Even though Home Staging has been around for over a dozen years in most areas, many people still don't know what a Home Stager does and why they should hire one.
There are different reasons for hiring a Home Stager and the reasons differ depending on your situation. Let's look at the most common seller first, the seller that is living in their home and trying to get it ready to put on the market.
The #1 reason that someone living in their home should hire a Home Stager is because of the MLS photos.
Yes....that is really what I said. Although the MLS photo is taken by a professional photographer doesn't mean the MLS photo is going to show your home in the best light if you don't have it ready!
Let's look at a typical middle class family home and let's begin at the most important room in the house, the Kitchen. The kitchen will literally make or break a deal.
How we live and how we sell are two different things. We live with things on top of our cabinets. We have notes, artwork and everything else on our refrigerators. We have the items we use every day on top of the counters.
BUT.....the MLS photo is very small to show off an entire room. What will the buyer's eye go to in that photo?? Your stuff! The buyer's eye is going to be drawn to all the 'things' and they will totally miss what your home looks like.
A Home Stager can tell you what to take down and pack away so the buyer will now see your kitchen on that MLS photo.
Look at that new backsplash! That is where the eye now goes instead of to little things lined up. The kitchen is even painted a beautiful color. Who knew!
Reason #2 for hiring a Home Stager for your occupied home? Furniture placement.
Many times the best way to have your furniture for watching TV or hanging out with the kids isn't the best way to have your furniture for selling. Your sofa may be cutting off the room, or you may have so many things in the room and you don't even use them anymore.
A Home Stager can access the area quickly and ask questions to come up with a better floor plan. They may take things out, shop from different rooms and/or push things around. All in an effort to open up the space and have a better flow of traffic.
I could go on with this list of why someone should hire a Home Stager for their occupied home but I think these two reasons alone show you the importance and these are probably reasons you hadn't even realized.
Yes people know they need to declutter but they don't know why. Now you do.
And when it comes to furniture placement? Most people haven't changed their furniture arrangement since they moved in. It may work for you but may not show off your room in the best light!
Let's face it. We all live with our stuff to the point that we don't even see it anymore. We all need a fresh pair of eyes to take a look at our homes and give us a different perspective.
When it's time to sell make sure you hire a Certified Home Stager who is trained to see your home how the buyer will see it.
It doesn't mean you did anything wrong! It just means it has to be different for selling.
In the next post I will address why an investor should hire a Home Stager!
Shar Sitter, owner Rooms With Style Home Staging and Redesign Minneapolis MN.
CHSE and APSD Home Stager Pro Trainer
952-567-1124