Alaska Home Magazine “Ask the Expert”- Staging for a Quick Sale

Staging for a Quick Sale

I was asked by Alaska Home Magazine to write an article for their “Ask the Expert” column on Staging for a Quick Sale. Here are some of the key questions and answers from my article which I hope helps you with your home sale!

Stag ing for a quick sale

Q: We are planning to put our home on the market and are hoping for a quick sell. What are your top staging tips for appealing to the greatest possible pool of prospective buyers?

Congratulations on being proactive and considering how to best invest your time and money to assure a fast sale and, of course, the highest sales price!

First, get an “objective” idea of how buyers may view your house. We all have problem areas that we no longer “see” because we live with them every day. Also, consider who your likely “buyer” is and what they want. A consultation with a home stager and advice from your realtor can help you determine and appeal to your “target market.”

In addition, doing the following things will help attract the greatest number of buyers:

Make it spotless.

Paint neutral colors to make everything look fresh and new. Neutral colors will go with most buyers’ belongings.

What is Home Staging

Declutter so you only have about half the items that you normally live with. Cluttered rooms or too much furniture will make your space look smaller than it is.

Remove personal photos for your own security and to help buyers visualize their family living there.

Repair needed items. Most buyers want a property that is move-in ready.

Don’t leave it vacant. Buyers will focus on the flaws since they have nothing else to look at! When buyers make an emotional connection and can see themselves living there, the house will sell. It is hard for buyers to visualize how their belongings will fit, or to make that emotional connection with a vacant property.

Upgrade outdated lighting or old carpeting.

Home staging Tip- update outdated lighting

Your stager or realtor can advise you on which upgrades will provide a good return on your investment in the final sales price.

Home staging Tip- update old carpeting

Clean and maintain your yard and make the front door area look welcoming. Great curb appeal will assure buyers make it inside to see your beautiful house.

Get professional photos! Most buyers shop online and will decide about viewing your house in a few seconds. Great photos are critical.

Finally, when showing your house, make sure all lights are on, curtains are open, toilet seats are closed, and personal items are out of view in the bathrooms – and remove all evidence of pets. Best of luck on a fast sale!

Staging for a Quick Sale- Mary Ann Benoit is the President of Northern Lights Home Staging and Design at northernlightsstaging.com. — Mary Ann Benoit is the President of Northern Lights Home Staging and Design at northernlightsstaging.com.

Ready to Sell Fast and For More?

Get your online home staging consultation or staging service today. Click on the pictures to learn more. For in person consultations or staging, call for a custom quote.

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Home Staging Helps Seniors Move on to Their Next Adventure

Home staging helps seniors move on to their next adventure. How? Many of my home staging customers are seniors or mature sellers moving on to the next stage of their life for a variety of reasons, including:

Retiring and moving to their dream home or location.
Empty nesters downsizing to smaller, more affordable spaces.
Moving closer to family.
Moving to assisted living facilities.

Many of the buyers looking at homes being sold by seniors are younger families, potentially buying their first or second homes.

There is a big difference in taste and lifestyle between these buyers and sellers.

A home stager can really help mature home sellers in a variety of ways to sell quickly and for more while addressing some of their unique challenges as they move on to a different lifestyle.

A home stager can help seniors present their for sale home to appeal to younger buyers so they can visualize themselves living there. This may include updating paint colors, finishes, lighting, furnishings and accessories to create a more modern style.
A home stager can provide an objective perspective on what younger buyers will see when viewing the for sale home, which can be especially difficult for sellers who have lived in a home for decades.
A home stager can find and coordinate great contractors to do needed repairs and upgrades.
A home stager can help seniors in de-cluttering and downsizing. I never liked the word “de-cluttering” because our possessions are meaningful to us, and are great to display when living in the home to tell the story of our lives. When selling, it is important to highlight the house and the space, rather than our own story. Older sellers, especially those downsizing have a hard time letting go of some of their belongings. An accomplished stager can help you decide about what to keep, and what could fit in the new space and even help set up and decorate your new home.
A home stager can help seniors with long term attachments to a property to mentally prepare for the home sale.

