Stunning Go for the green Real estate tips Healthy point of VIU

Staging helps homes sell
“Wow” potential buyers with curb appeal
By Terri Glen
With the economy in the state it is, homeowners
are increasingly in need
of the extra edge a home stager can provide.
Smart sellers stage their homes because
they understand the importance of
first impressions. Potential buyers are sophisticated
and want value for their money.
With the aid of a professional home stager,
you can “WOW” buyers from the moment
they walk through the door, helping them
envision the property as their own.
Stagers work with the flow of the home,
eliminate clutter, edit and arrange furniture,
and even assist in enhancing curb appeal.
The following are some questions people
commonly ask about home staging:
What are the benefits of staging?
Staging your home before the realtor looks
at it commands the price. It reveals a very
serious seller and determines how much
can or cannot be negotiated.
A staged home will get on the market faster
meeting the deadline of going to print.
For the buyer, staging indicates the seller’s
pride in their home. If it isn’t there, the
house will sit on the market for months.
Staged homes sell faster, because of the
“wow factor.” Stagers create feelings of harmony
and tranquility in a home, by removing
chaos and introducing functionality.
When do I use a Home Stager?
Staging needs to be done before putting
your house on the market and before pictures
are taken for the Internet.
Who is staging their properties?
Developers have staged show homes for
years: people with high-end homes can’t
afford to have a home sit longer than six
weeks. Today, however, staging is taking
place among sellers of all income levels, all
across Canada, in big and small cities alike.
How much does home staging cost?
Home staging is very affordable. The higher
the asking price of a home the more
staging it may take to bring it up to the
asking price. Depending on the amount
of updating a homeowner has done, it
may require only a little tweaking here
or there. Some brand-new homes look
great from the outside but not inside.
This is a total turn off and the seller is
left wondering what’s wrong and why it
is not selling. People who are interested
in buying your place are not interested
in seeing your story. They want a place
they can create their own story. The price
of staging is recouped in the sale of the
home. A consultation is an estimate of
what it takes to stage your house. The
pre-consultation price of $100 is all you
need to go through your whole house before
putting it on display for sale.
Staging isn’t always the whole house.
It could be the bedroom or a bathroom
or a guest room. Wouldn’t you like to
feel the tranquility and harmony of a
confident home that will sell instead of
stress and chaos?
Powell River Living : april 2009 17