{"id":18007,"date":"2015-10-06T14:21:44","date_gmt":"2015-10-06T18:21:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.saratoga.com\/saratogabusinessjournal\/2015\/10\/business-report-a-staged-property-is-a-sold-property.html"},"modified":"2015-10-06T14:21:44","modified_gmt":"2015-10-06T18:21:44","slug":"business-report-a-staged-property-is-a-sold-property","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.saratoga.com\/saratogabusinessjournal\/2015\/10\/business-report-a-staged-property-is-a-sold-property\/","title":{"rendered":"Business Report: A Staged Property Is A Sold Property"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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\n<\/div>\n
Annie Schwarz is a Saratoga Springs-based interior designer and home stager\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
BY ANNIE SCHWARZ<\/p>\n
No matter what’s happening to the real \nestate market, when it comes time to sell your \nhome or commercial property, there are two \nsimple rules to follow to assure a quick sale.<\/p>\n
Price it well with the assistance of a good real \nestate agent, and make it look amazing with \nthe assistance of a professional home stager.<\/p>\n
One of the costliest mistakes made by \nhome sellers, and also inexperienced real \nestate agents, is to ignore the visual psychology \ninvolved in gaining a buyer’s immediate \nattention. Staging is all about creating a space \nthat makes buyers connect emotionally to it.<\/p>\n
Just like a product in the store, the better it’s \npackaged the more desirable it becomes and \nthe more people are willing to pay for it. When \nsomeone sees a beautifully staged home, they \nimmediately equate that with higher value. \nNew home builders learned a long time ago \nthat model homes sell their houses.<\/p>\n
Home Stagers market the house from the \ninside and real estate agents market the house \nform the outside. Both services are essential to \na seller that wants to sell at the highest price \npossible.<\/p>\n
Homeowners are not able to be impartial \nabout their belongings. Homeowners get used \nto their furniture and accessories being laid out \nin a particular way and often it takes a fresh \npair of eyes to see how it could be rearranged \nto create a more inviting, light and airy space.<\/p>\n
A home stager will be that neutral party \nwho can make the most effective decisions \nto bring out the best features of your home.<\/p>\n
They are not emotionally attached to your personal \nbelongings so this enables them to work \nquickly. They do not get bogged down with the \ntrip down memory lane, a hurdle which often \nparalyzes homeowners when sorting out their \nbelongings.<\/p>\n
Staging can be a deal maker and sell a property \nfor the best price in the shortest amount \nof time. National statistics say a staged home \nusually sells within a month and a half and \nwill dramatically increase the opportunity to \nsell at a much higher profit.<\/p>\n
Trying to wait and see how it sells on its \nown is one of the worst mistakes a seller can \nmake. Home staging can certainly be done \nmonths into it if it doesn’t sell, but doing it \nfrom the beginning is always the best rule of \nthumb. Having a property on the market for \nan extended period of time is never a good \nselling feature.<\/p>\n
A home stager attends to what needs to be \nrearranged, repaired, removed, and repainted. \nDated can sometimes equate as neglect. If \nyou’ve chosen to overlook torn carpeting or \ndamaged walls, now is the time to set things right – buyers won’t be attracted to a poorly \nmaintained home, and will doubt that it’s only \non the surface. They think, if the tile is cracked, \nmaybe the roof leaks. If you’re selling a dated \nhome, it’s well worth the expense to make some \nupdates to sell it at the highest price.<\/p>\n
Maybe you’re moving because your family \nhas outgrown the house. Fine, but if there’s evidence \nin every room like closets jammed to the \nmax, and vanities piled with extra clothes, then \nyou’re immediately telling buyers ‘this house \nis too small, and doesn’t offer enough storage.<\/p>\n
Realize that buyers respond to clean, well \nlaid out spaces. And, the added touches of fresh \ncut flowers, pretty throw pillows, fresh towels \nin the bathrooms, nice bedding and soft music \nplaying in the background are pleasant additions \nthat convey the message that someone \nprepared for your visit.<\/p>\n
