St Louis MO foreclosure homes

To Stage or not to Stage

Reasons Why Sellers Should Consider Home Staging

To stage or not to stage? This is often a question many sellers have when it is time to put their home on the market. Many people find that they need to move out of state or simply move on, yet have not sold their home yet-leaving the home vacant. Most agents would agree that staging is an important component to selling the home. A home must feel "homey", inviting, and cozy. You will not illicit this feeling from a buyer if there are no items in the home. Therefore staging to help define the space and create that cozy impression is highly recommended. It is important that the style of the staging items that are used are a good fit with the general décor of the house. You would not want to use super modern looking furniture and accents in a home that would be described as "cottage" style home. It is important to have the staging items be neutral, and not anything that would distract the buyer. Again the key is to highlight the property and create a sense of "home".

It is also recommended that sellers who do still live in their home

while it is on the market, consult with their agent about the appearance of the home and whether or not it should be staged. A stager does not necessarily have to come in with new items. Ideally the seller can use current furniture/accent items in the home. Sometimes it helps to do some rearranging of items and eliminate some furniture

to create more space.

It is very important to get rid of clutter. Less is more when it comes time for buyer to view your home. And just when you think you have de-cluttered enough...you probably haven't. You want the spaces in your home to look big and open, clutter works against that impression and it distracts the buyers. It is very helpful to have someone (your agent, a professional stager) take a look at your current furnishings/décor and determine if there are any changes that can be made to enhance and improve the look of the home. You only get a moment to make that first impression when the buyer walks in the door so it is vital that it is a positive impression.

In addition, if you have outdoor spaces you will want to make sure these spaces are staged to look inviting. The front door, porch, area around the front door is very important-it should be clean, neat and leave a positive impression. Sometimes a tasteful wreath and/or planters are needed to dress up the area that is the first impression of the home. You want buyers to walk around the entire property and imagine themselves enjoying both indoor and outdoor spaces.

There is a lot of competition so your home has to stand out. The way that you live in your home day to day is not going to necessarily be the presentation that will attract the buyers. If your home is sparsely decorated you will want to add accents-neutral pictures, plants, books on a shelf...to add some personality and warmth. Again if you have too many of these items you will want to put a big portion of them in storage.

When it is time to sell your home, consult with your agent about your specific staging needs. Happy Staging!