By Johanna Wiseman
My team and I sell a wide variety of homes. Conditions vary from old to new, occupied to vacant, cluttered to sparsely furnished, and distressed to renovated. Each time my team evaluates a property, we create a plan to best prepare and market the home for sale. Home Staging is an important part of our process. Since every home is different, there are a variety of staging options available to address the property’s unique challenges and showcase its best qualities.
Traditional staging involves renting furniture and hiring movers for set-up and eventual removal. Freshly-painted rooms, new light fixtures, and window coverings are often included to elevate the final product. At a cost of several thousand dollars, this is a justifiable expense for an investor who renovates a home. Once a property has been transformed, appropriate furnishings complete the package and contribute to a sense of “must-have” for buyers. The opportunity to visualize a perfect, move-in-ready home has the potential to translate into a considerable profit.
When an occupied home needs staging, a second option is to work with the existing furniture. We advise homeowners in this situation. We help them to decide which items to pack away and remove, and how to position their furnishings to maximize the feeling of space and comfort in each room. The garage may be full of extra items, but the interior will be clean, organized, and looking its best for photos and showings. The client can do the work themselves or hire helpers.
Virtual staging is another option for vacant homes. For a minimal cost, photos of empty spaces are digitally enhanced beyond the blank walls and bare windows. We use high-quality professional photos with balanced lighting to ensure that there is no glare coming from the windows. Photos are altered to add attractive furnishings, showing how a room can be arranged for the best functionality. We pair the photos so that the actual and virtual versions are available for comparison.
Buyers appreciate a preview of how rooms can be furnished. The virtual staging improves their understanding of the size and scale of the rooms. A digital rendering of a space with an open floor plan brings order to those who are overwhelmed by too much undefined space. We have even presented photos of exterior spaces, like decks or patios, with furniture digitally placed to create an inviting outdoor oasis.
When selling your home, don’t underestimate the value of professional sale preparation for a successful outcome. If your home requires staging, we will work with you to determine an appropriate plan of action to best meet your needs.
For more information, contact Local Real Estate Expert Johanna Wiseman of RE/MAX Preferred Professionals at 908-705-0652.