Also, because a potential buyer wants to \nenvision it as their home not your home, it’s \nvery important to remove all personal pictures, \nreligious items or moody artwork. The more \nyou can appeal to all buyers, the better. Hotel \nrooms have been doing this for years.<\/p>\n
The best way to think of it is you have to \npack anyway, so start packing before the first \nshowing. Less is more when it comes to staging \na house. People want to see the house not the \nstuff. And, when they do see your stuff, they \nwant it to be nice or they’ll devalue the house \nin their mind.<\/p>\n
However, selling a vacant house is the kiss \nof death. A stager will help you do a partial \nstaging you so people can still see familiar \nitems in the rooms to help them realize their \nfurniture will fit and the space will function \nwell for their family. It’s best to contact a stager \nbefore you move so you can leave key pieces \nand accessories behind to avoid additional \nexpenses of renting furniture.<\/p>\n
In order for a buyer to even consider looking \nat the inside of your home, they must first be \nimpressed by the exterior’s condition or what’s \ncommonly known as curb appeal. Make sure \nthat the lawn is neatly mowed and unsightly \nbranches removed and bushes are trimmed. \nWeather appropriate plants added for color \nand beauty are a huge plus.<\/p>\n
If you have a dog, make sure there is no \nevidence of your buddy on your lawn or in your \nhouse. Although we love our pets, don’t expect a potential buyer to feel the same way, it’s best \nto remove them and their toys for all showings.<\/p>\n
Using a home stager is not expensive. Most \nhomes can be staged between $350-$800. \nCompare spending that up front and having \nit show well from the beginning, to having to \ndrop the price by tens of thousands of dollars \nif the home is not selling several months in to \nthe process. There is just no comparison. You \ncan’t afford not to stage it.<\/p>\n
Similar staging principals are recommended \nfor selling a commercial property. You want \nthe building to convey a positive impression \nas soon as people enter the building. Potential \nbuyers want a building that is move-in ready, \nand are likely to be turned off if they feel a \ngreat deal of cleanup or repairs are needed \nbefore they can begin operations.<\/p>\n
Unique architectural features of your commercial \nbuilding should not be overlooked. \nThese special features could be what sets your \nproperty apart from others, and could mean a \nmuch higher rental or sale price. Fine woodwork \nor flooring is very desirable and good \nlighting is also an important benefit when \npeople are searching for commercial spaces.<\/p>\n
Just like in the home, by staging office furniture \nin the right way, potential buyers will be \nable to envision themselves setting up shop in \nyour space rather than looking at a vast open \narea and wondering what they would do with \nit. It also adds to the notion that your building \nis move-in ready, making it more likely \nthey’ll consider your property for their needs \nover others.<\/p>\n
For showing large commercial spaces, using \na free online architectural program can show \nthe potential of a space by presenting a couple \n3D models to a perspective buyer or renter \non how the space may suit their needs. This \ncan go a long way to help them envision their \nbusiness in a large open space. Going this extra \nmile to sell a commercial property can be very \nprofitable in the long run.<\/p>\n
The bottom line, is people don’t want to \nwork so hard to buy a property and they want \nto feel that the person before them took care \nof what they are about to purchase with their \nlife savings.<\/p>\n
Schwarz is an interior designer and home \nstager and owner of Interior Harmony, Saratoga \nSprings.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Annie Schwarz is a Saratoga Springs-based interior designer and home stagerBY ANNIE SCHWARZ No matter what’s happening to the real estate market, when it comes time to sell your home or commercial property, there are two simple rules to…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":121,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[58,108],"class_list":["post-18007","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-business-reports","tag-business-reports","tag-real-estate"],"yoast_head":"\r\n
Business Report: A Staged Property Is A Sold Property - Saratoga Business Journal<\/title>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\r\n