A home stager can be part of your home selling team with your realtor and photographer, as well as part of your support network to help make sure you get the most for your home and can move on quickly and with the least amount of stress.

See an example of how home staging transformed this couples house that decided to retire and move on. Their house sold the first day on the market for full asking price.

As you move on to the next adventure, consider 4 housing options for seniors. Did you know that you don’t necessarily need to purchase a home to downsize as a senior? There are several options to think about – including leasing, renting, and buying. Your home stager can help you get set up in your new home regardless of which option you select.

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4 Housing Options Seniors Should Consider

Here are 4 housing options seniors should consider from my guest blogger, Jim Vogel.

Did you know that you don’t necessarily need to purchase a home to downsize as a senior? There are several options to think about – including leasing, renting, and buying. Each option has pros and cons. The most important thing, however, is choosing the living experience that meets your expectations and presents the best possibilities for your future (particularly if aging in place is part of your plan).

Kiplinger recently published an article outlining the differences between buying and renting as a retiree. That article, among others, will help shed light on your options for this chapter of your life.

Bittersweet and exciting, this is your chance to make a choice that will solely benefit you. This time around, you aren’t purchasing a home for your children, friends, or career. Instead, it’s all about you.

Here are four housing options to think about as you start the downsizing process:

Renting Apartment Space

Maybe you’re sick and tired of caring for a large home that you don’t necessarily need. For this move, you want something simple and low maintenance. You don’t need much space. In fact, a two or three bedroom apartment will meet your needs while still giving your family enough room to visit. Having a yard isn’t an important factor, in your book. You’d be happy with the occasional gardening stint on a balcony or patio. You genuinely don’t mind having neighbors and, in fact, feel comforted by the idea of never truly being alone.

If you identify with these statements, apartment life may be right for you. Not only will you have a lower cost of living and outsourced home maintenance, but you’ll truly be able to enjoy your retirement with few regrets. U.S. News shares more information about becoming a renter as a senior.

Purchasing a Condominium

If you want the perks of purchase without the responsibility of landscaping and wasted space, consider buying a condominium. You’ll still live in a tightly knit community with neighbors, but you’ll actually own your home. The only downside to condos are the intense staircases sometimes included. Even if you’re able to easily navigate staircases now, you need to think about the future. This means finding a condo with as few stairs as possible.

A huge pro, however, lies in location. Condos are often found in desirable locations, such as near the water or coastline. If you’ve always dreamed of living in luxury, this is your chance.

Leasing a Townhome

Leasing and renting are, for all intents and purposes, the same thing. Most of the time, you’ll sign a lease agreement when you choose to rent an apartment. Your lease will last for six to twelve months, at which time you’ll be allowed to renew your lease.

Leasing a townhome or house, though, is slightly different. In this case, the majority of owners will want to do a lease-to-buy option. This means, as you pay rent, some of your money will go toward a downpayment and closing costs. At the end of a specified period of time (generally three or four years), you’ll be first in line to purchase the home.

This option is perfect for individuals interested in buying in the future, but unable to make a purchase now. Realtor.com has some great information that can help you better understand the process.

Requesting a Ranch

Maybe you see yourself in a home of your own – and nothing is going to change that. If this is the case, consider requesting a ranch home. These homes have few stairs (usually with a single set leading into a basement) and can often be found in community areas with other seniors and retirees.

These housing options offer vastly different experiences for this chapter of your life. What experience do you want for your future?

Whichever option you choose, home staging can help seniors sell their home quickly and for more, and help you get set up in your new home. To find out more, check out the article Home Staging Helps Seniors Move on to Their Next Adventure.

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The Power of Color in Home Staging

Color is a very personal thing.

