What You Will Learn in This Article (Reading Time – 5 Minutes):

• What are the benefits of staging a house
• How a home is traditionally staged
• How you can stage a home virtually

The real estate market, and nationwide actually, is highly competitive. If you plan to sell your home quickly and for the best price in this market, you may need to position your property in the best possible light. Staging a house is one of the best ways to accomplish this goal. This process essentially accentuates the home’s positive features and minimizes its drawbacks through the use of decorative elements and other processes. However, staging a house can be challenging for some homeowners, and it may take time and money to complete the process. Many homeowners are not aware that there are multiple solutions available for staging a house, and learning more about the options may help you to decide how to get your home ready to list for sale.

The Benefits of Staging a House

If you have ever walked into a model home in a new-build community, you may be aware of how a perfectly staged home looks. The décor is stunning and appealing to most buyers, and all signs of personalization are erased. The buyers can more easily imagine themselves living in the space rather than feel as though they are walking through someone else’s home. A beautifully staged home is more than just aesthetically appealing. Through staging a house, you also define the purpose in each room or its intended use, and you can show potential buyers what the possibilities for the space are once they move into the home. Some people will attempt to stage their home on their own, but staging a house is more commonly completed with professional services.

The Traditional Method for Staging a House

When you are staging a house using the traditional method, the look of each room in the home as well as the exterior may need to be physically altered in some way. In some cases, this simply means that the walls are painted a neutral hue and that decorative artwork is placed in strategic locations. The size of wall hangings is particularly important and should coincide with the size of the room. Some homeowners use mirrors to create the illusion of depth or more space in a smaller room. Heavy drapes or curtains may be replaced with lighter-weight options to allow more natural light to filter into the space.

The purpose of each room is defined through the furniture. Some homeowners, for example, use a spare bedroom as a home office, but this can confuse buyers who really need an extra bedroom. In some rooms, large or bulky pieces or excessive furnishings may be removed and placed in an off-site storage unit. This may make the space more inviting and improve the flow of traffic. Some furnishings may be relocated to other areas in the room or to other rooms in the house where they are better suited for the décor or function of the space. Some people will even buy new furnishings or decorative elements when staging a house.

As you might imagine, the traditional method associated with staging a house can be time-consuming, labor-intensive, and costly. Some homeowners may save money by doing most or all of the work on their own. However, it may take a homeowner several weeks or longer to stage a home using his or her own efforts. There may be a better solution available for those considering staging their home for sale.

Using a Virtual Staging Service

Staging a house the traditional way was once the only method available for sellers to use, but there may be a better option available. For example, staging a house virtually is now possible through services like Virtual Staging Solutions. With this type of high-tech service, you simply submit photos of your rooms to the company for professional editing. The team alters the images to give the impression that your home is perfectly staged by moving or replacing furniture and décor in the images.

Through virtual staging, the photos can be edited to add furnishings and décor when the rooms are empty. This is ideal if you are staging a house that you have already moved out of. Photos of furnished rooms can also be altered through this service as desired. Many buyers search the Internet extensively to find listings that they are interested in. When your home is virtually staged, the listing may be more appealing and may entice more buyers to tour it. Increased interest in your home may result in a faster sale. Here are a few samples of some virtually staged homes from Virtual Staging Solutions:

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After:

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Through virtual staging, the home’s photos may be improved online to remove all signs of personalization, and this gives buyers the opportunity to imagine living in the space. When they tour the home in person, however, it will not actually be staged. You will still need to take steps to improve the condition and style of the home, or you may list it unfurnished. Taking personalization out of the decor should be a minimum level of staging that all homeowners take before listing their property on the market for sale.

Because the buyers have already seen photos of the possibilities for the space through virtual staging, the fact that the home is not actually staged in real life may not be important. More than that, staging a house virtually is often more affordable and faster to do. If you do not have a lot of money available to stage your home or if you need to list and sell quickly, virtual staging may be the best idea.

Evergreen Properties and Investments has been serving the Long Beach area for many years, and we have helped many local residents find the ideal home or sell their property for a great price. Our team understands the importance of staging a house beautifully before listing it for sale. When you consult with our skilled and helpful team of real estate agents before listing your home for sale, you can receive personalized advice and guidance that is tailored specifically to your property.

From the Author: My name is Dan Barcelon and I believe that Real Estate can be one of the most valuable assets you’ll ever own. I’m dedicated to educating and guiding my clients on how to manage and leverage their homes to create an Evergreen legacy for themselves and their family. I primarily consult both home buyers and home sellers on reaching their personal and financial goals through Real Estate in the following cities of Southern California: Long Beach,  Carson,  Cerritos,  Signal Hill,  Torrance,  Lakewood,  Cypress,  Downey,  Bellflower,  Norwalk,  Wilmington,  La Palma, and Artesia.

If you’d like to discuss if buying, selling, or investing in real estate is right for you at this time, feel free to reach out. You can call/text me at 562-270-5812, or you can e-mail me at [email protected].

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