If you want to sell your house and make an extra dollar, home staging can help you. Property staging refers to preparing your home for potential buyers. It is, if you will, preparing the ground for future owners. It covers furniture rearrangement, cleaning, and other aesthetic strategies. The goal is to present the property in the best possible way.
What is it for?
The goal is to focus buyers' attention on the asset to sell it easily and quickly. Additionally, home staging should highlight the best aspects of the asset to justify its price. Here are the basic principles of this process.
- Enhance the spaces and volumes of a property, house or apartment.
- Optimization of luminosity to highlight each room.
- Ensure buyers can imagine themselves living in that property.
The goal is not to camouflage imperfection. It is actually meant to beautify the space and definitely does not require doing significant work or spending too much money in the process.
It has been very popularized by certain television programs specialized in the sale of apartments or houses. However, the home stager profession is still not regulated at the moment and there is no specific title.
How to organize your home successfully
1 – Organize the premises
It is important to free up space and make movement as easy as possible in each room and from one room to another. Leave 70 to 80 cm of free space in hallways to facilitate movement. Future buyers should be able to see how much space they have to put their own things.
2 – Give each room a new function
You can imagine a new layout of the existing furniture, removing some, changing some, or adding some while you finalize the sale. The objective is to provide each room with its own functionality. In particular, make some efforts in the kitchen and bathroom: if they are old or dated, they may put off buyers who consider your renovation too expensive.
3 – Focus on harmony in spaces
Bright colors can offend the visual sensibilities of future buyers and prevent them from making the place their own. Furthermore, over the years, depending on the different renovations you have carried out, it is possible that the harmony between one room and another has been erased. You have to try to restore it and, many times, a simple coat of white paint is enough to adopt a neutrality conducive to the purchase decision.
4 – Depersonalize the space
The objective is to erase the trace of the previous occupants of the premises by removing all furniture, objects and decorative accessories that are too personal or too marked. While you wait for a future move, start emptying and packing your boxes. It's a great way to declutter and save time!
5 – Make small repairs
Non-working switches, faulty sockets, holes in the walls, squeaky doors, a missing tile in the bathroom or kitchen, a leaky faucet – all these convey a bad image of the property and can scare away potential buyers. For a low cost, you can make these simple repairs that will prevent giving buyers a negative impression of your property. A thorough cleaning also tends to make the place more welcoming and healthy.
Helpful tips
If you have little space, you should play with mirrors as they can visually enlarge the room.
In case the property is too dark for some reason such as lack of windows or poor light exposure, boost artificial lighting. Add aesthetic lighting fixtures that are quite lightweight and also draw attention.
Don't neglect the exterior of the property. You should cut the grass as it will definitely give a better impression than a neglected garden.
The smell of the house or apartment is also very important. The subtle aroma of a home fragrance or a bouquet of fresh flowers can stimulate the senses of potential buyers and add an element of appeal.
The main operators
The number of home staging companies in various fields is increasing. Many home stagers are independent professionals, like interior decorators, who have transitioned into this type of business. Some real estate agencies now offer home staging services.
How much does it cost?
Rates are not regulated by any law. A service is billed by the hour, by the day, or by a fixed price set in advance with the seller. The average price of the service is relatively variable because it includes several parameters: surface area of the property, number of rooms and modifications to be made. But the principle is to remain economical. As a general rule, real estate professionals agree that you should expect to pay an average of 0.5 to 4% of the total sales price of the property, depending on the type of service provided.
Some home stagers have formed a national network of experts who attest to their effectiveness. They operate under the label “Home-Staging Experts,” which is the result of an independent survey conducted with a panel of consumers in the United States.
There are two main levels of services: the audit phase and full service.
The auditory
During a preliminary visit, the home stager carries out an audit during which he takes stock of the situation, evaluating the strong points but above all the weak points of the property for sale. Next, in a written report, the developer must propose a redevelopment plan detailing the modifications that will be made.
The advantage is that for a competitive price, you will have to implement certain tips to sell better and faster.
The downside is that you still have to follow the home stager's recommendations to the letter and rearrange your property as directed.
The complete service
It includes the audit and the carrying out of the modifications by the home stager.
The advantage is a very effective “makeover” of the property. You put all the possibilities on your side to sell more quickly.
However, it is more expensive, but the price should not exceed 4 to 5% of the total sales price to be profitable.
It is the remodeling manager who is in charge of the remodeling, but this may force you to anticipate the move by removing unnecessary items and furniture.
As a seller, the real estate or home staging agency you have chosen cannot impose a level of service on you. You are free to limit yourself to the audit and take care of the costs of restoring your property or ask the agent to organize everything.
Real or virtual service?
Nowadays, some companies offer a virtual service that allows future buyers to visualize the potential of the property they are interested in in 3D, without any changes having been made to the accommodation. This tool allows the buyer to project themselves into any type of property, whether empty, overloaded or completely in need of renovation.
The 3D service includes the creation of a 3D plan of the property. Interior designers can also offer this type of advanced service. Examples of different wall colors can also be attached to this presentation. The service can be complemented with budgets for the different modalities proposed.
Whether virtual or real, it is advisable to turn to professionals who, with an external view of your property, will be able to highlight its potential and mitigate weak points.
Finally, it is not about considering important works to attract potential buyers or completely emptying an apartment or house, because it is no easier to project yourself into an empty house than into a place that is too messy.
Although a particularly successful home staging service allows you to sell a property better and faster, it is not advisable to overestimate your property. Trust real estate professionals who will be able to revalue your property and guide you towards the right price.
Frequent questions
What is Home Staging in the UK?
It represents the preparation of your property for sale. It's also a great way to sell easier and faster for a higher price. It can cover anything from decoration and order to complete furniture.
What is soft home staging?
Soft staging is a type of service that focuses on decorating with artwork and accessories instead of furniture. This method helps create a cozy and inviting atmosphere in your home for potential buyers.
Why is Home Staging important?
It can accentuate the positive aspects and minimize the negative aspects of the property. The goal is to make the best impression and justify your price but also earn a few extra dollars.
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