More and more, leading Realtors are including home staging in their list of “must-dos” for sellers. Even (especially!) in blazing hot housing markets like Charlotte, home staging is one of the best investments sellers can make for a fast, profitable home sale.
Are you a Realtor struggling to convince your clients that home staging is worth the time and money? Here at Creative Home Stagers, we work with dozens of Realtors who have chosen to skip the negotiating and hire stagers themselves; it’s why we offer special staging pricing for Realtors who stage all their listings in Charlotte. If you’re not ready to make the commitment yourself, consider the following ways you can help convince your sellers they need staging.
Play to their sense of urgency…
Did you know that staged homes sell in an average of 11 days or less, according to the International Association of Home Staging Professionals? Compare that to the 90 days it takes un-staged homes to sell in the same market. Need more evidence? The Real Estate Staging Association says that staged homes sell an average of six months faster, according to their research. If your sellers are motivated – maybe they’ve got a cross-country move coming up or a home purchase that is contingent on this home sale – staging is a fast-track to selling quickly.
Drop some sales price data…
Unequivocally, professionally-staged homes sell for more money. According to the National Association of Realtors, 95% of buyer’s agents say that staging has a measurable effect on the way buyers view homes. How much of an effect? The same organization says staged homes, on average, sell for 17% more money. Staging now means less lowball offers and a higher potential for multiple offers in the weeks to come. And don’t forget to remind your clients that they have options outside of full-scale staging. Some staging is better than none.
Remind them they’re competing against other sellers…
Even in a seller’s market, buyers always have options. They’re not just looking at your client’s home, they’re looking at hundreds of other homes online, and probably seeing at least 10 in person before they buy. Your sellers don’t just need to stage to stand out, they need to stage to keep up with all the other sellers who’ve realized staging is a worthwhile investment.
There’s a saying in real estate that “staging always costs less than your first price reduction,” and it’s so true! Creative Home Stagers are happy to talk to you about your options as a Realtor, and talk to your clients, too.