Frequently
asked questions
Can you guarantee your service?
We would love to, however, other factors such as the market, your real estate agent, the marketing campaign, how much of our recommendations you implement, how you maintain your house during viewings and the house price are not something we control.
My property has been on the market for
three months, is there any benefit in staging it?
Yes! Speak to your Real Estate Agent about taking a break from opens, say a week, whilst we work with you to stage your house as quickly as possible to get it back on the market.
How much is home staging common sense?
There are many elements of home staging most people know. to de-clutter and clean before putting their house on the market (although you'd be surprised at the number who don't). However, it is important not to rip the soul out of your home. We are much needed because we don't live there we can look at your house with a real objective eye. You can become blind to the wear and tear and 'stuff' in your house, even how it smells. We will can give you some money making advice, advice that probably your agent has not had time to give you, as they are focused on the sales campaign. We also know your house's competition, what buyers are looking for in your market and how to give your house a marketing edge and make it stand out from the competition. I can visualise your home's potential, maximising it's strengths, playing down it's weaknesses and helping prospective buyers fall in love with the concept of living in the house and making it into their home, an 'art' that is way beyond common sense.
I'm worried that you're going to tell me that
the way I have my house is all wrong!
The way that you live in your home and the way you sell your house are two different things. One of the joys of having your own home is that you can decorate it and live in it to suit yourself. Sometimes, also, life takes over and we end up with hand me downs and half finished jobs. Sometimes it is other factors such as illness, death or divorce. We would never tell you how to live in your home and how you choose to live, or need to live. No one lives in the perfect house all the time - if you came round to my house you'd see! However, our expertise is in selling houses and in selling houses you have to appeal to the majority. This means a neutral colour scheme, each room with a clear purpose, repairs done, house de-cluttered and cleaner than it's ever been. This is no longer your home it is a house that has to be merchandised to win the hearts and the bids of prospective buyers, a house that needs to be sold and for the best price. All the recommendations come from the knowledge of what needs to be done to sell your home and not from a judgement of how you live. Oh, and by the way, you don't need to de-clutter, clean or tidy before we come to your house - the home staging equivalent of cleaning before the cleaning lady comes - you will have enough to do when you get your action plan!
What's the timeframe for Home Staging?
Ideally you'd give yourself at least a month to prepare your house for sale before putting it on the market. In reality this time period is often shorter. The less time you have the more outside help you might need or the greater need to prioritise your actions. We will always work with you to help meet your deadlines. However, sometimes it might be better to push your first open house back a week so that you can be absolutely sure you are making the best first impression to buyers. We have been known to stage homes within 24 hours. You will need to call and book an appointment to see our availability.
Are you just going to recommend that I get rid of
all my old furniture and bring in rental furniture?
No, we stage your home like we'd expect mine to be staged, with an eye on the return on investment of everything that I spend. In many instances we work with what you've already got or discuss strategies for replacing the furniture in another way - maybe your sister could lend you her outside dining set for example. However if your furniture is distracting due to age, size or style I will recommend renting but only renting furniture that is appropriate to the style of the rest of your house.
My house has no or little furniture in it.
Will hiring furniture be a waste of money?
Think about the times you have, as a prospective buyer, looked around an empty house or the times you have moved into a new house and it's empty and waiting for your furniture. A house looks sad and it's faults show up more when it's unfurnished. It is difficult to envisage where your furniture will go or whether it will fit or the function of each room. When viewing you are probably in and out of the property in a couple of minutes as there is nothing for you to look at. An empty house also communicates desperation from the vendor - the assumption buyers make is that the sellers have bought elsewhere and have already moved out and need to sell. As much as buyers tell themselves that buying a house is a pragmatic decision it is often an emotional one - buyers fall in love with the idea of living in a house and find it difficult to fall in love when it's bare and uninviting. In a slow market there will always be other more inviting properties to look at. Hiring furniture does cost money but if it helps you stand out from the competition, sell quickly and for a good price then it is worth the investment.
My agent says not to bother with Home Staging -
they've been selling houses long before Home Staging came along.
Your real estate agent wants to turn your listing quickly and make their commission. When a house isn't selling they recommend a price reduction, a tiny drop in commission for them but a sizeable drop in your precious equity. Home staging does cost money and some effort (unless you want the home stager to take all the work away from you!) but it is always more cost effective than a price reduction. For example $5k spent on staging vs. a price drop of $30k. In a hot market when price reductions are less required the reverse is true: a $5k spend could mean 2 or more competing buyers who push the price up by $30k. Home staging is a relatively new concept in Australia although it is known and being used by many Real Estate agents and homeowners. The fact that not everyone stages their home to sell is a great competitive edge for agents and vendors. Why wouldn't you as a homeowner have your house looking it's best to maximise it's chances of a quicker sale at a higher price and why wouldn't you as a Real Estate agent want your houses to sell quickly and be known as the agent with the great looking houses?
