Market research is the first thing you should do before developing a plan for staging your house if you want to make top dollar on your home sale. I know, market research sounds boring. Why should you care?

 Here’s why:

1. Understanding the Target Audience: Market research will help you understand who the potential buyers are in your area. Knowing your audience means you can stage your home in a way that appeals directly to their preferences and needs.

2. Pricing Insights: Through research, you can ascertain the average selling prices for homes in your area, ensuring you don’t undervalue or overprice your property.

3. Identify Trends: Market research can reveal current home design trends that buyers are gravitating towards. By staging your home in line with these trends, you increase its appeal.

4. Stay Competitive: By understanding what other sellers are offering, you can ensure your home has a unique selling proposition that differentiates it from other properties on the market.

5. Minimize Time on Market: Homes that are staged in line with buyer preferences tend to sell faster, reducing the amount of time your property stays on the market.

6. Optimal Use of Resources: Instead of randomly buying or renting furniture and decor for staging, market research helps you invest wisely in enhancements that are most likely to yield a return on investment.

7. Anticipate Buyer Concerns: Research might reveal common concerns or objections from homebuyers in your region, allowing you to address these proactively through your staging and marketing efforts.

8. Increase Return on Investment: Homes that are staged effectively, considering the preferences of the target market, often fetch higher offers from potential buyers. Market research can show you what type of finishes and amenities similar houses have.

9. Professional Perception: Demonstrating that you’ve conducted thorough market research and staged your home accordingly can instill confidence in potential buyers, positioning you as a thoughtful and professional seller.

10. Tailored Marketing Strategies: Once you’ve gathered insights from your research, you can tailor your marketing strategies to highlight the features that matter most to potential buyers in your area.

In essence, market research ensures that the effort and resources you put into staging your home align with what potential buyers are looking for, thereby enhancing the likelihood of a quick and profitable sale.

What is Your Price Range

Look at the range of prices. If you want to be on the top end of the range, your home needs to look as good and better than the other homes in that part of the range to stand out. That is where home staging can really help you outshine the competition.

Who is Your Target Market

To pinpoint your target market, consider the nearby businesses and educational institutions. Local businesses might appeal to employees or those drawn to their services, while proximity to schools can attract families with young children. Nearby medical facilities could be a magnet for healthcare professionals or even for those prioritizing health and convenience, like the elderly. Consider: Is your home perfect for retirees looking to downsize? Or is it more suited for first-time homeowners or millennials? The aesthetic preferences of these groups will differ significantly. Remember, the décor and color palette that resonates with one demographic might not strike a chord with another, influencing your staging decisions accordingly.

What Investments will give you a Good Return

Another reason to do market research is to look at what type of amenities similar homes have such as countertops and flooring.  So, for example, if you are going to be updating your countertops before selling, and everyone in the area has granite countertops, it probably won’t be a good idea to update with Formica, or to invest in granite if everyone else has Formica. In the first case your home will not look as nice as the competition, and in the second, your house will look nicer but will not likely get back the return on the investment you made with your sale price. 

How to do Market Research

1. Hire a Professional Stager: Consider investing in a professional home stager right from the start. They typically conduct their own market research and possess a keen understanding of what appeals to buyers in your specific locale.

2. Understand the Demographics: Analyze the typical buyer profile for your area, focusing on age, family size, income levels, and professions to determine whom you’re staging for.

3. Analyze Local Real Estate Listings: Browse local real estate platforms to gauge how similar homes are staged. Look for dominant styles, colors, and arrangements.

4. Visit Open Houses: Gain firsthand insights by attending local open houses. Observe successful layout and decoration strategies.

5. Seek Feedback: Engage with friends, neighbors, or colleagues who’ve recently purchased homes. Their preferences can provide staging direction.

6. Consult Real Estate Agents: Tap into the expertise of real estate professionals to gain insights on market trends and effective staging methods.

7. Survey Potential Buyers: Conducting informal surveys or discussions can help delve deeper into the needs and desires of potential buyers.

8. Check Online Forums and Groups: Online platforms like Reddit or local Facebook groups offer genuine insights from local homebuyers.

9. Consider Local Amenities: Research nearby institutions like schools or hospitals, and consider the types of families or individuals they might attract.

10. Study Interior Design Trends: Keep abreast of current design trends to ensure your staging feels modern and inviting.

