home staging
show it staged to sell it fast, for more

Staging is not decorating. Nor is it fluffing, or simply decluttering and cleaning. Staging involves reorganizing, refreshing and reducing; identifying the target market; editing, merchandizing and showcasing, so that the potential buyer does not feel like a guest but rather feels at home. Both the interior and exterior of a property are important. Curb appeal is critical. A staged home draws in a buyer as it presents its best first impression. It is arranged so as to appeal to as broad a range of buyers as possible. A staged home is prepared in terms of repairs and condition so that the buyer will see no reasons to lower their offered price or go elsewhere.

Today's average home buyers are educated, savvy and in a hurry; looking for a "toothbrush house"--- plunk their toothbrush in the holder and get on with their lives.  They want a house that requires no work or changes and offers the lifestyle they desire. A buyer will form an impression of a home within the first five seconds. That may be all the time a seller has to put their home's best foot forward.

Consider the demographic realities of the current Canadian real estate market. The average first time buyer is 32 years old. The average seller on the other hand is 57. There are significant differences in how these two parties spend their money and view the world. A typical 32 year old buyer expects instant happy, has little or no cash flow, is willing to carry a big mortgage, and has no repair/ maintenence skills. Staging provides the necessary bridge between the different lifestyles of the buyer and seller.

In many cases the critical first impressions of a home are formed online. In fact 71% of people across Canada home shop online. Buyers decide from the pictures they are shown whether to view a house or not. Pictures of a staged home show the property at its best. A recent study showed that while 28% of the interior value of a home is determined by its floorplan and room sizes, a whopping 72% of its value is for how it is presented, which the seller can control.

The market will determine the price range in which a home will sell, best identified by an experienced REALTOR. Staging will ensure that the achieved price is at the top of that range. The longer a house sits on the market the less it will likely sell for. Staging will reduce the selling time.

For more examples of staging by Interiors Working For You
please check out the tab "Seeing's Believing".

Melanie Orr CSP, ASP, Acc Interior Decorator
902-223-3237
interiorsworking@ns.sympatico.ca