Selling Your House? Try Staging It

Staging a house can be the difference between its sitting or selling. Here are some findings and simple staging tips to help turn lookers into buyers at your next open house.

Studies have shown that staged homes sell quicker - sometimes up to 40% faster - than non-staged homes. Simply stated, staged homes sell faster for more money than those that aren't staged.

Three basic staging rules:

1. Entice buyers to enter. If people don't like what they see on the outside, they may not come in. Doors are the one exception to the neutral-color rule. Rich colors say "welcome" and "come inside." Some suggestions: red, black, charcoal and chocolate brown.
2. Curb appeal to sell a house. Curb appeal is 360 degrees around a house - and includes the neighbors and the neighborhood. Sellers should focus first on what they can control, especially landscaping outdoor spaces and lighting. Sadly, many sellers skip this obvious step and lose equity - and many prospective buyers - as a direct result.
3. Clobber the clutter. Go room by room and purge. Get rid of anything personal.

Hiring a professional home stager has great benefits to any seller. The seller doesn't have to spend every night and weekend trying to get the house ready for people to see. The seller can continue with their normal routine and have one less thing to worry about.

Consider this simple rule of thumb, the investment in staging your home will always be less than the first price reduction on your home if you don't stage it and it just sits on the market.