Hiring a Long Island home stager is always a good investment, since the real estate market in this desirable region of the New York Metropolitan area is fiercely competitive. In fact, staging represents an even better investment on Long Island than it does in virtually any other American market. Home staging is widely used in many Long Island neighborhoods. Although rarely seen in low budget properties, the many more expensive listings featured throughout Nassau and Suffolk counties are often professionally staged with no expense spared.
Long Island is my home and was the area where I began and developed my own staging business. Therefore, the place will always have special meaning for me and is certainly a real estate market that I know very well.
This essay examines the home staging sector in Long Island, NY.
Types of Long Island Home Stagers
There are several locally-based full service staging companies on the island. There are also many New York City-based companies that will work in Nassau and parts of Suffolk. Prices range greatly, as do the services and results offered.
However, since I started the staging consultant revolution on Long Island, many others have emulated my model and now offer consulting services for property owners who prefer to save more money by performing most of the staging work themselves. This approach to DIY staging is a great solution for home sellers who want to invest some sweat equity in order to reduce financial expense of hiring a full service firm and increase profitability from their sale.
Just be sure that whichever stager you choose can deliver an impactful design and execution to wow buyers. Now, more than ever before, if you do not captivate prospective buyers, your competition surely will. Selling for maximum dollar value can only be achieved when the home is expertly staged. Luckily, it does not require breaking the bank in order to present a cohesive and beautiful design to perspective buyers.
Long Island Home Stagers and Realtors
Ask any Long Island real estate agent for their opinion on home staging and they will unequivocally endorse it. Real estate pros know that a staged home moves much quicker and brings in higher offers than a comparable unstaged property. When you consider that a humble investment of 1 to 3 thousand dollars will go a long way in staging an average Long Island residence, the potential return is ten fold in most instances. This is certainly a nice reward for a bit of extra effort. Personally, I have staged homes where the final sales figure was 20% higher than the original asking price. This translated into ridiculously profitable returns on the staging investment and some truly ecstatic sellers.
Many real estate companies are now offering free in-house staging services with a signed listing contract. Others refer clients to an associated stager for a free consultation. I strongly recommend utilizing these offers when selecting a real estate firm to list your home. If you do not receive any type of staging from your real estate firm, be sure to at least ask them for a referral to a qualified local provider to determine if professional property enhancement is something you should pursue on your own.
Hiring a Long Island Home Stager
I no longer offer services on Long Island, as I have relocated away from the area. It was sad leaving my beloved home behind, but I know the stagers who continue to work there are well trained and expertly prepared to help homeowners for decades to come.
If you are selling a house, coop, condo or commercial property on Long Island and need some advice, feel free to contact me any time for my thoughts. I have over 20 years experience working here and will be happy to point you in the right direction for real estate or staging services. Better yet, I might just convince you to do the job yourself, in order to make the most money possible, with the least investment of capital. All it takes to make this equation work for you is the desire to invest time and hard work into what could become a financial windfall for your future.