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Home Staging - an essential merchandising tool for resale

By: Sveta Melchuk

If you are wondering what Home Staging (or House Fluffing) is all about, here is a definition for you: MSN Encarta dictionary defines Home Staging as the act of "beautifying a home for sale: cleaning, repairing and updating the decor and furnishings of an older home to make it more attractive when shown to potential buyers."  Actually, I believe that ANY home can use some staging before being put on the market.  Remember, the way we live in a home and the way we want to sell a property are two completely different things.  When we sell a property, there is no room for emotions - after all, it's probably our biggest financial investment and, so, we want the biggest possible return on it!

The concept dates from 1970s, when a California realtor and decorator noticed that the properties she took the time to «stage» sold faster and for more money than the average.  Today, it's an important marketing/merchandizing tool in the USA (and spreading to Canada from the West) for the realtors and the home owners alike and it's especially important in a slow market, where you need every advantage over your competition.  TV shows, such as Designed to Sell and Flip that House demonstrate that a bit of effort and a small investment can transform a property and make a BIG difference at sale time!

The logic is strikingly simple:  when you decide to sell your used car, wouldn't you clean, wash and fix it up before reselling it?  You should do the same for your house, which is probably your biggest investment and presents an opportunity for a biggest return.

First impressions count for a lot, especially today, when most buyers pre-select the properties they are interested in on Internet.  If your photos don't show your house at its best, you are probably missing out on dozens of potential buyers.  The same is true for the visitors - when they come, make them feel «at home», create that first impression which will make them fall for YOUR house.

Statistics vary from marketplace to marketplace but, on average, a staged home can sell 30%-50% faster and for 2%-10% more money than a comparable unstaged home.  So, a few hundred dollars invested can bring you back thousands!  And a home staging consultation costs a lot less than a first price reduction on the property.

A professional Staging consultant looks at your property with a buyer's eye and will recommend some easy and inexpensive solutions to enhance its value - such as decluttering, depersonalizing, and reorganizing your furniture and artwork.  

The end result:  your house «shows» better than its competition and it sell faster and for more money!

Author Bio

This article is written by Sveta Melchuk, Founder of Home Staging Montreal, a Montreal firm that has been working with sellers and realtors since 2005 to enhance the properties for sale.You can visit www.home-staging-montreal.com for more information, tips and advice on Home Staging and Interior redesign.

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