11. Analyze Previous Feedback: Reflect on any feedback if your home has been previously evaluated or listed. Such insights can guide refinements in staging.

Executing market research before staging ensures your home resonates with a broad spectrum of potential buyers, increasing the likelihood of a swift and profitable sale.

Ready to Sell?

A professional home stager will do market research on your home before staging, and consult with your Realtor if you have one on the expected target market. They are experts at decorating to make an emotional connection with your target buyers. Get started with a home staging consultation today. 

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Preparing to sell your home? Assemble a top-tier team to optimize your chances for a swift and profitable sale. This indispensable trio should comprise a seasoned home stager, a skilled real estate photographer, and a Realtor whose top commitment is your interests. In Part 1, we delved into choosing the perfect home stager. Now, let’s navigate the search for the ideal Realtor. Drawing insights from two Realtors I’ve collaborated with, we’ll explore the hallmarks of a commendable Realtor. These professionals not only recognize the worth of staging but also prioritize their client’s needs above all els

Robin Smith- Ten Tips for Choosing Your Realtor

Robin Smith, REALTOR®, RE/MAX Dynamic Properties, Anchorage, AK 99503907.903.8808,  ak.robinsmith@gmail.com

1. While years of experience often equate to increased skills, it is certainly no guarantee that a long-time agent is skilled or, unfortunately, adheres to a Code of Ethics.
   • An agent with less than five years’ experience can be very skilled if they have had past work experiences that required the same kind of skills as selling real estate.
   • Less experience often equates to a smaller client base, so the agent will have more time to devote more attention to you, the buyer or seller.

2. A great Realtor®, regardless of how long in the business, is one that conducts his/her business with the aim of connecting with clients and developing a relationship with them – it’s not just about the immediate transaction. Important qualities are:
   • honesty
   • integrity
   • concentrates on the client’s needs (above and beyond the minimum)
   • communicates regularly with the client

3. Ask the agent what their marketing plan/strategy is and what kind of activities or events can be expected (e.g. Agent and Public Open Houses, Staging Consultation, online & social media marketing).

4. If you’re interviewing several agents, don’t be swayed by the one that says he can list your home for more than the other agents – this is known in the industry as “buying a listing.” You as seller will pay the price for this as the property will likely sit unsold on the market longer than necessary because it is overpriced.

5. A good Realtor® will be knowledgeable about the current real estate market and the trends.
   1. Is it a Seller’s or Buyer’s market? Are prices increasing or decreasing?
   2. The agent should be up on community neighborhood areas and the types of homes and price ranges typical in those areas.

6. If credentials are important to you as buyer or seller, look for designations that are earned through performance and productivity.
   • CRS (Certified Residential Specialist) It takes some time to acquire the CRS designation, so agents in the business for less than five years may not yet have accomplished the required components.
   • GRI (Graduate Realtor Institute)
   • ABR (Accredited Buyer’s Representative)
   • SRES (Seniors Real Estate Specialist)
   • There are many more designations out there, but these are the most sought after.

7. If the agent calls herself a Realtor with a capital “R”, that means she’s a member of NAR (National Association of Realtors).
   1. By hiring a Realtor®, you get an agent who formally pledges to support the NAR’s stringent Code of Ethics – this is very important! Honesty and integrity in a Realtor’s character are the foundation for trust.

8. Ask the agent to provide a list of properties they have sold for past clients and their contact information so you can verify client satisfaction for this agent. If the agent won’t do that, then move on to one who will.

9. Ask business associates, friends, co-workers, or family members (i.e. someone you trust) to refer a Realtor® or real estate licensee to you and ask the person referring what their experience was like working with that agent.
10. Personality!  Skills are not the only attribute that’s important. As a buyer or seller, you will be working closely with an agent for several months so you want to choose someone that you like! Two–way communication between Realtor® and client is essential for managing expectations, outcomes, and the future of this relationship.

Kris Bohman

Real Estate Brokers of Alaska. Sales Associate
Cell Phone: (907) 250-6238.  krisbohman@hotmail.com. 

Kris Bohman  is a licensed agent with Real Estate Brokers Of Alaska and a local entrepreneur.

