Why Empty Homes Don't Sell

Every morning on my Chicago area social media feed, I see acres and acres of empty rooms posted by Realtors. So many empty dining rooms, breakfast rooms, kitchens, living and bedrooms.  Do I stop and click on the photo, intrigued to have a look at the room, the house, the property? No, I just scroll on by...  Do I read the eloquently written description?  Do I appreciate the professional photography?  No, I just scroll on by...  Why?  It's that they all look the same; devoid of any senses,  any flavor, any style. 

WHY?

#1. An empty home leaves an empty canvas to paint negative thoughts on – Prospective buyers will find imperfections and not interested or wanted features. An empty home amplifies negative thoughts. 

#2. Empty homes lack a vision of its layout (What is this room?)  A Staged homes explain how the home flows and how each space can be used.

#3.  An empty home is void of imagination and feeling.  People buy homes on emotion.  An empty property is just a HOUSE, a staged property becomes a HOME.  Home Staging creates the emotion that your prospective buyers envisioned.

#4. The National Association of REALTORS 2015 Profile on Home Staging found that 81% of buyers find it is easier to visualize a property as a future home when it's Staged. 

“A staged home may seem like it has furniture that’s fixed in place; but what is going on in the buyer’s mind is a very kinetic process. With a home that is staged, they see a family - celebrating home.”

— Julea Joseph

Does House Staging Work - YES it Does! -NAR 2015 Profile of Home Staging Report

The spring housing market has just started and there is good news when is comes to Realtors knowing that HOME STAGING services are an important factor in showcasing a home. 

The National Association of REALTORS, NAR recently released a report about Home Staging. The report, 2015 Profile of Home Staging surveys both seller and buyer's agents about the effectiveness of the Home Staging process. The 1st of its kind, the report shows that Realtors  see the value of the art and marketing of Home Staging.  96% of Buyer's agents said that Home Staging has an effect of how a buyer views the home.

The NAR's Infographic below is a summary some of the key statistics gathered from the survey. 

Whether your are a home seller or REALTOR, home staging is an essential factor when selling the most expensive investment a homeowner has ever made. 

For Chicago area Realtors interested in receiving more education on Home Staging,  Mainstreet Organization of Realtors offers a Home Staging course for Realtors. The Certified Staging Consultant (CSC) Course - is not only an IAR C.E., but also a MORe Certification. The course is very popular and is now offered at all 4 of MORE's Chicagoland offices. The course too can be hosted off-site by an office or brokerage.  For more information, visit my site's Home Staging Education page or call 708.448.7500.

Also, few more past posts on Home Staging. 

The Often Forgotten Pre-Photo Shoot Styling

10 Home Staging Tips to Make Your Listing Look Like a Model Home

Simple Lessons in Home Staging -Living Room Tips

Staging Tips: Styling for the Photo Shoot

You have worked tirelessly preparing your home for sale. Don’t let all your hard work fall short with the often forgotten, most overlooked step in a great home staging – The Pre-Photo Shoot Styling.  Before those photos are taken, your home needs one last interior makeover before making its grand debut on the internet.  I often compare it to going to the hair salon before a big event, getting a great color, cut and style, only to go home and wash it.  Don’t stop short right before you publicly introduce your home to potential buyers by not making it perfectly groomed for its Internet close-up. 

Home Stagers are experts in styling homes for photo shoots. In a few hours, we can whip and flip a home into a stunner.  Your on-line photos are the #1 advertising element of your for sale home. 

Here are a few of our tips and techniques.

-Remove all scatter rugs from floors.  Have cleared counters and make the space extra inviting with a bowl, vase or pot of something fresh.

HOME STAGING TIP: Room look bigger and spacious in photos without rugs or counter clutter breaking up the room's lines or distracting the eye.

-Set a spectacular bed. Perfectly tucked, primped and pampered - the bed is the trophy of every bedroom.

HOME STAGING TIP: Create added interest on a bed with a colorful accent pillows and textural throws.

-Every bath needs fresh, clean, fluffy towels, a seat down, glistening surfaces, and not a personal product present.

HOME STAGING TIP: Nothing says fresh and super clean than a stack of fluffy white towels.

-Light it right. Showcase rooms and the home by making sure the space is lit well by turning on light, opening shades and pulling back drapes. 

HOME STAGING TIP: Photograph the home at the time of day that allows just the right light in.

Getting your house ready for the market? Squeeze the most equity out of it by utilizing our design to sell -Home Staging services. From pre-photo styling to giving sage update advice when just starting - we help capture a home’s equity that would otherwise be overlooked.

BUDGET Home Staging Ideas - A Bedroom with 5 Easy Pieces!

Home Staging ideas - Stage a bedroom with five pieces.

Do you have a need to create, stage & style a bedroom in an empty room? Think you need to go out a buy and lug in heavy furniture? Think again. Today's home staging & styling job was for a client that enlisted me to to do a budget bedroom staging. Here's how I did it.

1. The bed is the focal point of a room, so start here.  My client owns this great air bed that basically is a rolling suitcase and you unzip, plug in and within minutes POOF turns into a queen size bed.  Frontgate has a few to choose from.
2. Head Board. The head board are 2 plastic decorative fencing panels from Home Depot. I know, I know, super clever, weigh nothing and you can attach them to the wall with a nail. Instant headboard. Acurio Panels from Home Depot. 
3. Bedding. A bed should be lush & lovely.  Chic bedding, fluffy pillows, cute accent pillows -and always throw a throw at the end of the bed for a bit of interest and texture. I found this great microfiber duvet set (almost no-iron) at HomeGoods and bird accent pillow from Michaels. (had the shell pillow and throw in my staging stock pile.) 
4. The Night stand is a butler tray table. A butler tray is meant to be mobile, so easy open and close. This is a great what I call "Good Bones" piece of furniture.  The tray comes off and the base just folds up.  I found a close one on Amazon: Crosley Palm Harbor Outdoor Wicker Butler Tray 
5. Lamp.  Just make sure is substantial enough to work with the scale of the bed.

Accents pillows add detail and ambiance to a bed.