This is the question on many homeowners minds when it comes time to sell. My question to you is what is it worth to you to sell your home faster than other homes and for the BEST price possible?
For some it may not matter if they sell quickly as long as they get what THEY WANT for their home. For others, it may only matter that they sell quickly. (more…)
I have been reading the book Nothing Down for Women: The Smart Woman’s Quick-Start Guide to Real Estate Investing
As a home stager our objective is to solve problems. The problem or the goal for most homeowners is to sell their home quickly for as much as they can in order to get on with their life. It just goes without saying that in doing this we are making their life easier and making the whole process simpler.
Statistics show that predominately women are the ones buying houses. She is the one who decides where the family lives. Karen Nelson Bell says that 18% of first time home buyers are single women. The advantage that women have when selling a house or in staging a house is that we know what we are looking for in a home. We don’t like cold, impersonal vacant homes, but homes that we can see our family living in, homes that have a warmth, welcoming and relaxing atmosphere. We want that emotional connection to the home.
Sure we want everything on our logical list, but when a house feels right, it just is. The way you create this for the buyer, again the woman, is to show the homes warmth and potential. The details are what seals the deal. The majority of home stagers are women. We know what to pay attention to, what really captures our heart within a home. Anyone who tries to tell you that their is no emotion in buying a home is wrong.
If you are selling your home and thinking of hiring a home stager, remember that we want to help you solve your problem. Whatever your circumstances or your budget your home stager wants to help you as a person deal with the selling process as efficiently and as effectively as possible. Home staging is a people business, not a home staging business.
Karen Nelson Bell’s book, with co-author Robert G. Allen Nothing Down for Women: The Smart Woman’s Quick-Start Guide to Real Estate Investing
I want to clear up the myth that home staging is only about cleaning your home so that it is presentable and de-cluttering the most common areas. Although this can go a long way in selling your home and I encourage it as a starting point IT IS NOT WHAT MAKES THE DIFFERENCE IN A HOME SELLING EXTREMELY FAST AND FOR WAY MORE MONEY!
When a homeowner cleans and de-clutters their space to help sell their home they are definitely in a better position than someone who doesn’t put the effort in to sell it (the “as is” sale).
Home staging is pushing it to the limit of the WOW factor, the most desirable home on the block, the “transformed” home. This is where you will really make more money in selling your home and selling fast.
Home staging is striving for PERFECTION. If you look at model homes, they are perfect. They often have high end features and everything is just right. It is not often that a buyer goes into a model home and says “I don’t need hardwood floors, I would much prefer the basic carpet and underlay”. Builders count on you “falling in love” with all the upgrades and that is why they plump these homes up and make them irresistible. And as for the price, are you able to negotiate to get “below” asking price? No, but you can do without the upgrades to lower the price and go for the “basic” model.
This is a common question that homeowners have when they are in the process of getting their house ready to sell and you may feel the same way. I did when I sold my first home. The problem is it is easy to feel that you are wasting your money on repairs, painting, deep cleaning among other things when you are leaving. You may think “why can’t the new homeowners take care of things, afterall they can do it the way they want it to look?” Bottom line is if it is work for the buyer it will COST YOU!
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Nowadays, when you hear the word home staging the words cleaning and de-cluttering follow closely behind. This is really your starting point. From the buyers perspective they want to see your house, the structure and not the items that fill the space. And once you have cleared out or edited your belongings it is important that the space be clean as this is the scrutiny that your house will be under.
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If you are thinking about selling your home in the near future I have a challenge for you. I want you to take a look at how other homeowners, with comparable homes in your area, are presenting their homes to sell. This will help you understand what is necessary in preparing your home so that it will sell quickly and for a higher price.
Have fun with my challenge!!
Robin
P.S. If you have taken my challenge I would love to hear about your experience. Just leave your comment below.
