Staging Can Increase a Home’s Appeal During Bustling Spring Season

With the coming of spring, potential Bay Area home buyers will begin pounding the pavement, and homes that make a good first impression are the most likely to make the biggest impressions on eager buyers in what could be a crowd of open houses.

That’s where home staging can help.

A recent survey by National Association of Realtors’ 2015 Profile of Home Staging showed that 81 percent of homebuyers found professionally decorated properties easier to visualize as a future home. Staged homes typically sell within 30 days, according to research by The International Association of Home Staging Professionals and HomeStaging.com. Additionally, staging usually leads to a higher final sales price.

“Staging isn’t about decorating your home,” says Laney Nelson, Accredited Staging Professional stager for Walnut Creek-based East Bay Staging. “It’s about selling.”

THE BASICS AND BENEFITS OF STAGING

Stagers conduct a home assessment, examining items to be removed and refurbished, neutralizing decor to appeal to a majority of buyers, and maximizing both indoor and outdoor space to generate positive impressions of the home’s features. Replacing carpeting and flooring, painting, cleaning, landscaping, changing furniture, and even simple fixture replacements can help a property connect with buyers.

But mixing conflicting styles and accessories can put off homebuyers, according to Kelly Wood, a buyer’s specialist and a former stager. “The extremes don’t really work,” she says.

Additionally, staging and repairs offers the appearance of home upkeep, both in the real world and online, says Danielle Cirelli, owner of Walnut Creek-based staging company Designed to Sell. “Photos are an essential part of marketing because over 90 percent of the buyers will preview a property online,” she says.

Millennials, who currently make up the largest share of homebuyers, are even more likely to peruse online listings before visiting a home. Pacific Union CEO Mark A. McLaughlin stressed the importance of technology on the real estate industry in his recent Inman Select Live presentation, saying that digital strategies are geared toward users likely to “give you eight seconds.”

CONNECTING WITH A STAGING PRO

Sellers who decide that staging is the way to go will likely want to employ the services of a pro. Many expert real estate professionals offer their clients a list of recommended contacts – including architects, general contractors, and interior designers – who can help enhance a home’s appeal. Some real estate professionals provide staging services as a part of their service package. Sellers can also find a staging company through online resources such as Yelp and Angie’s List or referrals from friends and family.

Though some sellers might fret over staging expenses, it actually costs less — an average of $675, according to NAR’s study — than the first price reduction – typically at least 10 percent of asking price. And a lingering home on the market sans staging can incur additional price cuts, according to Nelson.

“Every month a home is on the market, there is a price reduction of usually 5 percent,” she says.

(Photo: Flickr/boulderite)

Article and photo sourced from http://blog.pacunion.com/spring-staging-tips/

March is a Busy Month for Buyers and Sellers. Are You Ready?

Are you ready for the springtime real estate rush?

March is one of the busiest months of the year for Northern California homebuyers and sellers, as winter recedes and families start making plans for the future. Whether you’re looking for a new home or preparing to put yours on the market, it’s important that you’re ready for busy times ahead.

BUYERS: IS YOUR PAPERWORK IN ORDER?

Homebuyers in Pacific Union’s Bay Area and Lake Tahoe/Truckee regions aren’t likely to face the frenzied competition that marked our real estate markets in recent years, but multiple offers are still routine for attractive properties.

In order to give your bid a fighting chance, you must have your paperwork ready and financing in place. Most importantly, determine how much of a down payment you can afford and how much you can spend on monthly mortgage payments.

Make notes about the features that are important to you in a new home, and do  homework on the neighborhoods that most interest you. Your real estate professional has a wealth of knowledge about local communities, including schools and nearby amenities, as well as the inside story on local homes on the market.

SELLERS: FIX IT AND CLEAN IT

A thorough spring cleaning takes on added significance when you’re preparing your home for sale. You want the house and surrounding property to shine like never before in order to quickly attract the best possible offer.

Washing windows and walls isn’t enough. Replace missing light bulbs and worn fixtures, paint dingy surfaces, and replace worn carpeting. (Some real estate professionals say painting and new carpeting are the cheapest improvements with the biggest payback.)

Get rid of clutter in your home. Prospective buyers love to open cabinets and closets, and sparsely filled storage spaces look bigger than those that are packed full. Consider renting a storage unit for items that aren’t essential to your daily life.

Some sellers keep family photos on the walls and personal mementos and heirlooms on display, thinking they help make a house look homey. But real estate professionals will tell you they’re a turn-off for buyers, who want to imagine their own belongings in place — not yours. Take them down.

Outside, the same rules of fixing and cleaning apply. Prune trees and bushes, rake the yard, and add mulch to flower beds. Perhaps the home’s exterior doesn’t need a new coat of paint, but a few hours with a power washer could make a world of a difference.

Lastly, but perhaps most importantly, sellers should determine how much money they need to get out of their home and set the sales price accordingly. Pricing is a delicate matter, though, and includes outside forces such as neighborhood dynamics and the local economy. Your real estate professional can tell you more about such matters, including pricing data for comparable homes nearby.

Spring is always an exciting season. Good luck with your real estate adventure!

(Image: Flickr/Scott Maxwell)

Article and photo sourced from:  http://blog.pacunion.com/march-is-a-busy-month-for-buyers-and-sellers-are-you-ready/