Do I Need to Stage My House? Isn't Dallas Fort Worth Area Real Estate Hot Enough to Where My House Will Sell Anyway?
Yes! It’s true. Most areas in the Metroplex right now are still experiencing a good Seller’s market. While many neighborhoods do see a spike in inventory and more neutralization during the Spring and Summer months, overall, inventory is low so it’s a great time to sell. If you’re the typical home seller client being counseled by me, you will most definitely hear me advise stage, stage, stage!
I’ve learned about the importance of staging first as a consumer. Think about that fancy new model home significantly out of your price range with the amazing interior design that just speaks to you and your design sensibilities. It’s the Porsche and of course you want it! Anything less will no longer do. Now as a real estate agent, I assist countless buyers viewing properties that are constantly asking questions like “What do I use this room for?" Or “This bedroom is tiny. Does it even fit a queen size bed?” These are all questions that can be answered with simple staging, allowing for the Seller’s (or Seller’s agent or Stager) to fill in the gap for the not-so-interior-design-creative buyer.
Other questions arise such as “Why does this room have a pool table and a desk?” These types of questions highlight the importance of proper room staging and giving each space its unique purpose so as not to cause confusion and make the buyer wonder if the home is too small for her or his needs. This is not surprising given how visual we all are by nature. Think about how our minds wander and fill in gaps, usually with negative thoughts or fears when questions go unanswered. For example, interpreting that email from a quirky colleague. Q: is she being snarky or matter of fact? A: Snarky. You get my drift.
When thinking about selling your home and getting advice to stage and before you run into traffic thinking about the added expenses piling up as you prepare to lose your sanity perfecting your house everyday before you leave, let’s consider the facts:
Buyer’s are more likely to consider how a home is staged when viewing a property: Forty percent of buyers’ agents cited that home staging had an effect on most buyers’ view of the home. People will comment on it out loud, hence my remarks on questions above. Six percent said it has no effect. This is typical when working with someone who plans to renovate a property and they are looking past everything in front of them to assess the structure and systems of a home. But even as a real estate professional, walk into a hoarder’s home, even if for investment purposes, and see how easy it is to be totally turned off by the home’s contents. People are visual and emotional first.
Eighty-three percent of buyers’ agents said staging a home made it easier for a buyer to visualize the property as a future home. Everyone loves the look of a cozy space and the warm feeling of a place that just feels like a home. This is why neutrals, soft and plush textures, and warm tones can be so important.
Thirty-eight percent of buyers were more willing to walk through a home they saw online that was staged, and buyers’ agents identified that staging would positively impact the home value if the home was decorated to a buyer’s taste (37 percent). Buyer’s are more willing to give the home a tour and are willing to pay more, going back to that “it’s the Porsche” feeling. They become more easily persuaded to splurge as a result.
Forty-four percent of buyers’ agents said that staging a home increased the dollar value offered between one and over twenty percent, compared to other similar homes on the market that were not staged. Twenty-five percent of this total resulted in an increased dollar value offered between one and five percent. All still very good numbers. More is more right? Twenty-nine percent of buyers’ agents indicated that staging a home had no impact on the dollar value that was offered. If staging resulted in the selection by the buyer, I would argue that staging impacted demand which impacted price.
Fifty-three percent of seller’s agents reported that staging a home either slightly or greatly decreased the amount of time the home was on the market.
Now that you have the facts, have no fear because stellar Realtors, like Megan Johnson of the Megan K Johnson Real Estate Team, are here to help you. Staging doesn’t have to be an added expense borne by you, the Seller, and you alone. Consider the above facts, leading to a potential faster sale for more money. Now that’s a strong business case for the investment. And also consider that real estate agents are not equal in their service offering. More facts:
Twenty-eight percent of sellers’ agents said they staged all sellers’ homes prior to listing them for sale. Luckily we fall into that bracket. In the standard home sale, we prefer to stage ourselves, enlist the help of a professional stager, or work with the Seller to refine their existing furnishings to better match the tastes of today’s modern buyer. Have any questions for us about our staging services? Just ask!
Thirteen percent of sellers’ agents noted that they only staged homes that were difficult to sell. Now my question here is, did the agent identify the home was difficult to sell after a failed attempt? This could mean a waste of time and money for you the home Seller. I would steer clear of this agent.
Forty-five percent of sellers’ agents stated that they did not stage homes before listing them for sale, but suggested that the seller declutter or fix property faults. Advice can go a long way here. But it is up to us agents to hold you Seller’s accountable and make sure you did what you said you were going to do. Easiest fix here? Work in partnership, as we do, to make sure the Fix List gets completed and the staging goes in. There are just too many benefits of staging (back to the facts above) not to.
What are some of the recommendations we Realtors make to get the home market ready? The most common home improvement items agents recommended to sellers are decluttering the home (95 percent), entire home cleaning (89 percent), removing pets during showings (83 percent), and carpet cleaning (78 percent).
Now that you have the information you need to make an informed decision and can see that our counsel is not without merit. Give us a call or schedule a consultation. We would love to help you meet your home goals this year!
Source: National Association of Realtors Research Group. 2019 Profile of Home Staging. Link. March 2019.
