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    Everything You Need To Know About Staging A Home For Sale

    Everything You Need To Know About Staging A Home For Sale

    You are getting your home ready for sale and you want to know,is staging worth it? It’s a lot of time money and hassle and you want to know if it will pay off.

    The quick answer is, “yes, staging is worth it”

    Any home can sell exactly the way it is, as long as the price is right. You don’t have to do a thing. But…

    According to a survey from the National Association of Realtors (NAR) one-third of the agents surveyed felt that staged homes sell for 1 – 5% more than non-staged homes. An additional 21% felt that staged homes sold for 6% – 10% higher than a non-staged home. On a million-dollar home, we are talking an average of $25,000 – $75,000!

    In the same survey, 77% of buyers said that a staged home “made it easier to visualize the property as their future home”.

    Before and After Staging KennethIs staging common?

    The survey says 38% of home sales are staged, but that is a nationwide statistic. Local statistics are not available.

    In general, full staging is common in “hip” neighborhoods like Eagle Rock or Atwater. In other areas a full staging really stands out.

    Full staging means a designer furnishes every detail in an empty room or house.

    How much does staging cost?

    It is not hard to find a listing agent who will offer complimentary staging, but is it worth it?

    There is a big difference between furnishing a room and an HGTV transformation. A professional stager with a large inventory can tell a compelling story and your ideal buyer will pay top dollar.

    Before and After Staging

    There are almost as many stagers are there are Realtors and the range in quality is vast. Expect to pay $7,000 – $10,000 to a top-notch professional stager for a vacant home in Glendale. You can always ask a top designer to adjust the budget by installing less detail or staging fewer rooms. It is more effective to do less with a talented designer than a whole home with a budget designer.

    BEWARE of the “free” staging. This is often a come on to get your listing commitment but is less “staging” and more “bringing in some stuff”.ย  A much better idea is to ask about deferring the cost of the staging to the close of escrow.

    We are lucky, in Glendale! If you are on the Westside of Los Angeles you can expect to pay $25,000 – $50,000.

    Read: DIGGS Case Study #1 – $149,500 More Than Expected Profit

    What is included in a stagers fee?

    A professional stager includes design services, furniture, accessory, soft furnishings, delivery and installation, and takedown service.

    All items are “rented” from the stager and the rental period is typically 60 days. Any extensions are generally charged at a monthly fee.

    Can I live in a staged home?

    It depends on the stager, but in most cases, you can live in a staged home. You may need to sign a contract agreeing to pay for damages beyond normal wear and tear.

    Where does my old stuff go?

    If you are planning to take everything to your new home you can either carefully pack your garage or rent a storage unit. But this is a chance to think ahead. Maybe you can donate items in advance and reduce your workload on moving day!

    Read: Best Places To Donate Used Goods

    Do I need to stage the whole house?

    No. Sometimes we stage just the “hero rooms” – Living Room, Dining Room and Master Bedroom. This is especially true when you are still living in the home while it is on the market. Every situation is unique and our advice is geared toward maximum profit, not just the highest sales price.Before and After Staging

    What improvements should I make before staging?

    The truth is often surprising. Many homeowners think they need large improvements and fixes in order to get top dollar for their home and this assumption causes stress and anxiety. However, most of the time it is a relatively easy and inexpensive thing that makes the most profit!

    Read: 50 Tops Tips Forย Home Selling

    High-Profit Improvements

    1. De-Clutterย your home. This is a 100% money maker. I know- if you had the space to put all that stuff away you wouldn’t have to move in the first place! But, we are talking about how to get top dollar, and this one is top of the list. Just think of this as pre-packing for your move. I wrote a post on de-cluttering and included some local resources to help you out.
    2. Paint. If you are willing to invest money, painting is a high-profit item. Painting instantly increases the perception of quality and the overall condition and can neutralize your aesthetics. If you have strong or dark colors, paint can brighten the space. Paint is also a money maker for your home’s exterior. Consider painting your trim and front door.
    3. Landscape. This is a perfect do it yourself for a high-profit project. Trim, thin and get rid of anything that is dead or crispy. Plant lots of colorful pony packs from the nursery- consult the nursery staff for season-appropriate plants. If possible, plant orange and yellow flowers- these colors catch the eye and stand out from a distance. Install mulch in every planting bed you have. Mulch is magic and makes everything look brand new. Glendale residents can get FREE mulch, here.

    Every home and every situation is different!

    The best way to maximize the sale of your home is to ask for our consultation. We’ll take a look at your home and consider your goals. Then we add our resources and create a plan that is easy, affordable and profitable.

    Not ready to call us? Yeah, we get that is a pretty big and scary step to take. Check out our Ultimate Home Sellers Guide. It has more answers to your smart questions!

    Ready to work with a ย Best Glendale CA Agent?

    Call:ย 818.482.1885
    Text:ย 
    818.946.0106
    Email:ย 
    kendyl(at)GlendaleDIGGS(dotted)com

     

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