Why It’s So Important To Stage A Vacant Home
March 26, 2008
Buyers Make an Emotional Connection
The number one reason a buyer purchases a house is because it “felt home.” It was warm, inviting and the buyer made an emotional connection with the home. When have you ever heard of an empty room described as warm and inviting? Sterile, cold and uninviting are the three most popular words to describe an empty room.
Without Furniture, there is no Frame of Reference
How big is the room? Without furniture it’s difficult to tell the scale and size of a room. When the buyer does not have answers to their questions-they walk away. What is this room for? Many times a buyer can’t even tell if it’s the living room or dining room if there’s no furniture. Don’t keep them guessing because they won’t be able to visualize how they will entertain in or use a room whose purpose is unclear.
When a Room is Empty, Buyers Focus on Negative Details
It’s so much easier to notice that crack in the wall or the chip in the tile when there is nothing else to look at. Home staging highlights the positive aspects of a home while de-emphasizing negative aspects in order to position a home to make an emotional connection with buyers.
Few Home Buyers Can Actually Visualize the Potential of Home
Nine out of ten people walking into your home can’t imagion the wonderful possibilities your home has to offer them. They just can’t picture it. Don’t let a simple thing like no furniture or poor placement ruin your sale. Don’t take those odds; they will hurt you in the price significantly!
Vacancy Rate is at All-Time High
According to the Census Bureau the vacancy rate of homes is at the highest level since they started tracking it 40 years ago! Homes that have been professionally staged sell on average in up to 80% less time and for 5-10% more money.
A coat of paint, adding a bed and night stands, and this bedroom is warm and welcoming. If you are thinking of selling your Rockland County NY home, call The Staging Prince before you list it. We will help take the guesswork out of getting your home ready for sale: (845) 875-4561.
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Five Key Strategies to SELL Your Home
February 1, 2008
1. Have Your Home Professionally Staged – According to the National Association of Realtors, the average home staging investment is between 1 and 3 percent of the home’s asking price, which can generates a return of 5 to 10 percent when you sell. For a home valued at $400,000, spending $4000 can generate a return of $20,000 to $40,000! Even spending $2000 on the simplest upgrades may help you sell your home in half the time of an unstaged home, which will save you money in mortgage payments, taxes and utilities. In today’s competitive market, having your home staged by an expert who does this for a living is imperative.
2. Invest in Cosmetic Improvements and Repairs NOW! – According to a 2005/2006 Maritz Research Poll, 79% of sellers are willing to spend up to $5000 to get their house ready for sale. In this much more competitive market, it is critical for sellers to hire a professional home staging consultant if they are serious about selling their home!
Don’t guess at where to spend your money. Use a trained professional who is experienced at stretching your dollar for maximum impact and return! According to that same Maritz Research Poll, 63% of buyers were willing to pay more money for a home that is “move-in ready”. Buyers don’t want to purchase a “Honey Do” list. If your house isn’t move-in ready, they’ll buy someone else’s.
3. Price Right from the Start – Make sure you price your house right instead of shooting high. When a home is newly listed, there is an introductory buzz among agents and home buyers, so take advantage of the new listing buzz by pricing right. A National Association of Realtors survey found that the longer a home stays on the market, the more it costs in ownership expenses and the further below list price it drops. Homes that sold in the first 4 weeks averaged 1% more than the list price; 4 to 12 weeks averaged 5% less; 13 to 24 weeks averaged 6.4% less than list price; and 24 weeks averaged more than 10% less than list price.
4. Strong Internet Presentation – According to the National Association of Realtors, over 85% of home buyers use the Internet to view properties, most viewing listings before considering a visit to the home and others reviewing homes they’ve visited. Isn’t it amazing that there are still listings on Realtor.com that have only a single photo or no photo altogether? And that there are dark photos and photos clearly showing cluttered rooms? Home sellers need to wake-up to the outside marketing efforts done by their agents and insist on a strong Internet presentation if they expect any buyer traffic! A professional home staging consultant can work with your agent to provide top-notch photos and a virtual tour that shows your home in its best light.
5. Consider an Increased Buyer’s Agent Incentive - This is a strategy for a market with a glut of homes. While sellers often try to save money on a real estate commission, there is a way to use the commission to your advantage in a competitive market. Generally the seller’s agent will split the commission on sale with the buyer’s agent. Sometimes it pays to incentivize buyer’s agents to bring buyers to your home by raising the total commission by .5 or 1% and directing the extra amount to be paid to the buyer’s agent. Think about it. Agents have many choices as to what they will show their clients. Wouldn’t an agent want buyers to see a move-in ready, professionally staged home that also offered a nice commission incentive?
These strategies take time, money and energy but no one said selling your home was easy in a buyers’ market. Don’t waste time “waiting for the right buyer”. Use these five marketing strategies to sell your home faster. Call The Staging Prince, a homeowners’ consultant, for information and advice: 845-875-4561.
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Tips for selling your Rockland County NY Home
January 18, 2008
The spring real estate season is just around the corner for Rockland County homeowners. It may seem like the depth of winter, but before you know it the flowers will be in bloom and the real estate market will be in full swing. Now is the perfect time to start thinking about getting your home ready for sale.
