Staging a home will make it more appealing to buyers

Dear Gail: We’re getting ready to list our house and were wondering if we should stage it? Should we do it ourselves or hire a professional stager? We are wondering if it will really make a difference since the market seems to be getting better. — Leah

Dear Leah: In my professional opinion a home should always be staged, whether by the homeowner themselves or a stager. You only have one chance to make a first impression and you want it to be the best.

You want your home to shine over all of the others they are looking at. Even though the market is getting better right now, Zillow reports that in the Las Vegas area, there are 10,772 homes on the market, that’s a lot of homes to compete with.

Think of staging as another marketing tool. Staging a home for sale is all about making it inviting to the largest number of potential buyers. People now go online first to look at what is available and you want the pictures of your home, make want to see it in person.

I don’t want to take the time to visit a house that has a vacuum in the kitchen and counters so cluttered you can’t see what they even look like. I’d be looking at one down the street that looks like it has been well-maintained and does not require a lot of work.

Staging increases the showability of a home, making it more likely to sell. We’re all picky when looking for a home, so a well-staged home will stand out in a positive way. To the contrary, an unstaged home could stick out in a negative way.

Think of a new model home versus a clutter and disorganized one. Which one do you want to live in?

Staging your own home can sometimes be difficult as you have to be honest with yourself. It truly is no longer your home but a property for sale. Staging is not focused on creating a home in your personal taste and everyday comforts, but instead making it appeal to a broad range of tastes.

I had a client whose feelings were hurt because I wanted to remove some of her plants. I couldn’t see her fireplace through the plant jungle. This isn’t a time for hurt feelings.

This is also a time to keep it clutter-free, livable or not. Sorry, the tooth brush, paste and laundry need to be out of sight. You want them to fall in love with the property, not be put off by your personal care items or simply impressed by your décor.

The National Association of Realtors conducted a survey and these are a few of the findings from their 2015 Profile of Home Staging:

n Among Realtors who typically represent the buyer, 49 percent report most buyers are affected by home staging and 47 percent report some buyers are affected by home staging”

n For buyers it is easier to visualize the property as a future home (81 percent), buyers are more willing to walk through a home they viewed online (46 percent), will positively impact the value of the home if it is decorated to the buyer tastes (45 percent), and buyers are more willing to overlook other property faults (28 percent).

n Thirty-two percent of buyers’ agents believe staged homes increases the dollar value buyers are willing to offer by 1 percent to 5 percent. Nineteen percent say there is no impact on the dollar value, and 16 percent believe it increases the dollar value buyers are willing to offer by six percent to 10 percent.

Staging doesn’t have to involve the expense of renting furnishings. Of course, vacant properties are a whole other topic. When I stage, I work with what the seller already owns.

There’s no need to go out and buy things you won’t be taking to your new home. For arrangement, look at pictures online, visit model homes or hire a stager to properly place and design with what you already have.

Most stagers charge on average anywhere from $50 to $150 per hour, so you have to decide what your time is worth. If you have the time you can do a lot of the legwork beforehand to save money.

Why pay someone else to put away personal items, pick up clutter, clear the counters, donate those things you’ve been meaning to, and clean? Have an initial consultation and pay for a plan that includes suggestions on how to best showcase your home and do the labor yourself.

I taught with another staging instructor and she always liked to share this comparison. Most people don’t think twice about spending $350 to detail their car before selling it, but hesitate to spend the same amount of money to spruce up their home.

In the end, Leah, whether you stage it yourself or hire a stager, do take the time to make your home shine.

Gail Mayhugh, owner of GMJ Interiors, is a professional interior designer and author of a bookon the subject. Questions may be sent by email to: GMJinteriors@gmail.com. Or, mail to: 7380 S. Eastern Ave., No. 124-272, Las Vegas, NV 89123. Her Web address is: www.GMJinteriors.com.