When selling a property, one thing to consider is home staging. There are many home staging companies out there that will come in and professionally stage your home for sale. Often times this is money well spent. Home staging can really enhance the desirability of the home to help it sell more quickly and for more money than a bare home might.
While many people selling their own homes have furniture and other items already in the home that can be de-cluttered, real estate investors typically are not going to have this option. Having something in the home really enhances how it shows to prospective buyers, and short of purchasing furniture to use every time you sell a home, enlisting the help of a home staging company is a great way to go.
When choosing a home staging company, referrals are wonderful. Companies that have done a good job in the past are very likely to do a good job in the future. Also something to consider is the price point of your home. While one home staging company may specialize in high end multi-million dollar staging, if you are selling an entry level home they may not be the right company for you to work with. Just like anything else, you want to use the right tool for the job.
When interviewing or searching for a home staging company, check their references and be sure to look at their past work. It is not only important to ensure that past clients have been happy with their work, but it is also important to be sure that their style of staging fits your property. While the professionals are very good at what they do, many times the question of style or taste can be a contentious issue. Rather than fight with a staging company over their style, it is better to go with a quality company that has a style you like. At the end of the day it is about getting the house sold for the highest dollar amount and as quickly as possible, but during the selling process you don’t want to have unneeded issues and/or stress. Work with a company that has a good reputation and that works in a style that you like.
One thing that a home staging company is not likely to help with is the basic curb appeal of your property. This goes hand in hand with the staging, and you need to be sure that your property has the appropriate curb appeal to go with the interior staging of your home. The front yard, porch and door are all very important, as they provide a basis for a potential buyers interest. If you have not done cleanup out front properly, the money you are spending on the interior home staging is not going to be working for you as effectively as it could be. Be sure your home is inviting from the very beginning; this means clean and maintained yard, clutter free porch and entry area and a clean door. Believe it or not, spending some money on the entry door is a great way to improve the initial likability of the home. A nice heavy door knocker, clean painted front door and a clean door knob that works is money well spent. You would be amazed at how often these small points get overlooked!
Put in the time and effort when rehabbing your property, ensure that it has great curb appeal and spend a little money to have it professionally staged and you will be well on your way to selling your property quickly and profitably!