“Real estate agents, politicians, lawyers, insurance agents – are among the least respected professions on earth. But the reason why certain people in certain industries are not respected is because they have wrongly tried to master a craft that does not serve their audience. Take my industry, real estate, for example, since I see it daily and have an intimate understanding of what takes place. Real estate agents work their tail off to master the craft of self-promotion. They practice and practice and practice scripts and dialogues, to use when cold-calling homeowners. They spend thousands of dollars on websites to market themselves, etc., all self-interest orientated, but when it comes to their customers – where the majority of their time should be spent – why have they not worked equally as hard to master the craft of achieving a superior result?

Kris advises home sellers watch out for Realtors that use some of the typical approaches that have given the industry a bad name.  He outlines some fundamental mistakes not to make when selling your home and looking for a good Realtor including:

• Not taking the time to learn how to protect yourself from the biggest threat to your home sale profit and the greatest source of unnecessary risk: Real Estate Greed and Unethical Agents.
• Don’t fall for gimmicks or bait and switch advertising.
• Don’t assume an agent is good just because they do alot of full color advertising or sell alot of homes
• Don’t make pricing decisions based on a “free home evaluation
• If it sounds like “hot air”, it probably is
• Not taking the time to diagnose the proper route of attack

“Here is what I have come to learn: Those who are respected, regardless of industry or person,…, are those who have focused on mastering the craft that will yield their audience a superior result first, not on their own self-interest. Then utilize that mastered craft… to serve only those who can most benefit.”

“To achieve something special for my clients, I want to work with clients who are as committed to the success of their home sale as I am.”   

A great Realtor should be doing some of the following for you:  

• Get an accurate and comprehensive diagnosis to determine the best prescription to maximize the return on your investment.
• From the diagnosis, make an informed, educated decision about how to prepare your home for sale, not based on hype but on research and common sense.
• Recommend home staging, super-cleaning, professional photographs, great social media advertising, eliminating negotiations and low ball offers with a pre-listing inspection, and increasing your negotiating power with a home warranty.

Helpful Resources

Hereare some publications you may find helpful related to home staging.

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Home staging helps buyers see their dream life before them.

Helping buyers see is the key.

You may have heard that when people buy homes, they buy on emotion rather than logic. In the past I wrote about how Selling Your Home is Not About Selling Your Home, it is about selling a dream.

You can’t sell a dream if the buyer can’t see it. That is why vacant houses are hard to sell. Very few can “see the dream” in an empty house. They just look cold and uninviting.

Being able to see is just important in an occupied home.

Most people can’t visualize very well. They can’t picture that purple room of yours with white walls. They can’t picture that bedroom you converted to a playroom as a bedroom. They can’t visualize that home gym you created as a child’s room. And, they can’t really visualize how much space the room really has when you have so much stuff in it. Or, if it is totally empty.

 If they can’t see it, in their mind’s eye or with their real eyes, they probably won’t buy it.

How can home staging help buyers see so you can sell your house fast and for the most possible?

Show Me the Money

Home staging helps buyers see the value of what you are offering.

Value partially comes in the number of bedrooms and whether a property can be income producing for example.

If you have converted a bedroom to another function such as an office or gym,  it is important to stage it as a bedroom. The price of your home is partially based on number of bedrooms. If it does not look like a bedroom, buyers won’t see it as a bedroom.

Buyers are often looking for a home that has income producing potential, such as a rental unit with a separate entrance. If you have a space that could be income producing, stage it that way to show the possibility.

Show me the Dream

People buy to create a better life than they have now. You can show them the possibility of more outdoor living space, more beautiful decor, more room for their kids to play or for a growing family, more storage, room for a home based business or work out area and more with staging!

Know your target market and their dreams. Show the possibilities!

Can You See It?

A professional home stager is an expert at staging a home so people can see themselves living their dreams there. They will research your area and determine a target market to stage for.

They can see it, and can help others to see it.

Help Buyers See What They Need

I would like to show you how you can sell your house fast and for more by helping buyers see a better life in your for sale home. Get started with a home staging consultation today.

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Interested in become a home stager? Try the Staging Diva Home Staging Training. This is what I did and highly recommend it!

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Because you get what you pay for.

I know, you may have looked into hiring a home stager, but it turned out to be more expensive than you were expecting.

Have you fully considered what it may cost you not to stage? How about 10K on your first price reduction for starters.

