Sunday, June 28, 2009

Sell Your Home for More by Home Staging

By Joyce Kelly

Homeowners wanting to sell their home are in for some good news as many real estate markets are showing signs of rebound. For example, Denver, Colorado is one such market that is seeing homes in the $100,000-$300,000 range sell quickly and for more than expected. However, despite these positive trends, sellers remain cautious and competition is tough, especially since foreclosed properties continue to saturate most markets.

One way to maintain the competitive edge, increase the desirability of your home and set it up for a quick sale is to have your home professionally staged. The main idea behind staging is that it depersonalizes the style of the home so it appeals to a more broad range of buyers. You want a prospective buyer to picture himself living in the home.

Studies show that homes that have been professionally staged are sold more quickly and for more money than homes that have not been staged. However, home owners are still reluctant to use this sales strategy, for a number of reasons.

1. It will cost too much. The cost of staging your home will vary. Since the goal to staging your home is to accentuate its best features and minimize its worst, a home that is already in great shape will cost less to professionally stage. Most staging companies will give you a consultation and estimate as to what it will cost, and many can arrange payment options that will work for your situation.

2. It will be too difficult. The reality is that home staging can be as simple as de-cluttering your home or rearranging or updating accessories. It can also be as complex as updating every single room. Luckily, the latter is hardly ever necessary; you can often achieve excellent results by highlighting a few key rooms or areas such as kitchens, bathrooms or the master bedroom. A key factor is to de-clutter the entire house, in order to best display your homes unique qualities.

3. It will be too time consuming. The truth is that even the most complicated staging projects rarely takes more than a week, and the average time spent is one to three days.

The housing market continues to be tough, and houses competing with bargain priced bank owned properties need as much help as they can get. Having your home professionally staged may be the added bonus you need to get a favorable price for your home.

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