Does Staging Really Help Sell Your Home?

Many people ask, "Does staging really help you sell your home"? The answer is absolutely! One of the best things about staged homes is that they sell in less time. This is great news for sellers. Research has shown that staged homes can sell as much as 40% faster than other homes on the market. They also typically sell for more money. Homes that have been sitting on the market for a long time will normally get lower offers. Buyers may begin to wonder if there is something wrong with the house.

If you are forced to move out of your house before it is sold, consider leaving some of the furnishings in the home. Even though it may be freshly painted and sparkling clean, there is something very cold about an empty house. If this is not possible, contact one of the local rental agencies and they can help you pick out some furniture and accessories for the major rooms. You do not necessarily have to furnish the entire house, and you may be surprised at how affordable it is to rent the items you need when you consider the alternative. If your house sits on the market for months and months, you will be paying two mortgages in most cases, additional utilities, insurance and lawn care to name just a few things. Careful staging can pay big dividends when it comes to getting your home sold quickly.

The primary rooms that you will want to appear to be "lived in" are the living and dining rooms, the master bedroom and all of the bathrooms. These are the rooms that essentially sell homes. If you can afford to do so, by all means do some staging in each room. There are many tips and tricks that you can use that do not cost a ton of money. You not only want to put some furniture in the house, but pay careful attention to adding accessories. Adding some accessories in the kitchen and some new fluffy towels in the bathroom will go a long way toward making these rooms inviting. You are trying to create an atmosphere of warmth and comfort so that your potential buyer can see himself living in your home. It is OK to use prints, pillows and other accessories that you already have, but be sure to remove all personal photos and anything that is of great value.

Make sure the home smells good. Houses that have been closed up can have a "stale odor". There is nothing quite like the scent of cookies or fresh flowers to catch the buyers attention. You can also use candles, potpourri or electric room air fresheners. A word of caution however when adding scents to the home. Be careful not to turn off potential buyers with overpowering fragrances. Buyers can find this offensive and they may even begin to think that you are covering something up such as pet odors.

Not only do staged homes attract more buyers, but real estate agents are eager to show homes that are staged and inviting. Once a buyer has entered your home, he will know in a matter of seconds whether or not he likes the home. You know what they say; you never get a second chance to make a good first impression! Check back for more tips on home staging.

My name is Sharon Vornholt and my partner is Debbie Vornholt. We own a company called Innovative Property Solutions, LLC. We owned and operated a successful home inspection business for over 17 years, and we have been investing in real estate for more than 10 years. It is now our full time occupation. We by distressed homes and fix them up for resale or sell them to other investors. We also keep some as rental properties. Additionally, we help folks fix their credit so that they may become homeowners one day. We are a great source for articles, e-books and general information about buying investment property. You can also find information on home maintenance and repair, how to buy a rental home, how to deal with tenants and many more topics on our website and our blog.

If you are interested in learning about buying bank owned properties (REO's) I can recommend an excellent e-book called "Flip This REO". You can find it dsvgroupsite.info/FlipThisREO/index.html by CLICKING HERE.

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