Taking care of minor renovations early will ensure that your home is ready to be photographed and ready to be listed. Here are some helpful home staging tips to consider before listing your home for sale.
- Declutter - Clutter eats equity! It is important to get your home as streamlined as possible. Potential buyers want to be able to view the floor plan and architecture, not your distracting treasures. Take a few days and pack things that will detract from your home.
- Neutralize - Bold colored walls, floral wall paper, stylized rooms may be perfect for your personality but they do not have universal appeal. You do not want buyers to remember your home for its quirky decorating – the house should be the star. Neutral colors have a broader appeal.
- Sniff test - Your home should not have any identifiable odors from pets, food or mildew. It is important to address these problems now, trying to cover them with deodorizers is never the answer.
- Emotional Connections – Now that your home is decluttered and neutral it is time to add those homey touches that will make buyers fall in love with the home.
It is best to hire a professional home stager to assist you with this process. It is hard to take an objective look at your own home. Buyers today are savvy and their expectations are high. Staging your home will ensure that it is in show condition and that you get top dollar when selling.
Call The Staging Prince today for a professional consultation to take the guesswork out of getting your home ready for sale. (845) 875-4561.
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A total home transformation.
December 25, 2007
In today’s competitive market homeowners are faced with some unsettling choices. Homes are sitting for months without any buyer interest. Homeowners can undercut the value of their home or choose a more proactive approach with Home Staging. Home Staging is the process of getting your Rockland County NY home ready for sale by a professional who has been trained in professional home staging techniques.
Often homeowners know that something needs to be done but they are not sure where to start or how to proceed. Realtors will give the owners feedback that may not be positive, but offer no suggestions for enhancing the property. This leaves everyone feeling frustrated.
The Staging Prince offers easy and affordable staging solutions. Typically in Rockland County NY and Bergen County NJ the homes were built in the early 1960’s and remodeled in the late 70’s or early 80’s. These homes are stuck in decorating time warp of avocado appliances, dark paneling and shag carpet. The good news is that the fixes may not be as costly as you thing and the transformations are just the thing to get your home sold for top dollar.
At The Staging Prince we partner with local contractors to help homeowners complete their staging transformations as inexpensively as possible and in a timely manner. We work with electricians, painters, flooring contractors and cleaning services. We will help you plan out and complete the work necessary to update the look of your home.
Consider the following home transformation. The homeowners invested $5000 in renovations and will hopefully increase the value of their home by 6%. That is a large return on their initial investment.
Call The Staging Prince today to take the guesswork out of getting your home ready for sale: (845) 875-4561.
Can home staging help you sell your home?
September 4, 2007
What is Home Staging?
- Preparing a home prior to sale.
- The goal of staging is to sell a home quickly and for the most money possible by appealing to the broadest market of potential home buyers.
- Decluttering is just a tiny piece of staging. Staging is making a home appeal to buyers through needed repairs, upgrades, updates, cleaning, depersonalizing and rearranging furnishings.
What are the Benefits of Staging?
- According to research homes that have been staged sell in 50% less time.
- Staged homes sell for 6.3% more money.
- Homes that have been staged look better online which leads to increased traffic.
When Should a Home be Staged?
- Ideally, homes should be staged prior to going on the market and before the MSL listing photos.
- Staging works best before the first open house – it is hard to recapture that “new to the market” buzz.
- Will home staging help an older listing? Absolutely – it is never too late to stage a home.
When you are thinking of putting your Rockland County NY, Bergen County NJ or Hudson Valley home on the market, call The Staging Prince at 845-875-4561 for a professional consultation before you list. We can help you take the guesswork out of getting your home ready for sale.
How Can We Help Realtors in Rockland County NY and Bergen County NJ?
August 12, 2007
Home staging is the process of getting a home ready for sale. Staging is an inexpensive but proven process for maximizing a home’s resale value. We employ our creativity and expertise to professionally prepare each home for sale. In Rockland County’s competitive real estate market, it is imperative to make the home immediately attractive to potential buyers.
Benefits of Staging
Staged homes spend 50% less time on the market.
Studies have shown that Staged homes sell for 6.3% more money.
Staged homes show better on MLS which drives more traffic to the home.
Agents that offer Staging as part of their listing package attract more clients.
According to the National Association of Realtors there are more homes currently on the market than there have been in the last ten years. Realtors need to help their clients make their homes stand out in this competitive market.
Staged Home Advantage
In real estate there are four major contributing factors in any real estate transaction. You must consider the market, location, condition and price. You do not have control over the market or the location of the home, but you can improve the condition to maximize the sale price. Homeowners need to make their home memorable. It has been said that buyers make up their mind about a home within the first 15 seconds.
Home buyers have many choices and are often visiting dozens of homes before settling on the right one. We make those initial impressions count.
When To Stage
Every home can benefit from Professional Home Staging regardless of price or location. For maximum benefit you should have your home staged prior to putting it on the market. Stage it, List it, Sell it. According to the National Association of Realtors the longer a home remains on the market the lower the selling price will be. It is best to make the right first impression from the beginning. If your home has been on the market without offers The Staging Prince offers a home evaluation to identify barriers to sale.
