Staging Your Home: The Secret to a Faster, More Profitable Sale

The way your home looks when it hits the market can be the difference between a quick, hassle-free sale and a long, worrisome wait. One of the most effective yet often overlooked strategies to make a sale is staging your home.

Flagstaff realtor Lori Anna Harrison, MBA, with Zion Realty, incorporates staging as part of her strategy when listing a home. She is currently working on staging the model homes at Woodshire on Oak, and says she believes it’s one of the most important things a seller can do. In fact, statistics from the National Association of Realtors show staged homes sell 88% faster and 20% more than non-staged homes. Harrison agrees, as she recently sold a home she staged for $81,000 over asking price.

“Even modest staging efforts, like fresh paint, updated lighting or neutral décor, can yield thousands more at closing,” said Harrison.

Staging is more than just cleaning up or rearranging furniture, yet it doesn’t require a full remodel or expensive furniture. It’s a deliberate effort to present your home in the best possible light so potential buyers can see themselves living there. Sometimes, a lot of cleaning, rearranging furniture and a few thoughtful touches are all it takes to freshen up the home and shift the perception from “this house is nice” to “this is the one.”

“I personally can always work with something they have. I put a new comforter on the bed, new art above the headboard,” said Harrison. “I have a storage unit filled with sofas, chairs, rugs, coffee tables, side tables, throw pillows – just about everything – that I can use to spruce up a home.”

Here are some strategic enhancements that a typical staging process includes:

• Decluttering and depersonalizing: Removing personal items, excess furniture and visual clutter allows the space to feel open and neutral. This includes removing family photos, the many shampoo bottles in the shower, and clearing off the kitchen counters.
• Furniture placement: Arranging furniture to maximize flow and emphasize square footage. Harrison recommends putting some furniture in a storage unit to make it appear like you have more space.
• Lighting and color: Brightening up rooms with natural light, updated fixtures or lighter paint colors. Harrison suggests using all warm light bulbs.
• Accessories and accents: Adding throw pillows, rugs, plants, or artwork to give each room a fresh, finished look.
• Curb appeal: Making sure the outside of your home is just as polished as the interior. Harrison says it’s important to have clean landscaping, a welcoming entryway with fresh flowers and pots (when in season), a new front doormat, and a tidy exterior.

Forget the old “trick” of baking chocolate chip cookies before a showing to make the house smell warm and inviting. Harrison has a recommendation she thinks is better. “People don’t realize their house smells like a pet or last night’s dinner. Using a nice cleaning scent like Fabuloso is truly one of the best things you can do. It just smells so fresh.”

When it comes to vacant homes, full staging may be well worth the investment. Empty rooms can feel smaller and less inviting. Staged homes photograph better, too, which is critical in a market where many buyers begin their search online.

“It helps buyers visualize space when there is something in there,” said Harrison.

You don’t need a designer’s eye to stage effectively, although hiring a professional stager can be a wise investment. Many stagers offer consultations or partial staging services to keep costs reasonable. Even a one-hour walkthrough with tips on furniture arrangement, color choices, and accessories can make a big difference.

If you are staging on your own, start by focusing on the rooms that matter most: the living room, kitchen, primary bedroom and bathrooms, suggests Harrison. These spaces tend to have the biggest impact on buyers and influence how the rest of the home is perceived.

In the end, staging is about helping buyers see the full potential of your home – often in ways they wouldn’t on their own. And it may just be the competitive edge that gets your home sold faster – and at a price you’ll feel good about. FBN

By Mary Marini, FBN

Photo courtesy of photographer Shane Brandolini: This model home at WoodShire on Oak in Flagstaff was staged by Lori Anna Harrison.