The Top 10 Reasons Why Every Real Estate Agent Should be Staging Properties

Many real estate agents stage all their properties, while others hope that the property will sell itself, but that can be a risky option. Not everyone has the vision to see beyond the bare walls of empty rooms to imagine a real home, full of life. Or indeed, get past a view of clutter and other people’s belongings to envisage their own lives in the space. Staging a property offers a lot of advantages and so here are the top 10 reasons why every real estate agent should be open to staging every property on their books…

1 – It gives each room a clear purpose

When you stage a home, you can design each room with a specific use in mind. A use that will offer the most appeal to the widest audience. For example, it may be the case that a single person is living in a five-bedroom home. In that case, they may have a bedroom being used as a home gym, and another as a junk room. But the majority of people searching for a five-bedroom house are going to be larger families that need multiple bedrooms. So by staging each bedroom, removing the clutter, and clearly designating the room as a bedroom, a family can easily see that their family could live comfortably there.

2 – Buyers can more readily picture themselves living in the property

Many people have a terrible imagination. They simply cannot see beyond what is in front of them. If a property feels small, some viewers may have a hard time realizing that this is because it is full of oversized furniture, or due to the dark-colored décor. By staging a property, you are presenting people with an immediate view of how life could be for them in the property, making the most of the space and the natural light. As a real estate agent, you need to put forward an idyllic view of the property, you need to create a setting that matches the dreams of the property viewers. Don’t leave it to chance, and the hope that they have the imagination to see past the current resident’s tastes and choices.

3 – You can see at a glance how furniture works in the space

When rooms are not used for their original purposes, such as a bedroom being used as an office or a dining room without a dining table in it, it may put people off as they cannot quite envisage how the room would look properly furnished. Would a queen bed fit in the second bedroom? Is the dining room large enough to seat 8 people around the table? By staging the home with furniture that works with the room, you’re removing the guesswork.

4 – FACT: Staged properties sell faster

It’s simple, research shows that properties that have been well-staged sell faster than properties that have not been staged. Real estate agents and vendors alike, all want a quick sale.

5 – It’s attention-grabbing, stopping listing scrollers in their tracks

In our busy, modern, digital world, searching for property begins at speed. Most of us will make our first stop in our search for a new home at a real estate agent’s website. Here we’ll input our criteria, perhaps we want a three-bedroom detached house in a specific area or a first-floor apartment within a particular budget. So we type it all in, and then we view all the results. There could be hundreds of potentially suitable properties, so we start to scroll… How long do we take to glance at each one before deciding whether or not to look any further? A second or two? Yes. As a real estate agent, that’s all the time you’ve got to grab people’s attention, and it’s most certainly the photos that stand out from the crowd when searching through property listings. A beautifully staged home is more likely to make people stop in their tracks and pay attention.

6 – You’re more likely to bond with a property that is delightfully staged

Some people choose a new home with their heads, but many of us follow our hearts and buy the house that we connect with on an emotional level. When you stage a home, you’re offering up a wonderful lifestyle. Potential buyers can imagine themselves in the property. They can see their kids growing up in the bedrooms and family meals around the dining table. Staging appeals to people’s emotions, and emotion sells houses.

7 – You can eliminate or minimize problem areas

By staging a property, you can highlight all the best features of the property, and reduce the impact of any problem areas. A room with little natural light can be painted in a pale color, and have subtle mood lighting added to really brighten it up. The lounge that appears rather cramped with oversized seating will look larger with a smaller suite in place. By fixing minor issues, you’re increasing the number of people who will maintain an interest in the property.

8 – It presents an opportunity to showcase every room to its fullest potential

Home staging offers you a clean slate to promote each room. The everyday clutter of real life is removed, with just some key items and accessories to accentuate spaciousness, while promoting a feeling of family living and homeliness. With a little vision and an eye for detail, a small bedroom can be transformed from a cramped and cluttered room to a cozy relaxing haven.

9 – You can ensure that each property is memorable, welcoming, and attractive

It’s not just the online scrollers you need to reach out to. Even when you manage to grab a buyer’s attention enough for them to view the property in person, you’ve still got a lot of competition. Most people don’t just view one house at once. People are busy, and so it’s often the case that several viewings will be booked one after another. Perhaps you’ve done this yourself? Eventually, one property merges into another and you start to forget which was which, with only the very good, or the very bad points standing out in your memory. The dark and gloomy one, the one that was hard to view because it was so full of stuff, or the beautiful, stylish one with gorgeous accessories. People know they’re not buying the furnishings and the details, but they set the scene and help viewers imagine their new lifestyle in the property.

10 – Maximize profits – Well-staged properties sell for more cash

 When you make the most of a space, you’re offering more potential, accentuating detail and maximizing spaciousness. With the spotlight on the positives, and downplaying any weak points of the property, real estate agents will be able to sell the property for the highest price possible. Stage it well, and you may even have more than one interested party fall in love with it. That’s the fast track to an excellent sale price for the buyer and a great commission for the real estate agent.