HOME STAGING
Preparing a property for sale
When it comes time to sell a property, owners will often make tweaks here and there in order to make the home or condo more appealing to buyers. Realtors often suggest trying to declutter as much as possible, and removing any items that may be potential eyesores. While these tips may take care of the basics, home stagers take it one step further for sellers, brokers, and builders who want their properties to truly stand out.
Home staging is a technique that’s used to prepare a property for sale by bringing in furniture, accent pieces, and decorations to maximize the beauty and functionality of a home. Stagers may use homeowners’ existing furniture, but more often than not they opt to rent pieces instead. This is especially true if the property is vacant or brand-new.
“The goal of staging is to present the home’s best assets in a way that will appeal to the largest number of potential buyers,” said Marzia Pascarella, owner of Locations Rentan Rentals. “We believe that the first impression will set the foundation for the brokers and homeowners to negotiate the best price for their home.”
Home staging is thought to have a positive effect on buyers because a well-staged home enables them to get a better overall sense of the property, and essentially picture themselves in it.
“It helps sellers to present their property in an optimal manner and helps potential buyers to better visualize the property as their potential home,” Pascarella said. “It also helps define the rooms in terms of function and volume; eliminating any doubt the buyer may have about how to furnish the space is a huge deal in making a sale.”
The idea behind how to stage a home is always to make the overall look and feel of the property stylish, but also as neutral as possible.
“We follow the current market trends for furniture and decor but because home staging strives to remain neutral and pleasing to everyone, some colours or materials that are too trendy are usually avoided or used in small doses,” Pascarella said.
“A contemporary, neutral look is always in style and can be accessorized to create added pop when appropriate.”
The cost for home staging really depends on the needs of each individual client, and works on a case-by-case basis.
“Some clients only need to rearrange their existing furniture, some need to add a few pieces and accessories, and some vacant homes need everything,” Pascarella said. “So the cost varies between a couple of hundred dollars and a couple of thousand for the rental portion of staging.”
With a warehouse of 8,000 square feet full of furniture and other household items for rent, Pascarella caters to individual homeowners, brokers, real estate investors, developers, and even film crews shooting on location in the Montreal area. “We work with many professional home stagers to achieve the optimal result for each client,” Pascarella said.
In addition to staging the home’s interior, sellers should also consider the state of their home’s exterior when planning to sell.
“If you’re talking about first impressions, nothing is more important than the front of the home,” said Lee Gregory, project co-ordinator with Groupe Paramount, a local company specializing in landscaping.
“It’s as important as greeting a prospective employer with a smile and a firm handshake.”
Things like cleaning up fallen tree branches and overgrown shrubs offers an easy return on investment.
“Changing the front lighting fixtures, mailbox, address sign and hand rail to match a more current look are simple and cost-effective ways to update the look of a home’s exterior in a subtle but impactful way,” Gregory said. “Then, if there’s room in the budget, updating the driveway and walkway can do wonders, too — and adding some basic greenery can be a cheerful way to make the home more welcoming and help sellers get the optimal price for their home in a short period of time.”
No matter your budget, there are simple solutions for anyone looking to maximize their home’s appeal prior to listing. Speaking with your broker, as well as local design and staging professionals, can be a great way to determine what your needs are, and how to proceed with staging your home.