Staging

WHERE BEAUTIFUL DESIGN BECOMES REALITY

Home Staging

Why Home Staging?

Many sellers ask themselves "how can I sell my home faster?", or, "why hasn't my home sold?"

Home owners usually live in their homes for a number of years and have decorated with their taste in mind, as it should be. This suits them well and incorporates their personality into the home. However, home staging is based on a key principle that home design for living and designing homes for the market are two completely different approaches. We offer that fresh professional eye to the sellers to let them know how to make their home appeal to as many potential buyers as possible.

The investment in home staging now is less than a potential price reduction later.

Staged Homes sell 49% faster than non-staged homes (Source National Association of Realtors). Staged Homes also sell for 7%-10% over the average list price(National Association of Realtors).

Buyers make a decision on a property within 90 seconds of entering a house. Realtors are more inclined to show a home that is staged over a non-staged home. Appraisers are more likely to appraise staged homes at full price.

How much does it cost to hire a home stager?

The process known as home staging has been in existence for roughly thirty years. In that time it has emerged as a powerful sales tool because it transforms a "nice" home into a remarkably desirable product. This is done through a variety of techniques.

The costs associated with working with a professional home stager will vary widely and can begin as low as $150 for a consultation, and range well above $6000 for a massive undertaking. Stagers may charge by the hour, while others request a flat fee. The biggest factors affecting cost are the size and condition of the home as well as the geographical area in which it is located. Homeowners on a budget may choose to pay for a consultation with a stager and then implement the suggestions themselves, or they may opt to hire the stager to transform only the main rooms.

Some consumers wonder if the hassle of rearranging rooms, buying new accessories and furniture, and ensuring that the house is always ready to look like a designer showroom is worth it.MortgageNewsDaily.com indicates that most homes that are professionally stage will end up bringing in roughly 3% more than the anticipated price. This means that a homeowner who dedicates $3000 to a home staging project, and who sells their home for $500k, will have earned $15000 for their effort. Clearly, this indicates that such a project is well worth the expense.

Cost breakout

A preliminary consultation with the home stager is required before work can begin, and usually the professional will indicate the weakest areas of the home, or the items that need to be removed or relocated. Once de-cluttering, cleaning, minor repairs, and even repainting is done the stager will begin their work.

This will usually include:

•Rearranging furniture;

•Redecorating windows with new dressings, or using pre-existing dressings in a different way;

•Displaying accessories and collectibles in pleasing "vignettes";

•Adding elements that draw the attention to appealing areas such as fireplaces, patios, and porches; and

•Bringing in a large number of "props" that enhance the overall "tone" of any space. This could mean adding plants, pillows, furniture, baskets, artwork, lighting fixtures, and much more.

Additional considerations and costs

Some stagers require a contract in order to begin work, and others also request a retainer in order to begin acquiring supplies. Such requests are entirely reasonable and to be expected, and this is a great way to protect both parties in the event of any conflict or dispute.

It is impossible to place a fixed amount on such work, but it is vitally important that the homeowner sit down with the stager to determine a budget well in advance. A time line for the work is necessary if many small projects must be completed in advance of the actual staging work.

Generally, the average staging project occurs over the course of a few day's time, though it may have been in "planning" stages for a few weeks. It is a good idea to develop a plan of action in order to keep costs under control and the schedule on target. This is particularly true if the home is about to go on the market or be photographed for a real estate listing. If the stager needs the homeowner to work with subcontractors for the project, they, too, should agree to the established schedules to ensure they can meet the obligatory deadlines.

In the case that the homeowner has already moved out of the home, it is possible to arrange a"vacant staging". The home stager rents furniture and accessories for a few months or as long as necessary, and the cost is typically around 1-2% of the list price to purchase these materials. Some stagers maintain their own inventory of furniture and accessories and may add a rental cost on top of their fee.

Occupied Home Staging

After living in their home for a number of years, home owners develop a personal style that suits their own taste and lifestyle. While it is a great thing to personalize a home for living, it's not so great for the market. Home Staging is not so much decorating as it is marketing. Therefore AID will declutter and depersonalize an occupied home. Then redesign it in a neutral manner to appeal to as many buyers as possible.

Vacant Home Staging

Many buyers have trouble envisioning a warm home when looking at a vacant property. Therefore AID provides stylish furniture, for rental or for purchase, to help buyers feel comfortable in your property. From living room to bedroom & bathrooms, we completely furnish your empty property to make it an inviting home.

Additional Services

Painting

Cleaning

Light Fixtures

Curb Appeal

Packing

Landscaping

Home Repairs

Drywall Plaster

Pool Cleaning

Concrete Painting

Driveway Paving