Have you ever found yourself using jargon so frequently that you forget not everyone understands it? That's how I feel when I talk about Occupied Home Staging. I often assume everyone knows what I'm referring to, but that's not always the case.
So let me fill you in, it's a specialized service that not everyone outside of the industry might be familiar with. Occupied Home Staging involves professional Stagers working with your existing furniture and decor, complementing them with carefully chosen items to prepare your home for photography and showings. It's quite different from vacant home staging, where rental furniture and décor are brought in to fill an entirely empty house.
While some Homeowners or Real Estate Agents believe staging is only necessary for vacant properties, there are situations where bringing in a professional and certified Home Stager like myself is a wise investment and can significantly enhance your home's appeal on the market.
1) If you will be living in the home until it sells
If your home won't be empty when it's listed, renting furniture might seem unnecessary. Occupied home staging involves transforming your space using your own furniture, making your home look its best ever.
Let me share an example from a recent project I worked on this spring. The homeowners were still living in their house when it went up for sale. Their Realtor, Andrea Duane, recognized that occupied staging was the ideal choice.
Here’s the “BEFORE” impression you got when first stepping into their home:
By creatively rearranging their existing furnishings from around the house and introducing carefully chosen small furnishings & accessories to stage, we achieved a far more inviting first impression:
Photography Courtesy of Dynamic Cinema Productions
As you can see, with some strategic staging, the transformation was remarkable!
2) If Similar Homes Are for Sale in Your Neighborhood
You've probably heard the saying, "comparison is the thief of joy." When it comes to selling your home, you want it to be the clear favorite among potential buyers, ensuring a quick sale at the best possible price. That's where Occupied Home Staging comes in—it can really amp up your home's appeal.
Selling your home is a bit like entering a beauty pageant where every detail counts in comparison to similar properties. It's about making sure your home shines brightest starting with the online presence.
Imagine this scenario: the "BEFORE" picture shows how a bedroom in a similar home next door might look to a prospective buyer:
Now, contrast it with the "AFTER" picture of the listing:
Photography Courtesy of Dynamic Cinema Productions
See the difference? Staging your occupied home can make all the difference in catching buyers' eyes and sealing the deal. It's about presenting your home in its best light, so it stands out from the crowd.
3) If Updates or Renovations May Be Needed
An Staging Expert knows exactly what your house's biggest return on investment (ROI) needs are to achieve your desired asking price, and they have a keen eye for the most cost-effective ways to get it there. Their goal is to save you money while making sure your home looks its best and increases the home’s equity. Some upgrades or renovations are essential, but others might not be worth the investment. As a homeowner, it can be tough to tell the difference, and that's where costly mistakes can happen without professional advice. An experienced Home Stager can pinpoint exactly what changes will boost your chances of getting a solid offer and which ones you can skip. Many but not all Professional Home Stagers offer Pre-listing consultations, a great starting point to evaluate what your top impact to-do's are.
4) If You Need to Sell Your Home Quickly
If you're looking to sell your home quickly, there's no better strategy than Occupied Home Staging & Styling Services, aside from pricing it competitively. Staged homes typically sell in a 1/4 of the time it takes for un-staged homes to move off the market, often becoming the hot properties that spark bidding wars.
Let's see which version of this home’s living room catches the most attention.
Will it be the "BEFORE" pictures?
Or will the "AFTER" pictures steal the show? You decide:
Photography Courtesy of Dynamic Cinema Productions
5) If You Want to Make More Money on Your Home’s Sale
Imagine boosting your home’s sale price just by making it look its best! That’s the magic of professional staging. Staged homes not only look more appealing but also tend to sell for higher prices compared to similar un-staged homes. One key reason is speed – staged homes often sell faster. The real estate market can be fickle, and homes that linger on the market tend to see their prices drop. Statistics show that you’re most likely to get your asking price if you receive an offer within the first two weeks.
If a home stays on the market for a month without an offer, the average price can drop by about 5%. On a $500,000 home, that’s a staggering $25,000!
Staging costs much less than such a price drop. Plus, if your home is already furnished, typically staging can be done without renting extra furniture, making it even more budget-friendly.
Think of a great Home Stager as a top-notch make-up artist or hair stylist—they know how to highlight the best features!
All the props used are from Hanisch Designs’ inventory. If the seller had instead gone out and purchased all these props, it would have cost more than hiring a professional Stager to do the job!
Staging involves using props like art, pillows, lamps, and plants to make each room shine.
Photography Courtesy of Dynamic Cinema Productions
My Occupied Staging & Styling process always starts with a detail-rich Buyer’s Eyes Consultation (Pre-listing Consult) to evaluate what needs to be done to get a home show-ready. Sometimes that’s enough and homeowners take the recommendations and prep the home themselves. Other times I come back to assist with just Styling Services or the full Staging & Styling package including Accessory Rentals like in this property.
The cost of Occupied Staging & Styling Services varies based on several factors, including:
The amount of inventory required
Whether a moving truck or assistance/movers are needed
The distance to and from the property
And more...
Typically my Agent partner covers the Buyer’s Eyes Consultation of $325 in town ($375 out of town). Following the consult, some Realtors opt to cover the Occupied Staging costs while most have the Sellers take on this investment.
For listings where we bring only a small amount of accessories and a couple pieces of art, re-arrange or style existing décor, Occupied Staging Services begin at $750.
If a van/moving truck is required, packages start at $1750.
Should a large amount of inventory or supplemental furniture be needed, packages can start at $2150.
If you’d like more information on my Buyer’s Eyes Consultation, what it includes and what package options might work for your upcoming home for sale, let’s talk!
Now, do you have a better idea about what Occupied Home Staging is? Let's work together to get your property market ready and stand out for all the RIGHT reasons!
-Rita Hanisch-Dunbar
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