You’ve heard it time and time again: you should stage your home before trying to sell it, and you probably need professional staging. But does it really make that much difference? And at a cost of up to $2,000, is it really worth the price? In a word: Often times, yes. Here are four solid reasons why staging your house in Kansas City can help your home sell more quickly and for more money. In addition, we’ll talk about options that may better meet your needs when downsizing and preparing to sell your home and if a full suite of staging is warranted for your situation.
Conveys the Impression of Care and Maintenance
Potential buyers are always impressed with a home that seems to be well maintained, one that appears to have been kept up and cared for. Following the popularity of the Parades of Homes, we know that buyers are drawn to the “model home” look. Sort of like stage make-up in a theatrical production, a staged home doesn’t appear the same as a home you may be used to for everyday living. Buyers don’t want to see paper towel roll holders, trash cans, your tube of toothpaste on the counter and certainly your toothbrush. Simplified, refined and visually appealing give buyers a sense of care and attention to detail.
Effective staging conveys the impression that your home has been well maintained and is in good condition. (This is assuming you’ve already taken care of the necessary repairs.) Top-notch staging helps make your house look to be in tip-top shape and puts buyers at ease about the condition. And this is a step toward a sale. Talk with your Seniors Real Estate Specialist® at your consultation to discuss your personal home needs and if a level of staging would make sense. We understand you’re in the process of “getting rid of things” – and our goal is to make your home sale as simplified as possible with the best results.
Makes Rooms Seem Larger
Professional stagers know what they’re doing, so one result of their work is making your rooms seem larger and your whole house bigger and more spacious. That’s just one of the benefits of staging before selling your home in Kansas City.
Staging is the art of utilizing space to the best advantage, so stagers arrange furniture so as to maximize usable space. And this, in turn, makes rooms seem larger than they actually are, which is appealing to buyers. This also goes hand in hand with the decluttering process you’ve likely been working through. Another key ingredient in staging is attention to the flow in each room to augment the appearance of more space. For example, when you enter a room you scan it from left to right. Stagers, then, put the largest piece in the far left corner and successively smaller pieces on around the room, thus creating the illusion of a larger room. Depending on your home’s condition, style and goals – we may opt for accent staging to add highlights to certain areas or in some cases virtual staging to better demonstrate the roominess of a space – for example – will a pool table fit in a lower level family room or rec room?
Increases Likelihood of a Sale
One of the main reasons why you may consider staging your home in Kansas City is that it will increase your chances of a sale – as quickly as possible and at an optimal price. Staging presents your house in its best light, and this makes buyers more inclined to make an offer. And this is the ultimate goal, isn’t it? In addition to physical appearance – we circle back to that warm fuzzy feeling buyers get when they see a home with a “model home” look.
Helps Justify the Asking Price
Besides increasing the likelihood of a sale, if you stage your house, it will help justify the asking price. Buyers today want to feel like they are getting a good value for their dollar when purchasing a home. A staged & well kept home puts forth effort making it look like it’s worth what you’re asking for it.
Of course, you will still need to work with your Seniors Real Estate Specialist® to determine the fair market value by means of a comp analysis. A home that is overpriced will sit and raise buyer concerns. After all repairs have been made, staging will not only make your house seem roomier, but it will look move-in ready. It will appear as if everything has been taken care of, and buyers will be able to envision your house as their home. Staging will elicit all the right emotional responses in buyers and they will feel more confident to open their checkbooks and write an offer.
Why stage your home when downsizing in Kansas City? Because it will convey the impression of a well-maintained home, make it seem roomier, increase the likelihood of a sale, and help you justify the asking price.