Staging versus price reduction
Home Staging is the process of preparing a home for sale, regardless of price, location or condition. Staging is home merchandising and today, isn’t everything merchandised?? When we put on makeup or do what we do to make ourselves more appealing, that’s merchandising. When we buy clothes, they are set out on mannequins, or neatly and colorfully placed on shelves, that’s merchandising. When we buy a meal at a restaurant, they show us how nice it looks in the pictures in the menu, that’s merchandising. When we buy a car, its clean and uncluttered, that’s merchandising. When we buy food at the grocery store, lemons are with lemons, apples with apples, that’s merchandising.
So why is there a commotion when it is discovered that a home was Staged for sale?? When we sell what is often our largest asset, shouldn’t it look its best and appeal to the greatest group of potential buyers?? Home Staging will show-off the focal point of each room or draw the eye to features that make the house stand out from the competition and show potential buyers how they could live in the house.
As a home Stager, I will not cover-up or hide a condition in a house. For example, the hole in the shower surround that I was asked to hide by pulling the curtain shut. No way. On the other hand, if a carpet is stained from pets, is suggesting it be replaced covering-up a condition? I don’t think so. My goal is to help the homeowner and realtor have a faster sale for the most money.
I don’t understand the realtor and/or homeowner not willing to invest a small amount in Staging, but willing to take a price reduction.
Your thoughts?