Does Staging Really Matter?

Does Staging Really Matter?  The short answer is ABSOLUTELY!! 

The goal of prepping and staging a property is to make everything look so nice and perfect, that potential problems do not even cross a buyer's mind.  The buyer thinks, "wow, this looks so great, they must take such good care of this home."  How often do you hear someone say after they purchase a home, "this house just gave us a feeling.  We knew it was the right one."  The buying decision is generally more emotionally driven than logically.  People respond to colors, smells, and feelings.  Experts say a buyer makes a decision of whether or not they like a home in the first thirty seconds.  Thirty seconds is not long, and that is your only chance to make a first great impression.

Check out the photos above.  The first photo is how the bedroom looked in its natural state.  When looking at the photo on my camera, the first thing to come to mind was "blah."  The colors of the wall and the bedspread were too similar, and the picture doesn't look very attractive.  I was happy to discover a red blanket and pillow in the closet.  I positioned the bed slightly different, changed the bedding, and hid the clutter underneath.  Now look at the next picture.  "Voila!"  Which one do you think is more appealing?  Imagine this principle applied to an entire house, not just one room.  It can make a huge difference on how someone perceives a home.

Another thing to consider is how the home is viewed online by buyers.  If the property just looks OK, rather than wow, someone may just skip past it.  A buyer who could be a good fit might never generate interest.  Attract the buyers online first with great photos, then make sure the house shows great in person as well.

Overall, prepping and staging a house for sale is of the utmost importance.  Many sellers do not bother to take these steps, so take the time and effort to make your property shine.  Although it takes extra effort and maybe some money, in the end you will be rewarded with a quicker sale (convenience) and a higher price.  It could also simply be the difference between a home actually selling, or just dwindling on the market.