To Home Stage or Not to Home Stage

Research has shown that when a buyer walks in the front door, it takes them 11 seconds at most, to decide if your house is appealing to them.  Sight, smell and whether or not they have to climb over an abundance of shoes in the foyer to look at the home, affects this “first impression”.  

 Showing a house is a lot like going on a first date: you try to look well groomed even if that’s not how you normally look!  The old adage about first impressions being the most important is just as true for your home as it is for you.  A clean house gives prospective buyers the impression that the whole house is well maintained including the out of sight items such as plumbing or heating.

Achieving that perfect “model home” condition is not really as overwhelming as it sounds.  Some sellers use professional home stagers to improve their home’s appearance and sale price.  At the extreme, talented stagers are masters of illusion.  They have large storehouses of furniture and accessories or rental arrangements with various stores.  After evaluating your home, they may decide to swap your old sofa for one that will make buyers take a second look at the room. After the house is sold the loaner sofa goes back to the store.  The same goes for the rug, matching vases, etc.  While you may not be prepared to use a stager or go to these lengths to update your home, there are a few simple ways to get a similar outcome.

In the not so extreme, many real estate professionals, like me, include the services of a home stager to prepare your home.  In my experience these talented professionals are hard to come by but are indispensable.  They help the homeowner depersonalize the home, making rooms look larger in smaller homes, de-clutter and break the bad news when painting is required.  Generally, all stagers are trying to make your home look close to a model home.

Selling a home can be very stressful to many people. To make the whole process smoother, it helps to be prepared before the stager comes.   Years of collecting souvenirs, antiques and nic-nacs may add charm to your home but it can also make rooms look small and cluttered.  Pack them away…you’re moving anyway.

I’ve often had the devil of a time convincing homeowners to part with, or pack away, their collection of teddy bears, shot glasses or beer cans from around the world.  Not to mention the collection of cups and saucers they’re Aunt Hilda left them.

It is important to note that when selling your home, potential buyers may not be able to see past your décor, or your family photos, to really appreciate its true beauty.  Some buyers will hardly look at the house because all their attention is being caught by an over abundance of “STUFF” we collect. 

To answer the question, To Home Stage or Not to Home Stage?  When we see research from homestagers that also prove a staged home sells 78% faster than an unstaged home - I say a resounding YES!  Hire a professional, present a good product on the market and receive more money in a shorter period of time for what is normally your largest investment. Why not? 

When buying or selling a home in Durham Region - CALL PAT direct and free at 1-888-790-7511.

Are Realtors needed as they once were?  With access to the Internet, and the once over guarded information, many buyers and sellers have asked...do we still need a REALTOR?

Similar questions were asked of us when the Internet first started posting information instantly about houses...and well most everything else. For example, there was the rumour a decade or more ago that "shopping malls will CLOSE" because of the internet. Who will go to a mall when they can shop on line???

Did you go to the mall this holiday season?

Yes, the internet is a fantastic resource and whether you are 5 years old or 82, checking out information for free on the net is valuable. The good news is, in the real estate world, we are getting very educated sellers and buyers coming into the market place.

We come back to the question...DO you need a realtor?  Absolutely! According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR), in their 2010 profile of home buyers, 89 percent of homebuyers use the internet to search for homes and it does not diminish the use of professional realtors.

The profile stated that home buyers who use the internet to search are MORE likely to buy through a salesperson. The typical buyer spends 2 weeks searching for homes before they contact a sales person and on average look at 12 homes during the process.

Realtors are trained professionals who take you through a very complex process step-by-step.  We assist in the search process, legal forms, market pricing, multiple offers, the negotiations, the staging and photography for sellers, the screening of buyers, mortgage contacts and information, and much, much more. We further help with the multitude of pertinent questions and answers with the rousources to get you what you want, where you want, and for what you can afford.

That hasn't changed in decades...the Internet is a tool we all use in every aspect of our lives these days...a helptul tool to learn more about buying and selling YOUR home...for most people, the single largest investment of their lives.

Finding someone you trust, someone with experience will get you the results!  For the buyer there is no fee...for the seller...it's been proven time and time again you net more money in your pocket. With world real estate markets still suffering Canada and Toronto GTA in particular, are still active and strong.  Ask me how to help you...and we can Blog, text, ping, email, google, BBM, IM...till we get you exactly where you want to go!