Consumer Statistics

U.S. Housing and Urban Development reports that a "Staged" house sells, on average, for 17% more than a house that is not staged. According to a report by the Christian Science Monitor, March 2006, staged homes sell for 7.4 percent more and in half the time. Whichever statistic you agree with, it's obvious that staging your home for sale can make you more money.

Home Staging

Although it's not a new concept, staging your home is an important part of getting it sold--and for top dollar. Traditionally, homeowners themselves have been responsible for making their homes presentable for showing, but with homes costing more and competition getting stiffer as the real estate market softens, that trend is changing.

If you're hoping to get a quick sale and a good price for your home, especially if it's in a premium area, you may want to consider hiring a home stager to help. They're knowledgeable at preparing houses for resale and can provide expert advice on the things that will help you accomplish your goals. A home stager will generally help eliminate excess clutter, arrange furniture attractively and efficiently, and offer suggestions on curb appeal, since enticing buyers into your home is the first step toward getting it sold.

Traditional wisdom says that buyers make up their mind about a home within the first ten seconds after stepping through the front door, but even that figure may be a bit optimistic. Most of the time, buyers form an impression, positive or negative, the moment they pull up to the curb or into your driveway. That leaves very little room for error.

Home Stagers

To locate a home stager, check your phone book, ask for referrals from friends and neighbors, or check with a real estate company. For expensive homes, some companies will even bring in a home stager as part of their service to their sellers.

To decide if a home stager's services will be cost effective for you, ask for an estimate. Most will visit your home and give you one free, and it's usually a quick process. Then, unless something unusual and unforeseen is encountered, their estimate will be relatively accurate. As with any service, it's worthwhile to get several estimates, because they may vary considerably. Some will give you a flat rate, while others estimate jobs by the hour. Ask how fees are determined and when payment is expected. The higher your home's asking price, the more you can generally expect to pay for a home stager's services.

In some cases, home stagers will even rent furniture to make your rooms more attractive, but your home will normally have to be in a fairly high price range before that type of service will be cost effective. However, the growing popularity of home stagers suggests that their services are generally worthwhile, both in quicker sales and higher sales prices.

Copyright © 2006 Jeanette J. Fisher

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