Before And After: Staging Pictures And Tips

I have a new listing this week, and I want to show you the big difference that properly staging a home can make for sellers. It’s an important step in the home-selling process. Depending on the size and what is needed, it can run from $2,000-$6,000 (or more!), and not every room needs to be staged. The other things – like painting the lava rock – cost $2,000.

If your house already has a good look, there is also accessory staging. That is when they tell you what to take out and bring in. Usually, it’s just a few things, like some bedding and pictures. They might have you do a bit of re-arranging too. In the end, I believe staged homes will sell for more money. There are different percentages that you can search, but I think the before and after pictures are worth a thousand words. See them here:

This home is located off of La Casa Via, behind John Muir and it backs up to Shell Ridge, so it’s peaceful with beautiful views. However, vacant some original fixtures and the lava rock didn’t make it pop for pictures. So, check it out once the stager was done with it. Its transformation is really breathtaking and shows up in the pictures. With no open houses, buyers have to like the home from their first look online through pictures, and professional photos make a huge difference in the lighting.

When asked why the stager recommended painting a dark brown lacquered fireplace mantel white, her response was she wanted it to blend into the background so people were not staring at the lava rock fireplace, but at the views, layout, and overall feel. That is exactly what occurred and I would like to give a big shout-out to Ashley Provost and her team for the great job they did!

Here’s what staging really does: it transforms how the home looks, which helps drive up the price quickly. It doesn’t matter how old the house is, it can always use some good staging to make it really stand out to potential buyers. Here are some tips from Better Homes and Gardens:

  1. Start Simple: A buyer’s first impression of the house is controllable. Start with the easiest task that will have the biggest impact (fresh paint, cleaning, etc.).
  2. Create Space: Remember, a buyer actually wants to see the inside of your home. So definitely space things out and de-clutter rooms before showing.
  3. Clean: Obviously, a clean home is going to attract more attention. Make your house look well-cared for.
  4. Move-In Ready: Simple repairs can go a long way to showing buyers that the house is move-in ready and there will be no to-do list right away.
  5. Envision: Neutralize the space with fresh paint so that potential buyers can envision themselves and their belongings in the house.
  6. Emotion: Remember to keep the home looking like it is comfy to live in and a great place to make memories.

If you need any other tips, feel free to reach out!

Hot Housing Market This Summer

It is unlikely the Federal Reserve will be increasing interest rates this month after a weak May job report (only 38,000 jobs created, 117,000 less than expected and the worst month for job creation in nearly six years). According to experts, the likelihood of a rate hike is down to a measly 4 percent, and that trend may carry over into July.

Thus, this summer could prove to be the hot time to buy or sell a home. In California – specifically the East Bay – selling season tends to be in the spring. Once we move into the middle of May, buyers and sellers become distracted with graduations, weddings, etc.

And once school is out everyone moves into vacation mode through mid-August, before families start getting ready for going back to school. Usually, we see an uptick in the number of homes that are on the market in the summer compared to the  the spring. With continued low rates, this summer might buck that trend with buyers out to purchase.Beautiful white, blue and beige living room.

To prepare, buyers should be pre-qualified for a mortgage before they start shopping and, ideally, desktop underwritten. It is best if buyers don’t make an offer contingent on the sale of their own home. For sellers, they should be ready to make themselves and their homes available for show. At minimum, have a staging consult done. Try to have your home staged before a showing.

 

Statistics show clean and pristine homes that are staged properly sell faster and for more money than ones that are not. Necessary improvements, such as new painting, replaced fixtures and refreshed house plants are huge for staging.

It is about getting it show and picture-worthy and keeping it neutral, not spending a lot of money on upgrades. As is the case with personal preferences, “What you think is a nice improvement is another man’s gold shag carpeting.”