's appeal to potential buyers. It is an idea to present the property so that it evokes emotions; buyers need to feel like they can live there. Now, with every seller and agent advocating this technique, we really need to ask: Is home staging a good idea for everybody?
Understanding Home Staging
Home staging can be defined as the process of getting a property ready for sale by adding to its appeal for potential buyers. The home staging process normally consists of decluttering and rearranging furniture, along with decorative repairs to give the place a welcoming and aesthetic look. It may also include minor repairs, repainting walls with neutral colours, and fixing lighting to present the home in the best possible light. The ultimate aim is to have the buyer envision themselves living in the space, which raises the chance of selling the property quickly. Home staging can make a big difference in the overall impression the property will leave in the minds of buyers.
Benefits of Home Staging
1. First Impressions Matter
The first impression a potential buyer gets from a property can make or break the deal. A well-staged property creates an immediate positive impact, making it more attractive right from the start. Staged homes do tend to photograph better, which is important because most potential buyers start their property search online.
2. Highlighting the Property's Potential
Staging makes houses showcase-worthy, highlighting the best features of your property. Strategic placement of furniture and decor can draw attention to architectural details while also helping you maximise space and create a cohesive flow throughout the property. Staging can make even older or modest homes appear more luxurious and well-maintained.
3. Emotional Connection
A lot of property buyers tend to make decisions based on their emotions. A staged home feels warmer, more inviting, and allows them to more easily imagine themselves living in it. This emotional connection can be a massive motivator in their decision-making process.
4. Faster Sales and Higher Offers
Several studies indicate that staged homes sell faster and for a higher price than non-staged homes. The investment in staging may very well pay off when buyers are ready to pay more for a home that appears move-in ready and well cared for.
Potential Drawbacks of Home Staging
1. Cost
Staging a house can be very expensive, especially if you use a professional stager or rent high-end furniture and accessories. This cost could range from several hundred to many thousands of pounds, depending on the size of the property and how much staging is required. Homeowners have to weigh up the potential return on investment with the initial upfront costs.
2. Time and Effort
Staging a home requires time and effort, both for the homeowner and the stager. The staging process may involve a considerable amount of decluttering, cleaning, and rearranging, which can be time-consuming. Moreover, maintaining the house's appearance while it's being sold could be difficult, especially for those still living on the property.
3. Unrealistic Expectations
While staging can be an effective tool for making your property more attractive, it is not a cure-all. The biggest mistake an agent or seller can make is to over-stage or make the environment perfect since it simply sets unrealistic expectations for buyers who may feel let down when they move in and realise the home doesn't look quite so good without the staged decor.
Is Home Staging Right for You?
The decision to stage or not stage a home ultimately depends on your specific circumstances and goals. If your property is in a competitive market or has unique features, then staging may be the right choice. If it's in good condition and you have a competitive price on it, you could still have a successful sale without going tol the expense of staging.
Tips for Successful Home Staging
1. Focus on Key Areas
Prioritise staging key areas like the living room, kitchen, master bathroom and entrance. These are the areas that buyers tend to pay the most attention to.
2. Keep it Neutral
Use neutral colours and decor to appeal to a broader audience. Personalised or bold design choices may not resonate with all buyers.
3. Declutter and Depersonalise
Provide an open and clean space for buyers to easily visualise their belongings by removing personal items and clutter.
4. Enhance Kerb Appeal
First impressions begin right from the very start when buyers first arrive, so make sure your garden is cleaned up, the exterior is well-maintained, and the entrance is inviting.
Home staging can be a very powerful tactic in home-selling, with many advantages, from making a great first impression to potentially selling more quickly and at a better price – there’s a reason developers always furnish a show home – it works! However, your decision must also be based on weighing up the costs against the effort required and having realistic expectations. Robert Luff says “We’ve had some great successes when we help to ‘stage’ a property but it isn’t right for everybody. That’s where my team’s expert local knowledge is essential to help decide what’s right for every seller.”