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| The homeowner who is preparing their home so they can put it on the market might want to consider contacting a professional who has experience in staging homes to sell. Preparing a home to put on the market has always been a time-consuming project, but the housing market today has made the process even more demanding. It has also made staging your home even more valuable. Whether consulting an interior designer, a real estate agent, or other professionals such as those specializing in one-day makeovers, the goal is to develop a home visual vista that allows the prospective buyers to see themselves living in the home. Professional advice can help the seller accomplish this goal. An unbiased approach to the visual setting of the home can help because the home becomes a personal environment to the homeowner. He or she surrounds themselves with a décor and design techniques that please them and make them feel comfortable. The homeowner may even become upset or offended if prospective buyers do not appreciate their design or style. Gaining professional advice can help make the change less personal for the seller who feels like they are losing part of themselves through the sale of their home. It can be a win-win situation for both the former and the new homeowner. The “less is more” theory of design is in fashion in today’s design market, and this theory works well for staging a home to sell. Both the visual and physical progression of movement into the home should be open and inviting. A good first impression of the interior environment is important because it will be hard to change it once it has been formed. The select appointments to be arranged to set this environment will be different in each space in a home, and they will certainly be different in the individual space plan of each home. The living room, family room, and areas that family and guests use frequently are the first areas that should be staged with functional furniture appointments. A professional will need to know the moving plans and the homeowner’s situation in general. Will the family be moving before the home staging occurs, or when the home goes on the market? Will they take their major home furnishings to their new home, or will the day-to-day living environment need to be maintained? If the day-to-day living environment is to be maintained, the professional may suggest putting essential accessories and other selected items into storage. Beautiful but very personal items may prove to be a visual block as the prospective new owner attempts to see themselves and their possessions in the home. When homeowners are already in the process of moving because of a job change or because their new home’s construction is complete, the question will be whether or not to leave select pieces in the home that is being sold. The functional pieces for the individual spaces, such as a few seating pieces in the living room and a bed for the master bedroom, will give the new buyer a feel for how the space functions and flows. Every situation is different, so decisions need to be made to accommodate the individuals involved. Maybe the homeowner would like to sell select items with the house because they were custom-designed for the overall décor, while other items are antiques or personal items that are to be moved or put into storage. The professional who is doing the staging can plan and arrange the items the homeowner is willing to leave in the home until it is sold. If there aren’t any home furnishings that will remain in the home, arrangements may need to be made to give the staged environment a lived-in appearance. One option might be to rent a few key room appointments. Decisions need to be made in relation to the seller’s budget and how much they are willing to invest to stage the home. Depending on the situation of the home’s seller, the professional interior designer or staging consultant can recommend and help the homeowner select a storage company or a company that rents home appointments to provide the right mix of a lived-in environment that still allows the buyer to visualize their own personal belongings in it. Setting this visual environment in the home for sale can make a difference and be worth the time and monetary investment involved when working with an experienced professional. The street’s façade is important to buyers when they are looking for a home. How many friends or family members do you know who have gone out on a Sunday afternoon to drive around and look at the street façade of the homes in a neighborhood? The outside vista can encourage or discourage a new buyer from looking any further. The professional who has been selected to help with the home’s interior environment should be able to advise the seller on ways to make the exterior environment of their home more marketable. The professional may also work with a landscape specialist who can offer design advice and/or services. Living environments both inside and outside of the home are important to today’s family living style. When selecting a professional to help sell a home, whether it be an interior designer, a real estate consultant, a landscape specialist, or other consultants, communication among the individuals selling the home and the professional is key to success. The professional needs to be aware of what services the seller is looking for, whether it is a few hours of arranging and suggesting packing ideas, or a complete service that involves arranging and supervising short-term storage or renting. Editor’s Note: Janet is a member of ASID (American Society of Interior Designers), and is NCIDQ (National Council for Interior Design Qualification)-certified. She has been an interior design educator for 35 years, and has owned an interior design business for 23 years. |
Staging Your Home When Selling |
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