We all have our favorite colors and ones we really don’t like. The colors we surround ourselves with, whether in our homes or the clothes we wear affect our mood and be stimulating, relaxing, inspiring or agitating. Because color can have a strong emotional effect on people, it is important to consider how it will affect buyers when you put your home on the market.

The Power of Color in Home Staging

While you can indulge your love of certain colors when living in the home, those colors may turn off buyers or may not work with their furnishings and accessories. If so, they may not make an emotional connection with your house, which is what inspires an offer!

For those few buyers that can visualize what the home might look like with different colors, they will consider it an added expense and a hassle to have to paint a color to their liking. Buyers like properties that are move -ready!

The Power of Color in Home Staging

Stagers often recommend more neutral colors to appeal to more buyers. But, there is still a balancing act, to make sure the for sale property is not boring! You want buyers to remember your property and feel a connection!

Here is an example of a recent staging project where colors were very important. The property owner had rented it out for years, and renters had all indulged their own love of color along the way. Painting a more neutral palette while adding warmth and color with furniture and accessories brought in an offer the first week on the market.

The power of color in home staging can make the difference between a quick sale for more and a property that sits on the market without offers.

To learn more, get my free report on my “Top Paint Colors for a Speedy and Profitable Home Sale”. Sign up here to get a copy.

Top Paint Colors for a Speedy and Profitable Home Sale by Northern Lights Home Staging and Design

Get an Online Color or Home Staging Consultation Today

Try my online color or home staging consultation today. They are $500 each online but you can do both together for $750 and save $250. Call today for a quote for in person consultations.

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The Power of Color in Home Staging

Preparing for your Photo Shoot

Getting professional photos to highlight your for-sale home is critical to helping your listing outshine the competition online and getting buyers to visit your property!

Professional photos also help make your vacation rental stand out online and attract your ideal customer.

Even with professional photos, it is important to make sure what is in the photo looks great and will capture buyer or renter interest! After all, a high quality photo of an ugly room will emphasize the negative aspects rather than the positive. Here is a checklist to make sure your rooms and the photos look fabulous.

Preparing for Your Photoshoot — Photo by Brandon Erlinger-Ford on Unsplash

Prepare for Your Photo Shoot – 2 weeks or more in advance

Consult with a professional home stager. Staged homes or rental properties will look significantly better in photos than un-staged homes. Stagers are experts at decorating your home to create an atmosphere that appeals to buyers or renters so they make an emotional connection!
Stagers will help you highlight the positive and downplay the negative, give you an objective plan of things you can do to get top dollar and sell quickly with suggestions that will give you the greatest return for your investment.
Stagers can re-arrange furniture and decor to highlight focal points and enhance space, recommend paint colors that appeal to buyers or renters and look good in your photos.
They recommend repairs or remodeling, arrange to rent and place furniture, art and accessories if needed.
They research your target market in advance, and decorate to appeal to them. Most stagers will need 2 weeks in advance of photos to consult with you, devise and implement your staging plan and set up and have furniture and decor delivered if it is needed, although they can usually work with what you already have.

Complete painting, repairs and maintenance

Make your house spotless! While this is particularly important before showing your house to buyers, a clean house will make your photos look much better!
Stick with the plan. If your home has been staged, do not add, take away, or re-arrange items that have been placed before the photos

On the Day of Your Photo Shoot

If you have used a professional stager, they may have done most of this for you. If you are living in the house while listing, some of these things will still be up to you to do on the day of the photo shoot.