Home Staging Costs
You don’t spend money on home staging, you invest in it. Having a home professionally staged results in less time in the market and increased sales price. We specialize in inexpensive transformations for the Rockland County homeowner.
The Real Estate Trifecta
July 8, 2007
In today’s competitive real estate market Rockland County NY and Bergen County NJ homeowners need to be savvy in order to get the greatest returns on their investment. For most people the sale of their home is the largest financial transaction they will ever undertake. Homeowners should not leave their fate up to change. I think a lot of people spin the wheel and let fortune decide their fate, but their is a better way. I call it the Real Estate Trifecta.
The components of the Trifecta are simple:
- Home Staging
- Fantastic agent
- Professional photography / web presence
With these three components in alignment success will surely be the outcome.
Stage it, List it, Show it, Sell it!
Lets take a moment to go through each element:
Home Staging:
Home staging is the process of getting a home ready for sale. Statistics show that homes that have been professionally staged sell for up to 6.3% more and spend 50% less time on the market. Home Staging is an inexpensive but proven process for maximizing a home’s resale value. Home Stagers employ creativity and expertise to professionally prepare a home for sale. For the best results the home staging should be competed prior to the first showing of the home.
Fantastic Agent:
It has been said that if you don’t have a friend that is a real estate agent, then you must not have many friends. With so many agents out there finding the right one is critical. Real estate transactions are complicated, and if you’re like most home owner, all your greatest assets is on the line. But all real estate agents aren’t created equal. It is important to interview several agents and ask a lot of questions. You can research agents online to help narrow down your search. It is also helpful to ask family and friends that have recently sold for a recommendation. It is important to trust your agent and have similar goals for the marketing of your home. Please contact me if you would like me to refer you to a Realtor in Rockland County NY or Bergen County NJ. I would be happy to help you narrow down your choices.
Professional photography / web presence
The National Association of Realtors reports that more than 80% of home buyers are starting their search online so beautiful pictures or virtual tours can really drive traffic to your home. With so many homes on the market today buyers are narrowing their search down using the photos and virtual tours posted online. Your home may show beautifully, but if the listing photos do now reflect that then buyers may not get the chance to view it in person.
What is your home telling people?
June 27, 2007
The first time potential home buyers encounter your home will most likely be on the internet. Your listing photos are critical to the speedy sale of your home. 85% of home buyers are beginning their search on the internet – the listing photos must be able to prompt home buyers to pick up the phone and call their agent to view the home.
With so many homes on the market in Rockland County NY and Bergen County NJ today listing photos are more important than ever. Home buyers can only see a limited number of homes in a day and they will make those determinations by viewing the listing photos.
So what is your home telling people? Are your listing photos showing beautifully staged rooms and inviting spaces or is your home telling people to go away?
The best thing you can do before listing your home is to have it professionally staged so they it will photography and show well. Now it is time to find a real estate agent. Check out the agent’s current listings. Are the homes photographed well or are the shots dark and blurry? Does the agent offer virtual tours for their listings. Contact several agents and interview them – many will pay for Professional Home Staging services, professional photography and virtual tours as part of their listing package.
If you are ready to begin your real estate journey, contact The Staging Prince first. We will help you navigate the stressful and often confusing world of real estate.
Selling your home in Rockland County NY – Think Curb Appeal!
May 24, 2007
The first thing potential buyers see when they drive by your home is the exterior. It is critical that the home have great curb appeal. There are more homes on the market now than there have been in the past 10 years. How are you making your home stand out?
According to the National Association of Realtors 85% of home buyers begin their real estate search on the Internet. 60% will drive by a home. When potential buyers drive by your home are they impressed? What does your home’s exterior say about the property?
Pretend you don’t live there – drive up to the house the way a home buyer would – now would you want to live there? Does the homes curb appeal pique your curiosity enough to pick up the phone and call a real estate agent to schedule an appointment?
Getting the outside of a Rockland County Home ready for sale is crucial in the Home Staging process. Follow these simple steps to get your in show condition.
- Make sure grass is in good condition and neatly trimmed. For tips on getting a nice green lawn you can refer to the tips from the Scotts company. read more
- Trim trees and shrubs so that the garden does not look overgrown
- Make sure the walkway and driveway are in good repair. Sealing the driveway will make the home appear well cared for.
- Power wash the exterior of the home and the windows.
- Plant, plant, plant! Colorful plantings will give the home that warm cheery felling that will draw buyers in.
- A new layer of mulch will make garden beds look fresh and prevent weeds from spoiling the look of your garden.
- Purchase a new doormat.
- Keep the yard free from gardening tools and children’s toys.
Remember the exterior of the home is the first thing potential buyers will see when they visit your home. It will set the tone for the entire visit. Follow these simple steps to boost your home’s curb appeal.
Ask your real estate agent or realtor for feedback on the appearance of the home.
If you need any help getting your home ready for sale, call The Staging Prince. We take the guesswork out of getting our home ready for sale.