Top 10 Home Staging Myths

If you have never hired a professional home stager, you may be wondering what exactly it's all about. You've seen it on all the great real estate television shows, but it's probably too expensive, and isn't meant for your type of house, right? WRONG! Home Staging refers to the entire process of preparing a home for sale, ANY home for sale, and professional home stagers are working with homeowners just like you every day. Here we dispel the top 10 myths about Home Staging


1.  Home Staging is Expensive

Absolutely not! A trained professional stager is skilled at maximizing your budget, whatever it is. When preparing your home for sale, it’s a good idea to plan to spend some money to get your home move-in ready. With the recommendations of a professional home stager, often your largest investment is your time. Accessory and other staging packages vary by stager, but BTSH offers no minimum rentals (with our Home Staging Consultations).

Did you know? Your buyers are actively looking for a move-in ready home, and 63% of home buyers are willing to pay more for a move-in ready home!

2.  A home stager will tell me to remove everything that I have and replace with new stuff

A professional home stager will not recommend adding or removing anything unless they believe that it will contribute positively towards the sale of the house, and will do their best to work with your items wherever possible to achieve the desired results. Often, re-arranging of what you already have can work wonders for improving the flow, and overall appeal of a house to potential buyers! We get it – sometimes it’s just not in the budget to invest in a large staging package.

3.  All rooms should be painted builder’s beige

When selling your home, neutrals tones are best for showing off the space, but your typical “builder’s beige” is not recommended. In fact, today’s buyers are drawn to grey tones more than browns, giving the home a more modern look and feel. Whatever you choose, ensure that you select a neutral shade, and avoid colours that are too light. By choosing a colour a little further down the colour chip, you’ll add warmth and a cozy, welcoming feel to a room.

4.  Home staging is only for vacant homes or homes with ugly carpet and wallpaper

Certainly some homes can use updating more than others, but the truth is that every home can benefit from home staging, and often a few subtle changes can make a significant difference, whether it’s re-arranging furniture, or more dramatic updates and repairs, every home is unique and requires a unique home staging plan. Yes, vacant homes can tend to sit on the market longer than occupied and furnished homes since buyers struggle to make the necessary emotional connection to these homes, But the same can be true for occupied homes that are not styled to suit the target buyer market. Home staging will help to improve the overall flow of the home, and provide the final touches that buyers will be drawn to.

5.   Home staging is a way to fool buyers

Absolutely not! In fact, it’s the complete opposite! Our goal is to provide your buyers with the home that they are looking for. As a homeowner, you are still required to disclose any major flaws of the home that you are aware of. Home staging will help to minimize minor flaws by drawing the focus to the features of the home. As a member of the Real Estate Staging Association (RESA) and the Better Business Bureau, Beyond The Stage Homes abides by a strict code of ethics.

6.  Home staging is just removing personal photos and de-cluttering

We all know that we need to declutter and remove personal items from a home before listing, but home staging helps to address so much more. A professional home stager will help to create a style plan for your home, and address where to invest your money in repairs and updates. Home staging focuses on maximizing a home’s space, lighting, flow, design and best features, not just decorating the space.

7.  It’s better to list my property first, and call a home stager if it doesn’t sell right away

Always, always, always consider your home staging options BEFORE listing the home for sale! Cliché as it may sound, you really do only get one chance to make a first impression. When your home is listed, you want to be sure that it is ready to show at it’s best, both in pictures and for showings. Any Realtor® will tell you that you get the most attention for your property listing during the first couple of weeks that it is listed – don’t miss out on these key buyers! Home staging is an investment with proven results for selling your home in less time, and for the most amount of money possible.

8.  Staging is just the latest real estate trend

Staging has actually been around since the 1970s, and is a real estate service that is as common today as home inspections!  Showing buyers that your home offers good value is always in style.

9.  Buyers can see past all of my stuff

Here’s a fun fact for you - only 10% of buyers have the ability to visualize a space! This means that only 1 in every 10 people that view your home will be able to look past your things, and see the home’s true potential. Are you willing to miss out on 90% of your potential buyers that walk through the door? Make it easy for them – show them the best way to live in the home by showing optimal furniture placement, and eliminating anything that might distract them from seeing the features of the home.

10.  Home Staging means living in a show home, and that’s just too hard for my family and I to do

A professional home stager will provide you with options and solutions to allow you to maintain the function that you need while your home is listed. In this case, you’re right, it’s not easy to live in a show home, but by implementing your home staging recommendations, you won’t have to do so for long! In addition, BTSH provides you with a detailed list and tips for getting ready for showings, and will provide creative solutions for the things you need every day.

Contact Beyond The Stage Homes today to find out how to get your property sold!

Phone: +1 (226) 240-0766
Email: info@btshomes.com
www.beyondthestagehomes.com