If you are selling, you are not alone if you hesitate to stage your home for the market. As a professional real estate stager, I hear many objections. These are the most common.
I can’t afford home staging!
Recent statistics from HomeGain show that you would get at least a 300% return on your investment. Can you afford NOT to stage?
I don’t need it!
Even homes that are nicely decorated by a professional will need some staging. Your home has been decorated to suit your tastes, which is great when you are living there. But now the home is a commodity and must appeal to the greatest number of buyers possible to ensure a quick sale.
I can do it myself!
Some sellers can do it, but the vast majority of home owners cannot be objective about their own home because they are emotionally attached.
Buyers understand and can see past my things.
About 90% of people cannot visualize the potential in a home, which is why it is so important to show them by staging it.
It’s too much work!
It sure can be a lot of work, depending on the house. A stager can help you prioritize and even help you with the de-cluttering, sorting, organizing, etc. If you want to sell your house, you will have to do the work eventually anyway. Why not get a head start by doing it before your home goes on the market….you will sell your house faster and for more money than if you didn’t.
I don’t have time!
Again, that’s where a stager comes in. Even the fees paid to a stager will not exceed your first price reduction if you don’t stage. And you will sell your home faster which means less carrying costs and less stress!
It doesn’t work anyway!
Statistics have repeatedly shown that staged homes sell in half the time and for more money than comparable un-staged homes. (Check out www.realestatestagingassociation.com). A good Realtor will price your home correctly, market it effectively and have it staged beautifully. When those three conditions work together, it’s a winning combination and it will sell!