In All Rooms

Turn on all the lights, including accent lights such as under kitchen cabinets
Open all curtains unless specified otherwise by your stager to downplay a poor view
Make sure shades, if partially closed are all at the same level and are even at the bottom with cords neatly hanging and as invisible as possible
Consolidate and hide electrical cords as much as possible
Remove personal photos
Make sure price and other tags are not visible on pillows, towels, curtains or other items
Remove pets and all evidence of their bowls, food, beds etc.
Turn off TVs and ceiling fans

Kitchen

Remove all items from the countertops except a few appliances and decorative items
Remove dish towels
Sinks should be clean and empty. Remove sponges and soaps
Remove small area rugs in front of sink or doors. They are distracting in photos.
Remove all magnets, papers etc. from the refrigerator
Close all cabinet, pantry or closet doors

Living /Family Rooms

Neatly arrange pillows or throws on couches
Clear coffee and end tables of items except for a few decorative items
Hide remotes

Dining Room

Clear table except for a centerpiece

Bedrooms

Make the beds. Ensure the bottom of the bed spread is even along the front and sides. Crooked bedspreads look distracting in photos
Put away clothes
Close closet doors
Clean and organize closets for interior photos
Clear bedside tables of all items except for lamps and small decorative items

Office

Neatly organize papers and files
Hide personal information, certificates or bills

Bathrooms

Towels are clean and neatly folded or hung. On towel racks, make sure the bottoms are straight and even.
Put down the lid on the toilet seat!
Remove personal items such as soaps, shampoos, toothbrushes etc. from view
Remove bath mats (they are distracting in the photos).
Shower curtains are clean, pressed, and open to show the shower

Entry

Put away shoes, coats, keys, backpacks etc. so they not visible
Remove all rugs except entry rug just inside the door

Exterior

Park cars elsewhere so house is clearly visible
Put away all tools, toys
Make sure yard looks cleaned and maintained
Remove trash cans from view

Resources

Tips for Finding a Great Real Estate Photographer

Tips for Finding a Great Home Stager

Ready to Prepare for a Great Photo Shoot?

Get your online home staging consultation or staging service today. Click on the pictures to learn more. For in person consultations or staging, call for a custom quote.

Virtual Remodeling Service.Is your vacant home turning buyers off with its lackluster paint, flooring, or lighting? No time or budget to remodel? Try virtual remodeling (combined with our virtual staging services) for a fraction of the cost. I create a 3D rendering from your photo and measurements to show cost effective remodeling options that buyers will love!

Virtual Staging Service. Vacant homes leaving your buyers cold? Staging too expensive? Try virtual staging for a fraction of the cost. I drop-in furniture, art, and accessories into your well-lit vacant room photo so buyers can visualize this home as their own!

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Preparing for your PHotoshoot. Photo by emrecan arık on Unsplash

Free Home Staging Workshop-Sell Your House in any Market Fast and For More with Home Staging

Join us for a free home staging workshop on March 12, 5:45-6:45 pm at 12*100 Cpffee and Communitas in Anchorage located at 12100 Old Seward Highway.

Thinking of selling your house? Stop by for coffee and learn how to sell quickly and for top dollar in any market with home staging. Potentially increase your selling price up to 20% and sell 79% faster. Learn what you can do yourself, and how a home stager can help you. Learn how and why home staging works and how to find a great home stager. Find out about the process and what it costs.

Your home is probably your greatest investment. Home selling is a stressful process. Make sure you get the most for your home and learn the tools to sell fast, reduce stress and costs.

Sell Your House in Any Market Fast and for More- Free Workshop by Northern Lights Home Staging and Design

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Free Home Staging Workshop with Northern Lights Home Staging and Design

Northern Lights Home Staging and Design Awarded Best of Houzz 2017

Northern Lights Home Staging and Design of Seward Alaska Awarded Best of Houzz 2017

Over 35 Million Monthly Unique Users Nominated Best Home Building, Remodeling and Design Professionals in North America and Around the World

Seward, Alaska, January 17, 2017 – Northern Lights Home Staging and Design of Seward, Alaska has won “Best Of Customer Service” on Houzz®, the leading platform for home remodeling and design. Northern Lights Home Staging and Design provides Home Staging, Interior Design and Social Media Marketing services in South-Central Alaska including Anchorage, Seward and the Kenai Peninsula. Northern Lights Home Staging and Design was chosen by the more than 35 million monthly unique users that comprise the Houzz community from among more than one million active home building, remodeling and design industry professionals.

