Every seller wants their home to make a great first impression on buyers. Staging can go a long way towards achieving this goal, but only if it’s done strategically. Professional stagers go beyond decluttering and embellishing; instead, they use the principles of design to appeal to the largest pool of buyers possible.

Despite its potential to attract buyers and lead to a quicker sale, some sellers are unsure about whether staging can work for them. If you’re considering working with a professional stager, here’s what you need to know…

What staging is, and what it isn’t

Put simply, staging is the act of using paint, lighting, home furnishings, and decorative elements to prepare a home to go on the market.

One of the biggest misconceptions about staging is that its primary goal is making homes more stylish. While upgrading dated features is often part of the process, stagers don’t necessarily follow design trends. Nor is what they do the same as interior decorating, which is about catering to the taste of a homeowner. In contrast, professional stagers highlight the most universally-appealing qualities of a house or condo to make it more attractive to many different homebuyers.

One of the keys to appealing to buyers is tapping into their psychology: which visual elements will best help them imagine living in a home? For example, anything a stager can do to make a space look bigger and brighter is a good thing.

Having said that, not every staged home should have the same aesthetic. An investor looking at a downtown condo has different motivations for buying than a family purchasing a house in Etobicoke, and staging should reflect that.

Reaping the benefits

If you’re like many sellers, you’ll want to weigh the benefits of staging vs not staging before you make a decision. While working with a professional can come at a cost, it will also provide some unique advantages. Here are just a few:

• Staging helps buyers visualize a home as their own
• It highlights the best features of a house or condo
• It leads to better photographs (and more attractive listings)
• Staging can result in a quicker sale

In addition to calling attention to desirable features (such as high ceilings) and generally helping buyers see potential in a home, staging leads to better photographs. Since most buyers search for listings online, enticing, high-quality photos are a crucial piece of a seller’s marketing puzzle.

Lastly, staging can lead to a quicker sale. According to the International Association of Home Staging Professionals (IAHSP), 95 per cent of staged homes sell within 11 days (on average). For those that aren’t staged, the average is 90 days.

 

Finding a great stager

Are you convinced of the benefits of staging? If so, it’s time to consider finding the right professional. Your real estate agent should have the connections to refer you to someone with a track record of success. That said, there are a few qualities you should look for,

To start with, a great stager should be able to provide a portfolio or examples of past work. Look for someone who doesn’t have a narrow aesthetic vision, since appealing to many different buyers is the goal.

A true professional will lay out the steps they’re planning to take and ask questions to determine your budget and timeline. They should also be able to explain their design recommendations and decisions if asked.

Do you want to know if staging is right for your home? Are you interested in learning more about the staging process, or where to find a great home stager?

 

For over 30 years, our clients have trusted us to minimize risk, offer unbiased opinions, and ensure their best interests are served. Contact us today to talk about your needs, by emailing us at niels@christensengroup.ca or calling us at 416-441-2888 ext. 772.