Premiere Stagers & Realty received a phone call from a condo owner asking about my staging services for her property that had been on the market for 52 days.  I viewed the condo with her realtor later that day.  The realtor told me he had never used a home stager nor recommended a home stager in the 19 years he was a realtor.  My first thought was there had to be client properties that sat longer or had their prices reduced through those years.  Statistics show staged properties sell faster and for more money than un-staged properties.  Granted, not every property should be staged (foreclosure, family sale, distressed, investment), but are you giving your client the best service by showing a vacant property for almost two months? 

An Occupied Property

An occupied property was listed with a different agent who did not recommend a home stager.   It has been on the market for over two months.  But instead of the realtor advising his clients about the benefits of getting their home ready to sell, sellers (and some realtors) think a prospective buyer can look past their furnishings.  When this house was shown, the prospective buyers remarked how dark the paint colors were and how small the rooms looked because of the sellers’ stuff, plus the deer heads!

Clean and Simple

This house was occupied, but the sellers were advised on how to show their house.  Even though the paint color is dark, the prospective buyers knew they could lighten it up with their paint choice and new flooring.  This house quickly sold within a week.

For Sale

New Owners

Staged Condo

So what does the condo look like after being staged?  The online photos entice a prospective buyer to make an appointment to view it.  Staging provides size and scale of the rooms and provides an idea for how furniture may be placed.

The Price of NOT Staging

The price of not staging your property is more than you might think.  Not only do you still have a mortgage payment, but also insurance, utilities, property taxes, and maintenance.  You may also have monthly HOA fees.  The price of staging is always less expensive than your first price reduction.  So, please ask your realtor about home staging services in your area.  Or, if you hire Premiere Stagers & Realty, the staging is included with any listing.  Call 608-345-9396.