First impressions have always been important in real estate, but in a fast-paced, visual real estate market, how a home is presented makes all the difference. Buyers aren’t just going to see a home and examine its size and location; they want to visualize living in that property. That’s why home staging has become one of the most powerful tools sellers today have to appeal to both buyer interest and house price—especially those who need a fast sale in Minnesota.
According to national surveys of real estate professionals, staging is a proven asset. More than 80 percent of buyers' agents say that staging helps to make it easier for people to imagine a property as a future home. In all these numbers—nearly one in five agents claim that staged homes give offers between one and five percent more than similar unstaged ones. But at the same time it is hard not to admire the results. At the lower end, that difference may mean thousands more dollars at closing when you are selling a home. When a room is warm and welcoming and serves its purpose, it resonates in ways that bare walls and vacant spaces cannot. Some rooms don’t resonate equally strongly in the buyer’s imagination. The living room is still the most important to stage, with 37% of agents ranking it as the most appealing, according to research. The primary bedroom is second at 34%, followed by the kitchen in third place at 23%. These results show that buyers seem to like to concentrate on the center of daily life—where they relax, sleep, and cook. If those spaces are inviting, buyers are much more likely to create a positive emotional investment in the property.
But staging isn’t limited to furniture and décor. In the digital age of searching for a home, most of the work starts online, and photos are still the most important piece of a listing. A stunningly staged home, shown in high-quality images or online in a virtual tour, is enough to create intrigue before a buyer moves inside. By contrast, poor photography or poorly designed rooms can deter buyers from making a booking before they even schedule a showing. To sellers’ agents, staging is an investment, not a luxury. The average cost to hire a professional staging service is about $1,500; agents who perform the task themselves usually spend somewhere near $500.
Curiously, cultural factors apply too—buyers want their homes to be just as attractive as the ones they see on television. But staging a home exactly like a reality show set is not practical (or desirable) either, highlighting just how high buyers’ demands have risen. Many buyers are disappointed with a property if it doesn’t match that sleek, styled look they see on the TV screen. It is a fact that is all the more critical for the sellers to fill in the disparity between day-to-day life and aspirational look. It also shows that market entry comes with expectations of the buyers. At the end of the day, the majority are already fairly certain about what type of home they want and where they want to live. So many people assume they will see about twenty homes online and many in reality before deciding. And in this environment, first impressions matter more than ever, as sellers contend not only with other homes in the neighborhood but with any listing a buyer can scroll through on their phone or laptop. At bottom, staging encompasses more than decoration. It is all about creating the type of atmosphere where buyers can picture their lives playing out—family dinners in the dining room, cozy evenings in the living room, mornings in the kitchen. The small details, from a strategically placed lamp to a neat, neutral paint color, can tip the scales in favor of one house over another.
At Homestead Road we do value presentation, but we're also very cognizant that staging is time- and money- and energy-consuming... which many homeowners don't have. That’s why we simplify selling by buying homes as-is. No furniture issues, décor details, or expensive upgrades you need to worry about. If you're about to sell, ready to move on, and don’t want to need an expensive approach for staging, Homestead Road provides a fair cash offer and takes care of everything. As staging may support sales to many; but with us, you know, the entire lot can be avoided and you can continue with confidence.
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