Why Home Stage a Listing in a Sellers’ Market?

With homes selling very quickly and often with multiple offers in this seller’s market, some listing agents feel home staging isn’t necessary. But, the listing agents we work with regularly would argue otherwise.

• “Show” home buyers your listing is GREAT vs “telling” them.

Use home staging to help clients put their best foot forward. The home will be shown to many when it hits the market. Staging can place the home above others because of its polished finish! When your listing stands out, it gets noticed and potential buyers pause on your photos more often because of how well put together the home appears. 95% of buyers look online during their home search (NAR's 2021 Profile of Home), what does your listing have that will make home buyers STOP on your photos?

• Overcome bias of “older” homes.

Use home staging to show potential buyers that the home was cared for and maintained. If items in the home are outdated, this may trigger a potential buyer to feel there are “too many” projects because the home does not have that fresh look buyers are looking for.

• Showcase updates.

Use home staging to showcase features. Some homes have a unique layout or features that should be in the spotlight! Have a home stager come in and make those areas stand out and get noticed.

• Ensure buyers remember larger rooms.

Use home staging to help buyers remember the size of your space. When a potential buyer is swiping through photos it may be hard for them to gauge the size of an area if it is empty but add in a few key items and a potential buyer can see how big a room appears relative to the size of the items and the space around them.

Did you know that 82% of buyers’ agents said a staged home made it easier for buyers to visualize the property as their future home (NAR's 2021 Profile of Home Staging)?

• It forces sellers to declutter.

Does your prospective listing have a kitchen that is smaller than comparable properties with the countertops serving as storage for everything from toasters to a charging station for all the devices! What about the living room and bathrooms? Uniquely Yours Home outlines to sellers why decluttering a space is so important to make the best first impression possible.

• Uniquely Yours Home handles uncomfortable conversations for the listing agent.

Do you have a prospective listing with many marketable updates that have the potential to wow buyers but have outdated tables or furniture that don’t really work in the updated areas? Or better yet, would “dad’s” comfy old recliner help an updated living room if it made an exit to the basement while the home was on the market? No matter what the situation, Uniquely Yours Home can navigate a win-win conversation with the sellers.

• Home staging invites multiple offers.

Because the home is staged, the listing makes a better first impression than comparable homes for sale.

• Home staging is very affordable and easily pays for itself.

A Uniquely Yours Home staging consultation starts at $200. If staging is needed beyond the consultation, Uniquely Yours Home collaborates with the agent and sellers to prepare a proposal of options for furniture and accessory rental.

DIY Home Staging Tips for Listing Agents

Uniquely Yours Home Inc. is a local home remodeling consultant and interior decorator with years of experience in home staging. Drawing on our expertise working as a home interior designer and remodel consultant, we assembled a list of “must-do” home staging tips that are uncomplicated and results-driven. They include organizing and decluttering, cleaning, and getting your “to-do” lists completed, like DIY projects.

Tip #1: Organize and Declutter

Homeowners contacting Uniquely Yours Home Inc. for kitchen makeovers, remodeling ideas, and basement finishing, are many times looking for more space. Believe it or not, sometimes we talk ourselves out of a new remodel project by asking homeowners this question: do you really need everything you have? This same question has merit for home staging too. If buyers feel your home is cluttered, their first impression may be your home is not big enough for them despite the fact it has plenty of square footage. To avoid this, it is best to declutter and organize countertops, cupboards, the pantry, corners, and closets. For things you rarely use but need, store them neatly in a storage bin and out of sight, like in the basement. For things you never use, sell, or donate them. Below are 4 products that can help you:

1. Laundry Woven Plastic Storage Basket

2. Storage Box Woven Basket Bin Container Tote Cube Organizer

3. Pantry Airtight Food Storage Containers

4. 8 Pack Interlocking Desk Drawer Organizer

Tip #2: Clean

While decluttering and organizing will help provide a sense of open space, shiny open areas are better. Accompanied by a fresh smell, your home’s first impression could be the winning combo to trigger a buyer’s interest. Because a fresh smell is almost impossible when showing your home after cooking dinner, we added the GermGuardian plug-in deodorizer to the list below.

1. MORE Stone & Quartz All-Purpose Cleaning Spray

2. Mr. Clean Magic Eraser Extra Durable

3. OXO Good Grips Microfiber Extendable Duster