Home Staging - A Must In Today's Real Estate Market
Why do some homes sell and others don't? Why do homes that are the same model on the same street get more money than others? Price is not the only factor when people decide to make an offer on a home. Value for your money is key in today’s real estate market. Buyer’s like to feel that they are getting a lot for their money. Burke Centre has been lucky in that there hasn’t been the high level of inventory as seen in other areas such as Loudoun County.
I have had many clients choose the Pottery Barn Catalog looking property that is priced higher, over the same floor plan or property that is the same square footage. I often tell my clients that they can make the other property look like the Pottery Barn Catalog property for less than the $35k difference in price. Most of my clients buy emotionally and go with the Pottery Barn Catalog Property.
I recently sold a home in Burke Centre that was the same model as another property for sale on the same street. My client’s property did not have a finished walk-out basement or the sunroom addition that the other property had. Yet my client’s house went under contract first and netted the same amount of money at settlement. Why is that? I strongly believe that it is all in the staging. You don’t want the potential buyer’s to be focusing on your lovely collectables you want them to focus on the house. I had my clients do some of the following things to stage their home:
- Rent a storage unit and remove extra furniture to make rooms look more spacious.
- Remove all wallpaper and paint walls in a neutral yet non-sterile looking paint color – NOT WHITE PAINT
- Plant colorful flowers and make sure that yard is maintained.
- Go with the less is more philosophy and remove extra photos and artwork from the walls. Also remove extra collectibles from tables.
- Clear off counter tops to give appearance of more counter space in the kitchen and bathrooms.
- Replace old carpeting, ceramic tile, and refinish hardwoods if needed.
- If you have extra money focus on updates to the kitchens and baths.
I believe if the house is priced right, and staged well it will sell. My listing sold in 15 days! Not bad for a slow market. The photos from the Wooden Hawk staged home can be viewed on my website at http://www.BurkeCentreForSale.com. Please feel free to contact me for an evaluation of your home. I am attaching a link to a video from The Today Show series titled “Setting The Stage” which gives ideas on how you can stage your home at various price points.
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