Hi Donna, Will Staging My Home REALLY Make a Difference?
This is a GREAT question. When I first got my license I would have made the argument that it didn't matter. Shame on me! Of course the market was different then, but I didn't have enough experience to truly understand the difference it would make.
My first big clue happened several years ago. We had a vacant listing on the other side of town. Our sellers had long ago moved out and they had been renting the property. It was a nice little ranch style home in a great neighborhood. Unfortunately, there was nothing outstanding about this property, plus everything was painted white! Talk about dull! (Don't forget the house was vacant too.)
We'd had the home listed for several months with good activity, but no offers. Then I started thinking, what's wrong? What are we missing? We decided to add some color ~ some furniture including a table and 4 chairs set for a meal, towels and potholders in the kitchen, towels and soaps in the bathroom, and a few items to hang on the walls. Within 2 weeks we had an offer! AMAZING!
So my answer is YES, staging your home WILL make a DIFFERENCE! For further evidence read Shar Sitter's post about home staging (click on the link). The home referenced went from dull and drab to bright and beautiful. A "night and day" difference that got the home sold! The before and after photos tell the whole story. (Shar Sitter offers home staging services in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area.)
Donna Foerster
The Foerster Team
Rocky Mountain Real Estate Advisors
720-530-5554 (cell)
