Staging A Home During A Pandemic
The real estate market has been HOT even though Stay at Home and Shelter in Place orders have been in effect for months across the nation. People are eager to upgrade their home and current living situations to better suit working from home and remote learning. Not to mention, interest rates are at an all-time low!
Why stage when houses are selling so quickly? The short answer is to get more money!! Statistically, staged homes sell on average for 9-30% more than unstaged homes according to the 2020 RESA Study of Staged Homes.
Pictured below, I recently staged this former model home located in Orlando, Florida that boasts tranquil views of a gorgeous golf course. The homeowners originally listed their home in 2019, however, it sat on the market for over six months with multiple price reductions and only a few low ball offers.
After much consideration of making necessary updates and working through my Home Staging Action Plan, this house now looks and feels like a million bucks! Since I am based in North Carolina, the homeowner’s and I were able to utilize technology to work through the Staging Action Plan and collaborate on what needed to get done.
The home was listed on a Saturday morning and had multiple showings that same afternoon. After five offers which lead to a bidding war, the home went under contract in 4 days! This beautiful home sold for 3% over asking price!! I couldn’t be happier for the seller or the new buyer. #homestagingworks
Before & After Sitting Room: By removing unnecessary furniture, editing decorative accessories, and adding more neutral pillows and artwork, this front sitting room is now an inviting and welcoming space right as you enter the home.
In my detailed Action Plan, we began with all of the homeowner’s furnishings. This home was a classic case of having too much furniture so what we needed to do first was eliminate outdated and unnecessary furniture and accessories. Every room felt overcrowded and cramped. The homeowner took my suggestion to store the unused furniture in a storage unit. They were also able to sell many items on Offer Up.
Before & After Dining Room: Chair rail, trim, and baseboards were painted the same white as the molding found throughout the house. Bright white accessories liven up the beige on brown fixed finishes. We also scaled down the table to better fit the space.
After the furniture was removed we were able to really see the potential in each room and focus on architectural features. The furniture was repositioned so it best suited each space and leads your eye to focus on the positive features.
Before & After Living Room: To create a more cohesive look we decided we would use the color blue throughout the house. To do this we moved the blue furniture (previously in an upstairs bonus room) down to the Living Room and streamlined neutral accessories. Distracting artwork was removed from the fireplace and the decorative shelves were restyled.
Next, we worked on depersonalizing the home and edited each room.
Before & After Guest Bathroom: A fresh coat of paint on the walls, refinished cabinets, updated lighting, and bright white accessories make for a show stopper bathroom!
Memorable moments or strategically placed vignettes were created so that buyers can emotionally connect with the home. Savvy home sellers realize that creating a “show home” environment will entice buyers. Going the extra mile and paying attention to every single detail will pay off in the end!
Owner’s Bedroom
A few modern accessories were purchased to help update the rooms.
HOT TIP: Bright white duvet covers, euro sham pillows, accent throw pillows, textured blankets, artwork, and other neutral tabletop accents are an easy way to update and bring life to a room.
Before & After Guest Bedroom: We added a new white duvet cover to the bed and rearranged the throw pillows. Bright white sheer curtains were added and we swapped out the painting with a mirror found in another bedroom.
A key room to always stage is the Owner’s Main Bathroom shown below. In this particular house, replacing the vanity cabinets and mirror were not in the budget so we opted to have the cabinets and mirror trim refinished in Sherwin Williams Keystone Gray SW7504. We gave the bathroom a fresh new look by painting the walls Sherwin Williams Agreeable Gray SW7029. The vanity light fixture and cabinet hardware were updated with chrome fixtures complimenting the other fixed elements in the bathroom.
Before & After Owner’s Main Bathroom: Painted walls, refinished vanity cabinets, an updated light fixture, and bright white accessories make for a luxurious spa bathroom.
Only 1 out of 10 people can visualize furniture in a space. For this reason, it is critical to stage your home so that the vast majority of prospective buyers can visualize themselves living in the home. Investing in professional photography will make your listing stand out online.
Don’t leave money on the table by not consulting with a Professional Home Stager when selling your home.
Tiffani Michalenko
HSR Certified Home Stager & Expert eDesigner
