Preparing Your Property for the Market

As many have noticed, the real estate market has been changing over the last weeks.  The days of bidding wars and selling a home in a few hours and for “over-asking” is disappearing, like the use of my treadmill.  Homes in the $700,000 and up price range have been most susceptible.  The result is more days on the market, price reductions and higher stress levels for homeowners and their agents. 

 

Rising inflation, higher mortgage rates, sky rocketing fuel prices, and the uncertainty of a recession are several of the driving forces.  The key is not to panic but to PROPERLY prepare your home PRIOR to placing it on the market. 

 

This market shift has resulted in homeowners and real estate agents contacting us in a panicked state.  They had already moved to damage control mode even though the property had only been on the market a short period of time.  Questions like “What can/should I do?  Houses were going under contract in a day or two and now my house has been sitting for weeks…. should I drop the price?”  The old saying “desperate times call for desperate measures” is not the answer. 

 

The first and most important thing to realize is the market is transitioning… like your adult children trying to transition back in with you!  Yes, it’s true on both accounts really, but we must focus.  No need to rush to put your house on the market in hopes it will defy the selling trend.  Take the time get your property ready for the market!

 

My property is market ready” is the biggest misconception had by most homeowners.  We have consulted on many properties only to find the house was indeed NOT market ready.  Dirty/stained carpet, holes in walls, missing hardware on doors and cabinets, broken light fixtures, missing light bulbs, pet smells and not being professionally cleaned are just a few of the situations we have encountered.  Homeowners typically respond with “we were going to fix that”, but first impressions mean everything to today’s home buyer.  You only get one chance for a first impression.  The same goes for real estate.  Keep in mind that today’s home buyer wants a “move in ready” home and will pay more to get that condition!

 

Unlike real estate agents, professional stagers are specifically hired to walk through a property and consult on getting it market ready.  This consultation is thorough and very candid.  Feelings are sometimes hurt, and the tough conversations are held with homeowners.  We point out all areas that need repair or improvement.  Yes, we have had clients happy for us to leave as we have been known to provide multi-page lists of action items.  The positive take away for real estate agents is you are the “good guy” in these situations.  We do the heavy lifting, so you don’t have to.

 

You may be asking, “Is this where you sell staging?”  As a professional stager, I would say you are close, but…. (that was a pause for great affect as your show cuts to commercial).  Like real estate agents, our job is to make sure the homeowner is in the best position to get the highest return on investment (ROI) on the sale of their property.  If we believe staging will show the property better and net a higher ROI, we will make that recommendation.  On the other hand, if the opposite is the case, we will and have advised some homeowners and agents not to make that staging investment.  This is what sets our company apart from the competition!

 

Now, let’s talk about photos.  95% of home buying starts online, so why take the risk with non-professional photos?  A picture is definitely worth 1000 words.  These photos directly impact whether a prospective buyer visits a property or not.  Consider this the home selling version of today’s dating apps.  We want all buyers to swipe right, and no one wants to be “cat fished”.  Took me some time to realize my kids weren’t actually talking about fish. 

 

I guess the best way to describe it is think of the photos on your favorite restaurant menu.  Each creates a feeling of hunger, want, and need.  Your property photos need to do the same thing.  Professional photos and staging create that very feeling…that emotional connection…. the desire of “I want and need this home” which is required for prospective buyers to fall in love and make an offer!

 

Contact Staged by Marie and let us help you make your home Market Ready, Photo Ready, and most importantly, SOLD!!!

Warmly,

Marie & Ernie

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