According to a study by the National Association of REALTORS®, nearly two-thirds of real estate agents have found that staging a home helps it to sell faster.
But not all staged homes are created equal. Re-arranging a seller's current belongings or filling a space with inexpensive rentals is unlikely to help the property sell faster. In fact, the wrong furnishings could cause potential buyers to have second thoughts about whether a home is the right choice for them.
Keep reading to learn why it is important for a home's staging to reflect the value of a home.
Making Sure That the Home's Value Shines Through
There are plenty of features that set high-value homes apart from more affordable buys. There's the perfect location, high-end appliances, and additions like pools, walkouts, floor-to-ceiling windows, or other luxurious details.
But while these details might be selling points for clients, they are only a piece of the home as a whole. The rooms themselves are what matter most. Unfortunately, empty rooms with plain walls in a brand new high-end home look much the same as those in a lower-priced unit.
Making the value of a home stand out starts with filling it with furniture that's worthy of the space. Inexpensive furniture in a high-end home can leave the space looking less luxurious than it really is.
Helping Potential Buyers Imagine Themselves in the Space
Perhaps the most important reason to stage a home before it goes on the market is so that it speaks to potential buyers better.
If a home is new and hasn't been occupied, furniture helps buyers imagine what the blank slate of a house would look like as a home. If the home is lived-in, swapping out a homeowner's furniture for something that better appeals to a wider range of tastes.
The same home staging study also found that 38 percent of buyers were positively influenced by a home's furnishings, as long as they fit the buyer's taste. This means that staging a home to appeal to the most buyers is the best way to sell a house as quickly as possible--and for the highest price.
Buyers who are shopping for high-end properties expect high-end furnishings. Lower cost furniture and decor may not offer the same appeal to these buyers and could leave the space feeling less high-end as a whole.
For a home with a listing price of $1 million or more, buyers will be expecting furniture from designers like West Elm, Pottery Barn, or Restoration Hardware. For homes priced in the $250,000 to $350,000 range, brands like Ikea and Crate & Barrel might better appeal to potential buyers.
Staging a mid-range priced home properly is just as important as using high-end pieces in a more expensive home. A property filled with furnishings that may be out of reach for a buyer's budget will leave them struggling to imagine themselves making the space their own.
Staging Your Home for its Price Point
Staging a home to match its price point will help buyers better imagine themselves in the space, and allow the home's value and features to better shine through.
Whether you're a seller looking to get top dollar for your home or a Realtor helping your clients market their properties, we can help. Check out our services today to learn how a professional home staging company can help you sell your home for top dollar, fast.