The REAL DEAL with Home Staging in 2009 -- Listen up HGTV!!

If you have been keeping up on the trend to HOME STAGE as a way to better market real estate properties, you may have wondered if home staging still makes sense in 2009.

Questions you ask may include:

• What if my house for sale is empty? Should I have it professionally staged?
• What can I do to create more appeal to buyers? Does staging make a difference?
• Is there another idea to help a listing sell quicker other than dropping the price? How else can I impact more buyers?

One of the newer trends in the real world of staging homes is focused on Staging the IMPACT ROOMS.

What this means is that the main living spaces are the showcased areas.

Because the economy is on everyone’s mind, I am often asked about the best way to spend wisely and incorporate the important elements of home staging. (All areas of the house do not need to be staged/furnished.)

In order to create an effective ‘Wow’ factor for buyers who view your home, staging the impact rooms of an empty house is key. Ask Realtors what they think about the difference in showing potential buyers empty houses versus those which are tastefully staged. Which ones create more traffic for the homeseller? Certainly not the empty house.

Impact staging usually includes the initial room a buyer may see as they cross the threshold into the home. Perhaps they first walk into a Living Room space and/or sometimes, a Dining Room. Whichever room is the first one you see, remember that creating a positive initial impression is all important.

By staging simply with a seating group, artwork, lighting and a few decorative items, the space is further defined to a buyer. It feels like a home. Empty rooms feel...well, empty!

The Family room and Kitchen are also two main areas where buyers want to feel ‘connected’ to when they walk through the rooms. One of the goals in staging a vacant home is to add interest and warmth to rooms which otherwise might feel rather lackluster and cold. A professional stager is knowledgeable about where to add proper furnishing placement and where to enhance with decorative touches.

Home Staging is all about creating a more appealing atmosphere so the buyers can picture themselves living in the home.

For example: Which Master Bedroom would you rather BUY (sleep in)?

(Hint: All three photos are the same room in a $700K listing!)

Whenever economically possible, I try to also include the Master Bedroom in the home staging budget. The way I see it, the buyers who are agreeing to purchase the home will be sleeping in this personal space so I want them to connect to the bedroom too!

It doesn’t have to be fully decked-out and designed….yet, the impact of beautiful linens, headboard and end tables with lighting works well together and often seals the deal! Adding few staged items in the Master Bath offers the finishing touches to the Master Suite.

The professional Real Estate Stager will know how much of a balance your IMPACT rooms will need. Real estate staging makes a difference in the buyer’s experience when viewing your home….and the difference in buyers choosing your property versus the other empty house down the street. This is the REAL DEAL in Home Staging trends for 2009 my friends!

Warmest Regards,

KATHLEEN GARVEY, National Award Winner of Stager Idol 2008.

State President of RESA-Florida

ENHANCED INTERIORS & HOME STAGING is located in the Fort Myers - Naples, Florida area. Serving real estate staging needs in the following cities: Naples. Bonita Springs, Estero, Sanibel Island, Ft. Myers, Fort Myers Beach, Cape Coral and Punta Gorda, FL. (239) 849-6009

Please visit my website: ENHANCED INTERIORS