Buyers want to dream themselves into the home

Other than inspecting for quality, the main purpose of viewing a home for sale is to obtain an idea of the space available. When buyers look in the living room, they want to be able to envision  their families’ portraits on the walls and their own unique figurine collection on the mantle. When they’re standing in the kitchen, they want to be able to see the room available for all their kitchen gadgets and their own children’s drawings on the fridge. And when buyers take a peek into the master bedroom, they want to be able to envision a space that’s relaxing, free from the stress of the day and, of course, full of their own possessions.

Staging is worth the effort

It can be a large undertaking to put collections and trophies in storage. But it is worth it. By keeping the atmosphere of the home neutral, there is a higher chance that the home will appeal to a larger number of prospective buyers. Remember that home staging is a subconscious art. Because of the role that the home plays in our lives, emotions play a significant part in how a buyer chooses a home. For example, if a home has sports trophies in the living room and framed photographs of various athletes throughout the home, a potential buyer will walk away from that viewing with a sports theme in their mind. The home might have had a great breakfast bar and a master bedroom with a stellar view, but if that shopper was not a sports fan at all, they will remember the trophies and not the jetted tub. You, the realtor, could be missing out on an offer because a buyer had difficulty relating to the personal items in the home.

When depersonalizing a space, there is a fine line between removing personality and removing character. Removing personality might include putting away the figurine collection and personal photos. To ensure that character remains, use rugs, pillows and plants to accentuate the space. Using these items will help if depersonalizing and decluttering has left a stark-looking area.

Be nice to your clients

Because realtors rely mainly on referrals, it can be difficult to find a tactful way to tell the home owner that some scrubbing and organizing would help the home sell quicker. The last thing you want to do is offend the seller, especially at the beginning of your professional relationship. Many owners probably see the crumbling bathroom tiles as character or “the buyer’s problem”, and the dust-collecting porcelain doll collection as a treasure trove. It can be difficult to find the heart to tell a single mom that her children’s toys strewn all over the house are an obstacle to getting an offer.

Check back to find out how to delicately bring up staging to your clients

Read Part 1

Congratulations on obtaining a real estate listing! Now comes the next challenge: selling the home within 90 days. Even if the property is priced competitively and is in a quiet neighbourhood, more needs to be done to make it stand out to buyers looking to move to Victoria, B.C.

What is home staging?

A growing trend in real estate sales is home staging. It is an art that encourages the subconscious mind of the buyer to make a purchase. Ridding the property of clutter is merely one aspect of staging. Staging depersonalizes the home. You may be wondering, “Why would we want to rid a home of personality?” One reason is that not every potential buyer sees leaky faucets and squeaky doors as charming. Secondly, staged homes attract more buyers, have more viewings and are more likely to sell faster. When staging techniques have been used, the home becomes more welcoming, appealing and attractive. It maximizes the strong features of the property while minimizing the weaknesses. The process is about more than just making the place look good; the goal of staging is to sell the home quickly.

Not just for open houses

What does staging have to do with realfoto? We want to be able to provide you with the best real estate photography possible. Staged homes result in more stunning photos and virtual tours, as well as more aesthetically pleasing print materials. This is why it’s important to think about staging not only before an open house, but also before a realfoto photographer shows up to take the photos. Since you are making the investment in a professional photographer, why not maximize the potency of this marketing tool?

In part 2 we’ll discuss how home staging (or lack thereof) can affect home sales.

How to prepare your home to present well in photographs

• Remove toys and garden tools from backyard
• If you have any special photographic requests, please let us know during or before your appointment
• Remove dish cloths, dish soap and any other clutter from countertops , close all drawers and cupboard doors
• Remove any personal items that you would not like to show in the photos – artwork / posters etc.
• Put away loose clothing / laundry baskets, and make sure the beds are made, and dresser drawers are closed
• If possible, turn all the lights on before the appointment. If not, make sure all lamps are plugged in and have working bulbs
• If you will not be home during the appointment please ensure that alarms are disarmed and pets are in kennels /cages

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