by beth king

Created on: January 23, 2012   Last Updated: January 24, 2012

Selling a home can be tough in any market and time, so anything the owner can do to increase the appeal is critical.  Home staging, although not new, is becoming more and more popular.  There are companies that specialize in this area, home staging experts and the cost of the service varies depending on location, size of the home and the type of staging needed.

Studies show, based on Realestateabc.com, that buyers make up their minds 10 seconds after walking in the front door.  By the strategic staging of the home, potential buyers are able to walk in and almost immediately begin to imagine themselves living there.  When someone buys a new home, not only are they looking for location and to stay in their price range but they are looking for the intangible, that welcoming feeling. 

Of course the home should be cleaned and items repaired but staging the furniture so it flows, using colors that are neutral when possible and clearing out the clutter will help create a look that your potential buyers can imagine living in.  It is all about the feeling and eye appeal that home staging will help create.  What proper staging can do is show the space in a way that is livable yet not too unique that it will not appeal to the general public. 

A staging professional may have the sellers move out a lot of their personal mementos along with clutter so as not to confuse the buyer.  Think of staging as setting a canvass or picture with the basic outline of the picture already filled in what is left is the colors and the particulars left to fill in.  Too much of a blank canvass, an empty home, leaves too much to the imagination and won't give the feeling of a "home".

Staging is especially important in areas that are large and multi purposed, such as living and dinning room combination.  By showing how to divide the space and how it can flow, you are giving the buyer the mental image they need to see their family living there.

With several homes in one area on sale, staging can make the difference in not only getting the sale but getting the amount the property is listed for.  If the buyer walks in and can feel the welcoming, ready to move in feeling, that could very well mean a quick and easier sale. 

Many real estate professionals can help with staging however many are not apt at design and so using an agent along with a profession staging company could be well worth the cost.  If spending money on this isn't possible, get hints from visiting model homes, other open houses and look through design magazines.  Sometimes it can be as easy as rearranging furniture and clearing out the clutter. 

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