The Best of Houzz is awarded annually in three categories: Design, Customer Service and Photography. Design award winners’ work was the most popular among the more than 35 million monthly users on Houzz. Customer Service honors are based on several factors, including the number and quality of client reviews a professional received in 2016. Architecture and interior design photographers whose images were most popular are recognized with the Photography award. A “Best Of Houzz 2017” badge will appear on winners’ profiles, as a sign of their commitment to excellence. These badges help homeowners identify popular and top-rated home professionals in every metro area on Houzz.

“We all deserve to live in a home that is beautiful, functional and reflects our unique style. Our goal is to help you “make magic happen” in your home” says Mary Ann Benoit, President of Northern Lights Home Staging and Design

“We’re so pleased to award Best of Houzz 2017 to this incredible group of talented and customer-focused professionals, including Northern Lights Home Staging and Design,” said Liza Hausman, vice president of Industry Marketing for Houzz. “Each of these businesses was singled out for recognition by our community of homeowners and design enthusiasts for helping to turn their home improvement dreams into reality.”

Follow Northern Lights Home Staging and Design on Houzz at http://www.houzz.com/pro/northernlightsstagingalaska

About Northern Lights Home Staging and Design

Mary Ann Benoit of Northern Lights Home Staging and Design awarded Best of HOuzz 2017 for Customer Service — Mary Ann Benoit of Northern Lights Home Staging and Design awarded Best of Houzz 2017 for Customer Service

Mary Ann Benoit, is the foremost home stager in south-central Alaska, and provides an award winning, versatile, and unique one-stop shop for home staging, Interior Design and social media advertising services for homes and vacation rental properties.

Customers and colleagues describe her as “the best at what she does” and her work as “stellar”, “fantastic”,” amazing”, “innovative”, “prompt and professional”. Known for giving “above and beyond service”, being a “delight to work with” and “a great coach and mentor”, “hiring Mary Ann is more than worth every dollar and led us to success, and a new future.”

The only home stager in south central Alaska with training as a home stager and with a degree in Interior Design, Mary Ann is a highly gifted leader in her field, providing premier home staging of vacant, occupied and vacation rental properties as well as social media marketing to make your property outshine the competition online. She is an expert at helping the average homeowner sell their home profitably so they can move on quickly and with less stress to their next adventure.

She provides diverse and unique Interior Design and Redesign services for clients looking for an affordable way to update and upgrade their space using primarily what they already have. When you grow and change in your life, but your house hasn’t, Mary Ann can bring new life to your home so it works for you and tells your story! She provides interior consultations, home face-lifts, space planning, color consulting, home styling, personal shopping, digital photos and video and virtual consultations nationwide.

About Houzz

Houzz is the leading platform for home remodeling and design, providing people with everything they need to improve their homes from start to finish – online or from a mobile device. From decorating a small room to building a custom home and everything in between, Houzz connects millions of homeowners, home design enthusiasts and home improvement professionals across the country and around the world. With the largest residential design database in the world and a vibrant community empowered by technology, Houzz is the easiest way for people to find inspiration, get advice, buy products and hire the professionals they need to help turn their ideas into reality. Headquartered in Palo Alto, CA, Houzz also has international offices in London, Berlin, Sydney, Moscow and Tokyo. Houzz and the Houzz logo are registered trademarks of Houzz Inc. worldwide. For more information, visit houzz .com.

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Sell Your House in any Market Fast and For More

You can sell your house in any market fast and for more with Home Staging. Learn how, why and when home staging works, how much more you can sell your house for, how fast you can expect it to sell, how to find a great home stager and how much it costs. Home staging works and is a great investment!

Lately the market has gotten much slower and Alaska is reported to be facing a recession. If you need to sell your house, you can still outshine the competition. Home staging works in both a buyers and a seller’s marketand really helps you in a slow market.