Knowing you should stage it, you may have decided to just do it yourself. How hard can it be?

Home Staging Tasks You Can and Should Do Yourself

Yes, there are many things you can do yourself to save money and prepare your house for the market.

• You can clean like it has never been cleaned before! It will pay off.
• You can declutter, and pack up 50% of what you normally live with.
• You can repaint using colors that will help you sell your house for more.
• You can do repairs and upgrades.
• You can create great curb appeal by making sure your yard is clean, trimmed and everything is put away.

But Here’s the Thing

• Do you know what paint colors will help you sell for more and which might decrease your sales price?
• Do you know what things are best to pack up and what is best to leave out for staging? Most home sellers pack away too much or the wrong things.
• Do you know which repairs and upgrades will pay for themselves and which ones wont?
• Are you an expert on the market? Do you know who your target market is and how to emotionally connect with them through decorating, space planning and other things the pros are trained to do?
• Can you see your home objectively with the fresh eyes of someone who has never seen the home before? Really? How is that possible?
• Are you an expert at what a realistic price range is for your house and how your house should be staged for that price range?
• Can you emotionally detach from your house as if it belonged to someone else, and see all the things in it with fresh eyes? Wow, you’re good!
• Are you up on who the different trades people are in the area that do a great job?
• Are you an expert at decorating? How about decorating for buyers? That is a whole different thing.
• Do you have an inventory or access to things to stage your home that look new, modern, and will highlight your homes best features for buyers? Considering you are moving; you are unlikely to want to purchase things that might be needed for staging.
• Does your house have odors that you can’t detect because you are so used to them that may turn buyers off?

The Pros and Cons

You may be tempted to do it yourself in order to save a little. Hiring a pro can increase what you can make on your sales price by tens of thousands of dollars. It can also cost you that if you don’t.

Home staging always costs less than your first price reduction. Those are usually about 10k each time. That can add up to some substantial losses if your “home staging” is not up to par.

And how can it be, if you are not a pro. After all, you are probably a nurse, or accountant or IT person or whatever your profession is. Do you think someone with no training or education could walk into your workplace and do your job as good as you could?

How About Hiring a Cheap Home Stager?

Are you thinking, OK fine, I will hire a home stager and will look for the cheapest one?

You could go with a cheap stager. Have you fully considered how much money you will be losing if their staging job does not result in a faster sale or a higher price? If it sits on the market for months, how many tens of thousands in price reductions are you willing to take?

A professional home stager is worth every penny you will pay. It is worth it.

Ready to Sell for More?

Ready to professional stage your home so you can get the best sales price? Get started with a home staging consultation today.

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Prices subject to change without notice.

Call 907-362-0065 today

 info@northernlightsstaging.com

Interested in become a home stager? Try the Staging Diva Home Staging Training. This is what I did and highly recommend it!

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Getting a house ready for sale is about maximizing asking price by emphasizing the best features of your home. It’s also important to know exactly what steps to take when putting it up for sale, now that we’re dealing with the coronavirus outbreak. These resources will tell you which improvements are necessary to attract buyers’ attention, and what precautions you should be taking right now.

Trying to maximize your home-selling efforts? Let Northern Lights Home Staging and Design help you stage your home!

Follow COVID-19 Guidelines

• Deep Cleaning the Home During COVID-19

Whether you choose to do the cleaning yourself or hire a service, make sure COVID-19 precautions are being taken.

• Open House Precautions to Take During the COVID-19 Outbreak

You can still plan for open houses as long as everyone involved is practicing social distancing.

• The Real Estate Industry Turns to Virtual Tours to Keep It Moving Forward

In addition to in-person viewings, another option of showing your home is giving the buyers virtual tours.

• 7 Apps That Will Help You Prepare to Sell Your Home

When putting your home up for sale during the pandemic, look to tech to give your home-selling efforts a boost.

• Find a Quality Smartphone

If your current device is outdated and running slowly, a newer-model smartphone can help you get more value from your home-selling apps.

Add Value with Upgrades

• Kitchen and Bathroom Upgrades with the Best ROI

The majority of the value in most homes is found in the kitchen and bathrooms, which is why it’s important to make a good impression in those rooms.

• Best Flooring Options to Increase Home Value

Depending on which type you choose, your home’s flooring can add to the overall value of the home.

