Whether you're selling a condominium, ranch, bungalow, or estate home, when you put your home on the market first impressions make all the difference to potential buyers.
Competition for top-tier buyers who are willing to pay premium prices in Kansas City is stiff. And, increasingly buyers are searching for move-in ready properties that have been staged for sale.
According to the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR), home staging can be a powerful tool for sellers. A tool that can...
- generate buyer interest in a listing,
- encourage more showings,
- and even have a positive impact on the final selling price.
Home Staging - By The Numbers
In the NAR's 2021 "Profile of Home Staging" report 82 percent of the buyers' agents that were surveyed agreed that home staging makes "it easier for a buyer to visualize the property as a future home".
Staging of the living room and kitchen has the greatest positive impact on buyers. Followed by the master bedroom and dining room.
The report also reveals that staged homes sell faster, with 31 percent of sellers' agents agreeing "that staging a home greatly decreases the amount of time the home is on the market".
How Home Staging Impacts Buyers
Once you've decided to list your home for sale, it's important to recognize the fact that you're now marketing what is likely one of your largest assets. Take a step back and look at your home from the perspective of a potential buyer.
Home staging is all about transforming your home into a space that is appealing to a wide variety of qualified buyers. By de-personalizing your space and removing visual distractions, you make it easier for buyers to picture themselves living there.
Think about how a hotel room is decorated. Clean lines, lots of natural and artificial lighting, and simple, inviting furnishings leaves guests with no clues that complete strangers had been sleeping there just a few short hours prior to their arrival.
Home staging is about recreating that same 'hotel room' feeling among prospective buyers. After all, you're trying to sell your home for the best possible price, and that means helping buyers see your home as their own.
Curious as to what your home would bring in today's market?
Steps to Staging Your Home
Here are some simple tips to help you begin staging your home for sale:
Declutter. Rooms and closets that are stuffed full of furniture, clothes, and boxes give buyers the impression that there isn't enough space to live comfortably in your home.
Clean everything. Nothing devalues a home faster than dirt, grime, and dust. Clean every surface in your home, and if you need help, consider hiring a professional cleaning company.
Remove family photos and religious symbols. Personal items are distracting for buyers, and can cause them to focus on who currently lives there rather than picturing themselves as the new owners of your home.
Consider a fresh coat of paint. Painting the walls of your home with a warm, neutral color can really help to make your space feel clean and new with minimal upfront cost.
Get help. If you're short on time or skills, ask your REALTOR for help with finding a local home staging company.
The best time to stage your home is BEFORE it hits the market.
| If you reach out as soon as you know you want to sell, we can easily factor staging into your selling timeline.
Take advantage of our team of stagers — it's included in our seller listing package — and your home will be looking its best for all those showings!
Ready to take the next step towards selling? Contact us to get started.
