Staged Homes
There is some debate about the value of
staged homes. Some real estate professionals
(particularly those who don't offer staging services) claim
that staging a home doesn't really add value, and that
staging is simply a way of deceiving the home buyer.
I strongly disagree with this assessment
of staged homes for a couple of reasons:
First of all, the appearance of a home matters a great deal.
Ask yourself this: What is your first impression of a home
with overgrown bushes, long grass, and tons of dandelions?
If you are a potential buyer, chances are you will not even
get out of the car. Home sellers and real estate
agents realize this, and take pains to improve the exterior
curb appeal by cutting the grass, planting flowers, and
trimming the bushes. Home staging is no different,
except that it takes place inside the home.
Second, there is no intent to deceive the buyer with staged
homes. I always advise home sellers to fix problems
with their homes, or to fully disclose the fact that the
home is in need of repair. Disclosures are always in
the best interests of the seller, because hidden problems
that are turned up by a home inspection later can cause a
sale to fall through. The true purpose of home staging
is to allow potential buyers to see the home's true
potential. If you present your house as a dump, then
buyers will see it as such and will make offers accordingly,
or more likely, not at all! But if you take some care
in presenting your home, then buyers will see its true worth
and will make an offer. Third, information
on staged homes is freely available to buyers on the
internet. I fully expect that buyers and well as
sellers will be reading my website, and I invite them to
make use of the resources found here. Generally, I
find that buyers who are aware of how home staging
works can still be impressed by a home that is
well-presented. The well-informed buyer who has done
their homework knows not only the value of your home, but
the value of other homes in the neighborhood as well, and is usually willing
to pay fair market value if the home is a match for their
tastes and lifestyle. Staging homes is my way of
ensuring that my clients' homes will be a
close match to what buyers are seeking.
I encourage you to come to your own conclusions about home
staging by reading case studies of homes that I have staged.
By comparing before and after photos of staged homes, you
will be able to see the difference that staging makes and
make an informed decision as to whether home staging adds
value or not.
Note: The links below lead to pages on
my other website and will open in a new window.
Staged Homes Case Study #1
Stages Homes Case Study #2 |
