by Red Barrinuevo
Home staging today has become a common marketing tool when listing your home for sale.
These days, home staging is a must to compete in today’s marketplace. Here are some common mistakes that can put those staging efforts to waste.
1. Choosing a staging company based on price
Basing your choice solely on price can jeopardize the full potential of your property. For optimal results, invest in the highest quality stager you can find. Look at the company’s portfolio, credentials, professionalism and track record.
2. Not having staged photos
Most buyers start their home hunt online. This is your first chance to spark their interest. If they don’t like what they see online, buyers will just click on through to the next listing.
3. Moving things around after your set-up
Stagers are trained to make the best of the spaces given to them. Once the house is staged and “showing ready,” repositioning furniture or accessories in the room can ruin the whole feel of the space. Each furniture piece, decor, artwork, etc. are placed in strategic spots for a reason.
4. Not trusting your stager
We advise to get client testimonials before hiring a home stager. Check what other agents or previous clients say about them. See if they’ve done similar properties at the same price points. Ask questions before agreeing to anything.
5. Micro-managing the stager
Our goal like many stagers is to showcase the property at its best. However, lack of confidence in your stager can hamper his or her creative juices. We often suggest to vacate the property during set up, and let the stagers like us do what we do best.
6. Unrealistic timelines
Getting a house ready for sale is not a simple process. It can span mere days or months, depending on the condition of the property. Staging involves meticulous planning, and executing all these plans doesn’t happen in 24 hours.
7. Telling homeowners staging is just de-cluttering and organizing
While it is true that staging often involves decluttering and organizing, home staging also involves space planning, proper furniture placement, knowledge on the current design trends, accessorizing and more!
8. Advising the homeowners to stage the house themselves
Although some homeowners can pull it off, a vast majority cannot. The end result of a DIY staging job is usually a disaster (even after a detailed staging consultation) because the execution is always poor, or there is a lack of vision and skill required to successfully stage a property.
9. Advising homeowners against staging
Nowadays, homebuyers are more educated and critical than ever before. They know “what else” is out there. By staging your home, you’ll help ensure that your house impresses them enough to stay.