When a client asks if I can guarantee that their house will sell if we staged it, I answer honestly:
When we stage your home, it will look fantastic. It will stand out from the competition. When there are two homes in the same area and the same price range, the staged one will definitely attract more attention, and is 80% more likely to sell first.
No matter which room it is, it will always look better staged.
BUT...
There are factors out of the control of homestagers...
Price is a big one. If the price isn’t aligned with the market, no amount of beautiful staging will fix that. An unrealistic price is just that.
Then there’s the role of agents. Some are fantastic at closing deals, while others… not so much.
Then there are difficult buyers and sellers. I’ve seen great opportunities slip through the cracks simply because the right follow-up wasn’t done. I’ve even had deals fall apart over something as small as R15,000 on a R4 million home!
There are other things too. Like the weather. This past winter, it rained incessantly, and it was a real dampener (sic) on show days. Or unexpected obstacles with the property itself. I staged a house that looked beautiful and got seven offers, but people kept withdrawing after discovering the servitude on the property.
And let’s not forget property defects like damp or structural issues that surface in inspections, scaring buyers away.
So, does home staging work?
Absolutely. Staging gives you a huge advantage, especially when it comes to making a great first impression and drawing in buyers. It can’t guarantee a sale, but it can definitely increase your chances of getting the right offer much faster.
Bottom line: staging is a smart investment that helps your home stand out. It’s not a cure-all, but it can save you time, stress, and even money in the long run.
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