Find out more information on how and why home staging works in our section on Why Home Stage?

Get more information on how to find a great home stager in my recent video interview on Home Staging Pros.

Find out more about how and why home staging works, how much it costs, what the process is like, how long it takes and what it costs. Check out our FAQs for Home Sellers on Home Staging report.

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Northern Lights Home Staging and Design awards and credentials

Biography of Mary Ann Benoit, President of Northern Lights Home Staging and Design

Mary Ann Benoit, provides an award winning, versatile, and unique one-stop shop for premiere Interior Design, Edesign, Color Consulting, Home Staging, Virtual Staging and Vacation Rental Staging for homes and vacation rental properties in south-central Alaska and online nationwide.

Customers and colleagues describe her in reviews as “the best at what she does” and her work as “stellar,” “fantastic,”” amazing,” “innovative,” “prompt and professional.” She is known for giving “above and beyond service,” being a “delight to work with,” and “a great coach and mentor.” “Hiring Mary Ann is more than worth every dollar and led us to success, and a new future.”

The only professional home stager with a degree in Interior Design that is also a certified color strategist and color expert in Alaska, she is a highly gifted leader in her field, winning numerous awards for customer service, Interior design, home staging, her blog and YouTube channel.

She provides diverse and unique Interior Design services using her Aligned Design system which combines art, science and energy. She focuses on global design styles with a modern twist, with expert and unique use of beautiful color. Living in Alaska on the ocean surrounded by dramatic mountains and glaciers, surrounded by antiques she has collected has also given her a love of Coastal, Rustic, Vintage and Art Deco styles. She loves to use eco-friendly products and incorporates sustainable design techniques and biophilia to bring the outside in whenever possible in her designs.

As a certified color strategist, she loves using both the art and science of color to created stunning and interesting combinations and helping clients with their color conundrums!

She provides premier home staging of vacant, occupied and vacation rental properties as well as virtual staging, online consultations and social media marketing to make your for-sale home or vacation rental property outshine the competition online. She is an expert at helping homeowners sell profitably, quickly and with less stress and helping vacation rental owners increase their bookings and attract their ideal guests.

In addition to her lifelong interest in Interior Design, she recently retired from a 33-year career as a wildlife biologist that inspired her with the beautiful colors, patterns and designs in nature and how they could be applied to interiors. Her career gave her extensive experience in project management, budgeting, and attention to detail. She also started a Bed and Breakfast in 2001 and applied her staging and marketing skills to double her income and bookings. Now she uses that knowledge to help other vacation rental property owners do the same with home staging, design and color. As a lifelong artist in a variety of mediums, she also creates stunning fractal art and alcohol ink art which she creates unique home décor products that can be custom designed for your home.

She has a BA in Interior Design, a BS in Wildlife Biology and is a graduate of the Staging Diva Home Staging training program. Featured on several home staging shows, she has also published numerous articles. She won the Best of Houzz Customer Service Award in 2016-2020. She won an award for one of the top Interior Designs of 2018 for her Edesign of a Turkish style living room. Her blog was awarded on of the top home staging blogs on the web and her YouTube channel was awarded one of the top 30 design channels on the web.

Her exceptional design sense, education, experience, diverse background, versatility and emphasis on customer service make her a great choice to “make magic happen” in your home. Ask her customers!

Get to know Mary Ann. Check out some of her recent radio or video interviews.

Interview with Mary Ann Benoit- Seward Public Radio’s Market Minute

Interview with Mary Ann Benoit-Seward Public Radio

Empire Radio Now with Mary Ann Benoit

Northern Lights Home Staging and Design- Tips to Finding the Best Home Stager

Anchorage Advice Givers- Interview with Mary Ann Benoit

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Do I need to stage a high end home?

Do you need to stage a high end home? I often get calls from home owners who have put high end homes on the market but they are not selling.

