Does staging truly make a difference in selling homes? Can home stagers really justify their pricing to home owners whose homes have not sold in the last 5, 7, 9+ months? How do you explain to home owners that staging is merely a marketing tool - not miracle work? And what about the sudden influx of those who call themselves stagers not knowing how to operate the business side of it all? Isn't their more to this than just merely "talent"?
Last year when our real estate market was at an all time high, Phoenix experienced a record high in real estate agents. But I wonder how the experienced, full-time agents felt about these fly-by-night agents that infiltrated their industry in hopes of the quick buck. Did anyone really reach the end of the rainbow? Was the pot of gold ever found? What about today? Part-time agents that only return phone calls after hours or on the weekends?
I want to hear from others - what do you think? See? React? With buyers taking their time in making their decision, can staging really influence them? Is it really an emotional reaction? Is staging really worth the money?
Calie... I book marked this one.
I am intersted in reading what people have to say.
THANKS for asking the question.
Me
Calie,
I have to say staging makes a huge difference. I had a listing earlier this year that was vacant and we had several showings but no offers, Then I have a professional stager stag the unit and it sold in less than 30 days! I am a believer.
Scott Gerami
Craig, I smiled when I saw you were the first to respond to Calie's post. Why? Because I came here to see what you wrote. ;-) I'll check back later.
Calie, nice website you have.
Scott, thanks for speaking up.
Craig - you're the master! I stand in awe of your blogging.
Is staging truly a valuable service or merely today's "hot" real estate trend? Is is worth the investment of $2,000 (or Oprah's $10,000!) ...
Calie, I think this is a great question. Being a home stager, my answer may be biased but I know staging makes a difference.
Your point that it isn't a miracle cure is very true and we have to be careful not to promise results, but staging works. That is why builders set up model homes, furniture stores set up "rooms" within the store, fabric stores have upholstered samples, fashion stores have mannequins and on and on. The majority of people need well merchandised -merchandise to "see it".
I think its obvious that houses that have been on the market for several months need SOMETHING. Maybe a price reduction? But I contend that staging can also give a property added perceived value and costs less than a price reduction. And when a house sells faster because it was well staged that is worth real money.
Calie,
I am biased as I am a home stager. I think I have never feel so committed and passionate about anything before because I've never felt like what I do make such a big impact.
Whether it's trying to help a single parent move out so they can go on in a bad situation, or a family who is struggling to make 2 mortgage payments to move on to their bigger home, or even, an older couple downsize from their big home to a condo unit. Staging helps. Staging helps sell a property for people to move on, it helps them to declutter and downsize. Another stager told me, "Clutter eats up equity...and energy." It is so true.
By staging the house, you are not only preparing it to sell in the shortest amount of time for more money, it is helping the homeowners destress their lives a little bit more by helping them get rid of all the stuff. People have waaayyyy too much stuff.
The current stats on staging is staged homes sell for 7% more and sell in half the time than a non-staged home! It really works!
Marcyne Touchton, Domaine Staging