The concept of “stage, then sell” is one of the most important philosophies embraced by the real estate marketing sector. If I had to choose just a single piece of advice to give any prospective property seller, it would be this very one:
First stage the property, then list it to sell.
So many sellers make the mistake of listing the property first, then staging it at some point after the sale’s process has already commenced. This strategy never nets the type of exemplary results achieved by pre-staged properties. Worse still, some sellers do not utilize staging at all and prefer to list their house and show it in “lived-in” condition.
This essay details one of the most valuable of all staging concepts. We will explain why it is crucial to stage properties before placing them on the open real estate market and why staging should be one of the first objectives accomplished before even contacting a real estate agent.
What Does Stage, Then Sell Mean?
Staging means to prepare the home for sale by enhancing its aesthetic appeal to the widest possible target buyer demographic. In essence, we are talking about making the residence more desirable to the type of person that is likely to purchase it.
Staging, then selling, means that the property enhancement must be completed before even starting the actual sale process. The home should be perfect before it is ever seen by a prospective listing agent. If staging is to be performed, it should be a first priority and near the top of the list of considerations that need completion when preparing the residence to become a marketable commodity.
Why is it Important to Stage Before Selling?
Staging first is vital for sales success. There are many reasons why staging should be completed in advance of any other sales efforts, including all of the following factors:
Staging will create a perfect décor, an idyllic flow and beautiful curb appeal in any home. These factors will all impress real estate agents and statistically lead to considerably higher asking prices when the home is listed. Meanwhile, not staging will compel a real estate professional to see the property through the eyes of a disappointed prospective buyer, forcing them to lower the proposed asking price before the sales process even begins in earnest.
Staging in advance of listing allows for truly magnificent media portrayals of the residence in marketing advertisements, including photos, videos and virtual tours. Shouldn’t the home look its very best when being photographed or recorded to attract prospective buyers? I am always shocked by the abysmal quality of many real estate photos and the unsanitary conditions of some the homes depicted.
A staged property will delight buyers from the very first showing. This will immediately set the tone for a short and successful sale process. Being that buyers will immediately love the residence, they will be more inclined to place quick offers, since they will fear losing the property if they decide to wait.
More importantly, a fully staged property will delight buyers’ real estate agents, who will spread the hype about a remarkable new listing hitting the market. Once agents get the word out about a perfect home, it is not going to take long for buyers to swoop in and claim it for their very own, by making numerous lucrative offers.
Stage, Then Sell Recommendations
Many sellers have a “wait and see” attitude about home staging. They figure that they can always do it later if the property does not sell immediately. Some of these clueless homeowners do not even bother to straighten up or clean before taking pictures and inviting prospective buyers into their homes. I am embarrassed for them. The real estate agents that allow this callousness should be arduously avoided. By trying not to insult their listing client, they are doing a disservice to the seller, the buyer and the industry as a whole.
The reality is that these mediocre properties rarely sell, even if they are eventually staged. When they do sell, they go for far less money than could have been earned. In fact, recent statistics show up to a 20% loss in net profit from marketing unstaged homes. If the home is eventually staged, after many failed attempts at showing it, it may be too late. Buyers and many agents have already been disappointed and have spread the word that this property is just not at all desirable.
The listing agent is likely to place pressure on the homeowner to reduce the price, on top of having to invest more money to make the house presentable. Add to this burden the waste of time showing the house unstaged, and the considerable costs of home maintenance during this unproductive process, and it is obvious why staging should have been completed in advance of all these expensive mistakes.
In summary, do not take chances with such a valuable investment. Maximize monetary return by staging the residence before listing it and get that house or apartment sold quickly, with less stress and for optimal profitability.
