People Buy the Dream and They Buy Value

I read a Realtor Magazine interview with Christine Rae, author of Home Staging for Dummies.  My thoughts and ideas were spurred on by one of Christine’s insights: 

“Not all agents understand the value or true impact of a great staged property.  It’s not about how pretty a house looks – it’s about highlighting the features of the property, creating space and light where there isn’t any and virtually making the old house look and feel like new.  People buy the dream and they buy value.”

Some Realtors understand home staging and some do not.  Some Realtors actively promote home staging because they’ve experienced the results first hand.  They know that it helped them sell houses that would not sell before staging.  These Realtors know that home staging explains problem spaces; accentuates the home’s best features; and, helps the buyer imagine their better selves in that house.  And, most importantly, these Realtors know that home staging is an investment that leads to the dividends of selling the house quicker and for the best price possible.

Those Realtors who do not understand home staging believe it is an unnecessary expense.  They blame the tight economy or see staging as a nice to do but not a necessary part of their home selling service.  Some Realtors, like many sellers, expect that the house will sell as it is without freshening, lightening and simplifying the spaces.  They mistakenly believe that buyers will choose this old house just because the sellers loved it regardless of its present condition.  It is sad to say but some Realtors and some sellers think that all that needs to be done is to plant a “For Sale” sign in the front yard and buyers will come with money in hand.

And Christine is so right that “it is not about how pretty a house looks”.  I’ve taken some old, 1980’s styled houses and made them over into homes that are fresh and inviting places. I’ve also tweaked gorgeous homes by de-cluttering the seller’s things, refreshing the house; and, emphasizing its best features. 

When a house is professionally staged, buyers can see the dream of living in this home. 

If you want more thought-provoking ideas from Christine Rae, read her Realtor Magazine interview (Being a Real Estate Pro Today is like Working in the Obama Administration) at http://styledstagedsold.blogs.realtor.org/2009/08/14/being-a-real-estate-pro-today-is-like-working-in-the-obama-administration/

 

Dwell in possibilities

Cindy