Decorating vs. Staging

What is the difference between staging and decorating? The difference is the purpose. The purpose for decorating is that the homeowner is decorating for his/her own enjoyment. The purpose in staging is different. Staging is for the purpose of helping potential buyers see the merits of a house enough so he/she will make an offer to purchase.

Decorating is to show off collections/personal taste. Staging is to show off the home/buyer taste.

Decorating can be wild and wacky or anything in between. A staged home has anything distracting packed away.

A decorated home can have many purposes for one room, if that's how the homeowner wants to live. A staged home needs one clear purpose for each room in the home.

A decorated home can be bright colors, like red, blue or purple. A staged house can have strong-colored accent walls, if they fit into a color-coordinated, mostly-neutral palette and there is lots of light in place and the few accessories tie the room together. But as a rule, in a staged house, the wall colors need to be off-white/beige/light gray/tan and most personal items are packed away.

A decorated home can have lots of furniture in each room. A staged home should be minimally furnished.

A decorated room can have furniture placed in the middle of walkways, blocking the path into the room. A staged room should invite potential buyers into the room, with nothing in the path that might lead potential buyers to not go into the room.

A decorated home is for the enjoyment of the family and friends of the homeowners. A properly staged house draws potential buyers into every room, the hope being that the longer a potential buyer stays in each room, the more likely he/she will be to see its merit and put in an offer to buy the house.

A decorated home highlights the tastes of the owners. A staged home is designed to appeal to as many potential buyers as possible.

A decorated home can be very expensive. A staged home is often just a re-arrangement of the homeowners' own things, pared down and coordinated and slightly supplemented with a few accent pieces.

Why would a home seller stage his/her home? Because research has shown that empty homes and homes that are not staged, take longer to sell and sell for less money than a properly staged home.

Why don't more home sellers stage their homes? Often, the realtor doesn't want to be the bad guy and point out to their home seller that their home is not ready to be sold. The realtor wants the listing. So the realtor lists the home as is unless the home seller asks the realtor how to get the home sold quickly. Then the realtor will be full of helpful suggestions on what would be most effective to sell.

Realtors see many homes every week. We know which homes will sell quickly and which will drag on for years without selling. The difference is staging.

Steps in staging:

1. Look at your home from the curb, take a picture. Look at the picture. What do you see? Do you see dirty siding? Get the siding pressure washed, include the sidewalks and driveway, too. Does the trimwork need painting? Paint it. Is the screen torn in the storm door? Go to the hardware store and buy a screen repair tool and fix the screen. Continue this process inside and outside your home.

2. Clean everything, inside and out. Don't forget the cobwebs and dust in the light fixtures.

3. Store away any un-necessary furniture.

4. Be sure each room has one clear purpose. The living room is a living room, not a living room, an office, and exercise room.

5. De-clutter. Pack up all collections and store them away. Collections are a distraction to buyers. If you want to sell, you want the home to be the attraction.

6. Update anything that is outdated or dated. Buyers want a home in move-in condition.

7. Do all that deferred maintenance you've been putting off since you bought the home.

8. Remove anything that blocks a focal point. Windows, fireplaces, these are focal points, highlight them!

9. Try to have like-styled furniture and accent pieces in each room, preferably throughout the home. For example, if the home is Victorian, try to have Victorian furniture, or at least not modern furniture. If this is not possible, at least go throught your home and put all the Queen Anne pieces in the same room and all the modern pieces in another room.

10. Store away any controversial or family items.

11. Paint is the cheapest, easiest way to update a house.

12. If you have a septic system, be sure it is able to pass inspection.

13. Be sure your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors are up to code.

14. Trim the trees and bushes away from the walkway to the front door.

15. Plant flowers near the front walkway and door

16. Bake a pie when you know someone will be touring your home, buyers love the aroma and will be more favorable toward your home, and they will stay longer.

17. Pack away your books

18. Clean out your closets and drawers. Buyers shouldn't, but do, look in drawers and closets. If your attic and basement is a mess, buyers think there isn't enough storage. Invest in storage cabinets and shelves and then you'll have them to take with you when you move.

For more tips, watch HGTV's Designed to Sell tv show, every weekday evening at 8pm. They spend $2,000 and lots of elbow grease to get older homes ready to sell for top dollar in the least amount of time. Of course, they have carpenters and designers.

You can hire an accredited stager, if you wish professional help. But most realtors can help you with the most critical issues.

If a home seller does nothing else, he/she must de-clutter, update, clean, maintain, and arrange the furniture to maximize the interest in their home to potential buyers.

Statistics say that 70% of buyers won't even look at a home that isn't appealing in the online pictures. That means they won't even tour your home in person if it isn't staged. That means you are marketing your home to only 30% of buyers if it isn't staged!

Experts say that many home sellers don't wish to spend money on the home they're selling. They're focused on their new home. Wrong! Focus on doing what it takes to get this home sold now and for top dollar. Otherwise, you may not ever be moving into that new home because you might not get the old home sold.