What is Home Staging?

Despite being a relatively recent discipline, Home Staging is featured in articles and on the covers of major real estate media. We have prepared this guide on Home Staging: its meaning and how it works to sell properties faster.

What is Home Staging?

Home Staging is a real estate marketing technique used to prepare a property (whether a house, apartment, or another type of dwelling) to make it more attractive to potential buyers or tenants. The main idea behind home staging is to highlight the positive features of the property and minimize any negative aspects to facilitate its sale or rental.

Can I apply Home Staging to any property?

Absolutely! It is not only for high-end properties. It is a technique that can be applied to any property, whether residential (of all categories), office, or commercial space.

The limit will depend on the budget allocated, the type of transaction, and the professional. This discipline encompasses a set of techniques carried out by a professional called a Home Stager.

Home Staging Techniques

Although it is advisable to hire a professional home stager, we understand that you might want to learn more about how it works. The technique of home staging involves a set of actions aimed at attracting the maximum number of people so you can sell your properties faster. These are the steps to follow:

1. Depersonalize
   The first thing you should do in a property is to remove the personal belongings of the owners.Why?Because one of the goals of home staging is to get visitors to imagine themselves living there. This is difficult if we see family photos of the owners and all their personal belongings. Therefore, remove all items like personal photos and decorative elements.
2. Organize
   It’s clear that not all of us are tidy in our own homes. Therefore, it’s always necessary to organize properties to attract the greatest number of interested parties.Remove overstuffed drawers and crowded shelves. If necessary and there is a storage room, it’s a good idea to clear it out to make a good impression.Also, remember that 70% of a purchase decision is emotional. Even when there is a significant price difference, an interested party will always be swayed by the first impression of the property.
3. Clear Out
   The next step is to clear out the property. A very common mistake in many homes is not respecting the proper proportions between space and furniture. You’ve likely seen tiny apartments with large bookcases that take up space and overwhelm the environment.If possible, remove any excess furniture that doesn’t contribute to the overall appearance. For example, if the property is spacious (a living room over 30 square meters), you can afford two sofas. Otherwise, we recommend removing one. It doesn’t add anything new, and the impression is of a cluttered space.Additionally, we introduce a concept that we’ve noticed in countless ads on major real estate portals: define each space. If the property has an unused room, take advantage of it and turn it into a play area.If you leave that room as storage, visitors and potential buyers will perceive it as wasted and useless space. Don’t let that happen!
4. Clean
   The goal of Home Staging is not to hide but to enhance every virtue and solve every problem. That’s why another pillar is a thorough cleaning and repair of any possible defects.Keep in mind that the vast majority of people do not buy houses to renovate but to live in. Offering a move-in-ready property from the start is another mission of this discipline.
5. Organize the Space and Decorate
   Many people think that hiring Home Staging services is the same as hiring a decorator. Nothing could be further from the truth. It is a necessary investment to shorten marketing times.Moreover, many of these professionals have rental furniture for the properties they prepare. Therefore, the investment in decoration is minimal.

What should I do if the property is empty or incomplete?

There is also a very cheap option for properties that are empty or incomplete. There are many brands of cardboard furniture for home staging at low prices.

The result?

Homes where visitors can get an idea of the space without needing to take measurements or make guesses. This way, they can imagine their own furniture and belongings, enhancing the effect we mentioned earlier.

If the house is incomplete, there are cardboard furniture options for home staging, from tables and chairs to beds, sofas, shelves, and refrigerators.

What are the benefits of Home Staging?

The benefits of home staging include:

• Increased Visual Appeal: Home staging helps the property look more attractive and welcoming, which can create a better first impression for potential buyers.
• Improves Perception of Space: The proper use of furniture and decoration can make spaces appear larger and more functional, contributing to a better perception by visitors.
• Highlights Positive Features: Home staging emphasizes the positive features of the property, such as natural light, room layout, views, and more.
• Facilitates Visualization: Buyers may have difficulty visualizing what it would be like to live in an empty property. Home staging provides a clearer representation of how spaces can be used.
• Reduces Time on the Market: A well-presented property tends to attract more buyers, which can result in a faster sale.
• Maximizes Perceived Value: Through careful presentation, home staging can influence the perceived value of a property, justifying a higher price.
• Differentiation in the Market: In a competitive market, home staging can help a property stand out from the competition, capturing the attention of potential buyers.
• Quality Photographs: The images of a well-presented property are more attractive and can generate greater interest in online ads and marketing materials.