MRoseSellsNJHomes

I am currently in the process of helping my sister prepare her home for the market.  She has a beautiful home.  She is an HGTV junkie.  Her décor, her taste in accessories and home furnishings, and her design sense always get rave reviews from guests.

So why does she need to stage?

Because her home was not decorated for the buyer-- it was decorated for her.  Everything was done to her specific taste and according to what made her feel comfortable. 

Compliments from guests do not always translate into offers from buyers.  Guests may be saying, "What a beautiful home!" but silently thinking, "But not for me."  Studies have shown that a whopping 90% of homebuyers cannot envision themselves in a home if the décor is not to their taste.  Staging does the "envisioning" for them so they can see themselves living there.

It is very difficult to stage your own home because everything is so personal to you.  Know your limitations.  I have seen some people effectively stage their own homes without hiring a professional.  In the same way people hire contractors, electricians, or landscapers, if you can do it yourself, that's great, if not, hire a professional.

We are having lots of fun re-designing my sister's house so that it shows better for the market.  It's interesting to see her home become staged.  It's no longer her home, it's her most valuable commodity that needs to be marketed and sold for the most profit she can make.  And all her personal decorations, mementos, souvenirs, and photos?  They're being carefully packed away for her new home.