Stage a property to sell when relocating
When preparing a home to go on the market, proper staging can make all the difference. This is true whether the home is vacant or occupied, because staging is all about creating a space that potential buyers will love.
And if the seller is relocating, staging can be a key element in getting the home sold relatively quickly and for a higher price.
According to Julia Nichols, Realtor with The Nichols Realty Group of Keller Williams Memorial, there are varying levels of home staging.
It can be as simple as placing a seller’s furniture and belongings in different ways to make a home look more appealing, or it can involve the hiring of a professional home stager to completely transform a property.
Likewise, the cost can range from fairly inexpensive, to several thousands of dollars.
So, it really depends on what is needed and appropriate for a specific property, and the seller’s budget.
“We work with several good stagers who can go in, look at the seller’s furniture and pull out the pieces they don't like, and then add one impact piece or a painting, and just completely and magically change the way the space shows,” explained Nichols. “The idea is to make the space feel uncluttered, so that people can picture themselves living there.”
For that reason, she said that it is best for homeowners to remove some of their personal items and effects before the home goes on the market. Too many personal items can be distracting for people who come to look at the home, and that can take away from their ability to see a home’s true potential.
“I tell my clients that there will be strangers walking through the house, and you might not want them looking at your wedding pictures. They need to be able to concentrate on the space and how the space makes them feel,” said Nichols.
There are several easy things that sellers can do themselves, such as clearing off their kitchen and bathroom countertops, and cleaning out overstuffed closets.
Nichols also said that how people view the outside of the property is equally important to how the view the inside. So, sellers need to keep their grass looking freshly cut, trimmed and free of weeds, and add a few flowers for a pop of color.
“The first impression happens the second people pull into the driveway or walk up to the door, and if they see that everything is trimmed and cleaned, they make the assumption that the house has been cared for,” Nichols said.
Terri George, an associate broker with Coldwell Banker United Realtors, said that home staging has become even more important today because of the competitive nature of the Houston market, and the fact that most buyers begin their home search online.
“I always tell my clients, especially when it’s a relocation since they have to move and sell their home, that everyone finds homes online. Whether it's Zillow or the local MLS or Trulia, everyone is looking at pictures online. So, if the house isn't set up and staged right when I have my professional photographer shoot the listing, those pictures will be forever stuck online,” George explained.
She added, “In the Houston area, we have a lot of relocation clients coming here as well as moving out and they may be on a time crunch, so if your house doesn't present well or show well, buyers will have a really hard time getting a good visual about what works for them and just move on to the next property.”
This is why George said that she approaches the subject of home staging with her sellers before she meets with them to discuss listing the property.
“I give them a headsup, because the last thing I want to do is to go out there and make them feel awkward,” George said. “So, I tell them that part of the reason I am coming out there is to look at the house and how it’s set up, and see if anything needs to be done. Then at the appointment, I go into more detail depending on how intense the staging needs to be.”
There are also certain things that she likes for her sellers to do prior to staging a property.
For example, if a seller has any furniture that looks out of place or crowds a room, it is best to move it out of the way to give the area more of an open feel.
“Home staging is not just taking the personal family photos off the wall; it's setting things at certain angles and other extra little things that help make the home sale a smoother transaction,” George said.
Michelle Sandlin is an award-winning writer, journalist and global mobility industry expert. Follow her on Facebook: www.facebook.com/TheMichelleSandlin and on Twitter: @MichelleSandlin. Also visit “On the Move” at blog.chron.com/onthemove.