After sitting on the market with no offers, they wonder why? So before yet another large price reduction, they wonder if staging will help.

Why would it be important to stage a nice high end home before listing? Here are a few examples.

Do I need to stage a high end home?

The personal taste of the owner does not appeal to the majority of buyers.

You may have beautiful taste or had your house designed by a professional Interior Designer. The style reflects your personal preferences in color, furnishings, art etc.

You may have decorated your children’s rooms with elaborate but beautiful paint jobs that they love.

You may have filled the home with custom lighting, accessories or wallpaper.

Unless a buyer has the same taste in color or style as you, or they have kids of the same age and taste as your children, your home may not appeal to most buyers.

A home stager can give you an objective view of what needs to change to appeal to most buyers and help you let go of things that might be personally meaningful to you. In other words, we help you “break up with your house” and prepare to move on to your new house.

Do I need to stage a high end home? — Home Staging by Northern Lights Home Staging and Design

The home does not portray the lifestyle buyers want.

People buy on emotion. They select a house that that portrays a lifestyle they want to live, and they can picture themselves living there happily ever after.

I recently staged a beautiful log home with beautiful furnishings that should have been the ultimate Alaskan dream home. Yet, as you walked through the various rooms, it did not portray a feeling of warmth and comfort. Mis-matched mixtures of overly rustic and stiff antique furniture, lack of warm color and rooms being used for functions other than what they were intended made the space seem uninviting and confusing on how to use the space.

Re-arranging furniture in more appropriate groupings and highlighting the functions of rooms totally changed the look and feel for buyers.

The home is vacant and buyers cannot visualize how their belonging will fit.

No matter how beautiful the home is, if it is vacant, the majority of buyers cannot visualize how their furnishings and belongings will fit and look in the space. Most buyers assume the spaces are smaller than they are with nothing to give them a sense of scale. Any flaws in the building, flooring, walls, moldings etc. will be highlighted, as they have nothing else to focus on. The house will feel cold and it will be hard for buyers to make an emotional connection.

Staging the most important rooms such as the living room, kitchen, dining area and master bedroom and bathroom are critical.

Do I need to stage a high end home?

Rooms are not set up as originally designed and buyers can’t see the possibilities.

Sometimes home owners change things to suit their lifestyles but the arrangements may not suit what buyers are looking for.

In one home I staged, the dining room had been set up as a third living room. The master bedroom was very small. Although there were nearby schools, there were no rooms set up for children.

The very large house would have been perfect for an extended family, yet bedrooms were limited. To stage it for buyers, the family/dining room was staged as a dining room, the large lower level which had 2 living rooms and an office was set up as a mother in law suite or alternate spacious master bedroom with an adjacent family room, and office.

An upper bed room was staged as a child’s bedroom. The new arrangement, using what the owners already had was much more appealing to buyers.

The house was customized for the owners, but is not what buyers want.

I recently consulted on a custom home with ornate lighting fixtures, mirrors, artwork and bedding that suited the owners taste but did not appeal to buyers. Replacing some of these items with simple, modern alternatives helped update the look of the home and made it more appealing to buyers.

Your asking price is at the very high end of the price range for similar houses.

In order to get the highest price for your home, it is critical that the home be in excellent shape. Furnishings, accessories and lighting should be on par with the price point of the home, and it should be well staged to maximize the space, highlight the focal points, downplay any flaws or show how they can be overcome, and make an emotional connection with buyers. A home stager is an expert at making that happen so you can get the highest price possible on your home sale.

Stage Your High End Home Today

Are you ready to stage your high end home? All staging starts with a consultation which can be in person or online. Feel free to call if you have questions and would like to discuss what would be best for you.

Online Home Staging Consultation by NOrthern Lights Home Staging and Design

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Prices subject to change without notice.

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Interested in becoming a home stager? I recommend the Staging Diva Home Staging Training program!

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Do I need to stage a high end home?