Many home sellers think it's pointless to spend money on paint, repairs, cleaning their houses and beautifying their yards. They believe the new owners want to carry out these tasks to match their own tastes and standards.
This couldn't be further from the truth! Today's buyers want a house that is move-in ready. They don't want to paint, fix or change anything.
Today’s house buyers are highly informed and technology driven:
- They have scoured real estate listing websites thoroughly prior to calling a real estate agent to arrange viewings.
- They comprehensively scrutinize the details of on-line photos and v-tours.
- They have high expectations and demand high quality for their money.
For these reasons it is absolutely vital for home sellers to prepare their property first if they want to seller faster and for more money. A professional home stager can help vendors get their property market ready.
Home Sale Research - What Buyers Want
In response to a 2005 House Staging Poll conducted by Maritz Research for Royal Lepage Real Estate Services Diane Usher, Senior Manager stated, “Due to the popularity of home makeover television programs, consumers are more familiar than ever with interior design trends, and average Canadians now expect more when shopping for a new house. House staging, a tool used by successful real estate agents for decades, is the best way to make a dramatic impact without having to spend a lot of money.”
Most home sellers falsely believe the myth that buyers want to carry out repairs and decorate after the purchase to match their personal tastes and standards. Research reveals exactly the opposite.
In fact, the 2006 poll by Maritz Research for Royal LePage revealed that more than 70% of buyers are willing to pay premium for a house that is move-in ready. House buyers rate an updated kitchen highest as the most appealing renovation, with an updated bathroom, new windows and floors following closely as top improvements that win favour with buyers.
Home Staging not Home Decorating
Home staging highlights the best features of a home, and this includes the exterior of the house plus the yard. Whereas home owners are emotionally attached to their houses and their "stuff," staging professionals are trained specifically to see the property objectively as if through the eyes of a buyer.
Upon consultation, stagers can make immediate recommendations that will assist the seller in rejuvenating and renewing the home's decor. Sometimes it can be as simple as rearranging furniture, reworking accessories and regrouping artwork
Canadian Staging Professionals was established by Christine Rae in 2001. A certified interior "refiner" and accredited staging professional trainer, Rae could foresee the need for specialists to help home sellers prepare their properties for the increasingly competitive real estate market. Highly trained Staging Professionals are available now across the country. They are affordable and may actually save sellers money by suggesting cost-effective, non-invasive changes that will produce significant results and bring higher offers.
Home Interior Improvements will Sell a House
First steps in preparing for the house sale is to depersonalize and de-clutter. Remove all personal photos, mementos, toiletries, jewelery and collections. Pack away all knickknacks, extraneous accessories and furniture. Of utmost importance is completely clearing off kitchen counters and putting away all small kitchen appliances. Buyers are not interested in the vendor's appliances; they are interested in seeing ample counter space and evidence of cleanliness.
Stagers have the know-how to bring function, flow and feeling to the entire living space giving buyers the opportunity to develop an emotional connection to the house and visualizing themselves living there.
Curb Appeal as Vital as Home Interior to Boost House Sale
Home sellers must also consider the condition of the house exterior. It is the first view the buyer gets and is just as important as its interior. Attractive curb appeal has the potential to invite buyers in. Professional home stagers have lots of ideas about developing welcoming curb appeal. Along with tidying the yard, putting away tools and equipment and keeping the yard litter free, these professionals will bring zing to the exterior by adding colour and light. A few strategies are to:
- Paint the door red!
- Plant colourful flowers in the right sized pots.
- Trim trees, shrubs and hedges.
- Add black mulch to gardens.
- Turn a tired deck or patio into an elegant extension of the interior living space; this will make a home stand out from the rest.
There are so many ways to influence a buyer to want to move in, not move on! In this highly competitive marketplace home sellers have to do so much more than just putting the sign on the lawn. Getting professional advice before carrying out renovations and before listing the house will bring additional dividends to the serious home seller.
Janet Williams - Hi. I'm so happy to finally be here. All my life I've said that I wanted to be a writer. Well, guess what? Writers write;and I wasn't ...