• 5 Beautiful Neutral Paint Colors for Walls

A fresh coat of paint is a great way to refresh your home’s interior, and buyers will appreciate a neutral shade.

• 10 Cheap Upgrades for a Fast Home Sale

Making inexpensive improvements can also contribute to the overall asking price.

Learn About Effective Staging

• Consult with Northern Lights Home Staging and Design

Work with a company that provides award-winning and unique home staging and design services.

• 5 Steps on How to Declutter Your House for Sale

Decluttering your belongings will free up more space, giving buyers a better idea of what the home truly looks like.

• Depersonalizing Your Home

After getting rid of unwanted items, you’ll need to move personal belongings out of the home, in case buyers don’t share their taste with yours.

• Lighting to Stage Your Home for Sale

All your staging efforts can go to waste if your home isn’t lit well enough.

Show Off the Exterior

• Top 32 Best Curb Appeal Ideas for Every Budget

You don’t have to pay top dollar for curb appeal projects to make the home’s exterior look inviting to potential buyers.

• Give Your Home a Warm, Inviting Glow with These Curb Appeal Lighting Tips

Lighting doesn’t just matter inside the home. Make sure the exterior is well-lit so that buyers can see everything it has to offer.

Getting a home listing ready during the coronavirus means getting creative, but you don’t have to go overboard. Refer to this resource guide to gain a better understanding of recommended COVID-19 guidelines and home improvements. You should also discuss possible strategies with your real estate agent when making any decisions during the selling process.

Written by by Suzie Wilson of Happier Home for Northern Lights Home Staging and Design

Ready to Sell Someone a Dream?

I would like to show you how you can sell your house fast and for more by appealing to your target market’s dreams for a better life. Get started with a home staging consultation today. 

Buy Now

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Prices subject to change without notice.

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You may have heard that when people buy homes, they buy on emotion rather than logic. What does that mean to you as a home seller? How can you sell your home when what people are really buying from you is not clear?

They may have a checklist of all the things they are looking for, but when it comes right down to it. they buy because of the way the home makes them feel and they can envision themselves living a happy life there. When you sell a home, it is not about the home. It is about the dream of the life that can be lived in that home.

So what does that really mean? They can envision themselves living there, and they like what they see in the mind’s eye. The life they envision living there is better or different than what they have now. You are offering them the possibility of expansion….or something more.

What makes it better, or more expansive? It’s a step up, something bigger,  better or different.  That can be something tangible such as more space, better finishes, more outdoor living space, a nicer neighborhood, better schools, a shorter commute, more storage, etc. Or maybe a different lifestyle, such as in the city or the country.

It can also be intangible, such as a more peaceful life, a greater sense of well being and happiness, better family relationships, more time for themselves to do hobbies or self care or fulfilling dream of starting a home based business or working from home.

How Can you Sell a Dream?

How can you sell a dream? Home Staging. A professional home stager will research your market, determine your target market and they are experts at staging a home to appeal to those people and their dreams.

For example, if the home is nearby great schools, you will likely attract families with school age children. Those buyers want peaceful, happy home lives that are safe for their kids and appeal to their ideal visions of family life. A stager can set up the home to promote a vision of that life.

Nearby hospitals or doctors’ offices may attract nurses and other health care professionals, or it could also appeal to people that maybe are older and have health conditions and want to be nearby. A stager can create a home that shows a possible home office or a home that looks comfortable and easy to move around safely in for older buyers.

Different décor and colors appeal to different age groups and markets, and stagers are experts at appealing to the correct age groups based on your target market.

They know how to make a room look spacious, yet feel comfortable, highlight or create areas for crafts or hobbies, or self care. They can turn an awkward space into a great place for a home office. Or they just highlight how a certain area is a peaceful place to have coffee in the morning or get away to read a book.

Ready to Sell Someone a Dream?

I would like to show you how you can sell your house fast and for more by appealing to your target market’s dreams for a better life. Get started with a home staging consultation today.

Buy Now

Download my Brochure

Terms of Service  |  Privacy Policy  |  Disclaimer

Prices subject to change without notice.

Call 907-362-0065 today

 info@northernlightsstaging.com

Interested in become a home stager? Try the Staging Diva Home Staging Training. This is what I did and highly recommend it!

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