We've heard that anywhere from 90% to 95% of potential buyers cannot visualize their furnishings in an empty room. Even if that number is lower, why allow a buyer to question something about your home that can be easily answered?
A professional home stager can help define a room with the proper placement of furniture. This will not only allow the focal points and architecture of the home to be featured, but also provide a natural flow from within the room so buyers can understand just how they can live in the house.
Furniture defines a room in more ways than one.
A small room feels larger once it is properly furnished because your eye has something to relate the space to. Some buyers may think that they can't fit their furniture in an empty room as they generally imagine their furniture is larger than it really is. Staging demonstrates the scale of furniture in the space so buyers aren't left to wonder.
This very small guest room, directly off a living room, looked like nothing more than a passthrough when it was empty. A lounger with just the right scale and nightstand allows a buyer to see exactly how the room can be used with no more guessing. It simply did not look like a bed could fit in the space before it was staged.
This small loft was advertised as a bedroom, but there was not a bed in the room and it seemed too small. Using a bed from another room in the house, this space was transformed into the bedroom that it was being marketed as.
On the other hand, an oversized empty room can feel overwhleming and buyers are often concerned about what to do with the space. Staging can make these large spaces feel more livable and cozy once furnished. It can also provide a creative layout to the space that shows the full potential of the room.
This large great room had two focal points, a fireplace and built in tv stand. It was important to accent both, while still keeping the room cozy and intimate. By creating several sitting areas the room felt warm and inviting.
This was a unique project in that we were called in to only stage the master bedroom because everyone who had viewed the house didn't know how to fit a bed in here due to the awkward floorplan and sloped ceiling. Not only did a bed fit, but we put in king size bed and a sitting area, in addition to a dresser which is not in the photo. After this room was staged, not one potential buyer questioned the layout.
On average, staged houses sell faster and for more money. Why? These examples are just one of the reasons. Don't let your potential buyers wonder - Will my furniture fit? What do I do with this room? Confusion and questions hinder a sale - beautiful staging which allows buyers to connect emotionally with the property enhance a sale.
This post is Part 4 in a series answering Why Hire a Professional Stager in Portland, Oregon?
Previous posts can be found here:
Why Hire a Professional Stager in Portland Oregon? I Watch HGTV! Part 1 in a Series
Why Hire a Professional Stager in Portland Oregon? I Already Decorated It! Part 2 in a Series
Why Hire a Professional Stager in Portland Oregon? My Pictures Are Fine! Part 3 in Series
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Yes, yes, yes! Case in point: we recently staged a townhouse that had seemingly small bedrooms. We happened to be there finishing up when a buyer was brought in by his agent. He and his parents had already seen three other IDENTICAL townhouses (why three, I don't know) that were vacant and was undecided.
Within minutes of entering the townhouse we heard "I love it." When they came upstairs, the buyer asked us what size the bed was. A queen, we said. Ah! he said. There you have it. The only reason he would have asked was because the vacant townhouses gave him doubts about whether a queen bed would fit.
He made an offer 20 minutes later.
In a vacant house, a buyer has no persepctive, no frame of reference.
You are SO RIGHT, and your pictures are an eloquent testimony to it. Keep spreading the good word!
Perfect examples David in our war against vacant homes! Keep up the fight.
Wendy ~ Great testimonial - thanks for sharing! Congrats on the quick sale.
Laurie ~ I'll keep spreading it as much as I can =)
Ginger ~ With the amount of vacant homes on the market this is more important than ever.
I love this demonstration. It is so true and your photos prove it. Great job.
David, It doesn't look like a bed would have fit in the first set of photos, sweet staging job! Oh so true about the large spaces being overwhelming and great photos to prove your point.
Great post and great examples. Keep up the good work.
I'm working with a house now that has a pass thru bedroom. I was thinking of making it an office but NOW I'll keep it as a bedroom.
Thanks
David, fantastic job! Your photos should be in a textbook for homesellers!
Chrissie ~ Thank you!
Cynthia ~ Thaks for the feedback. The lounger fit with room to spare!
Virginia ~ I'm glad you were able to get a bit of inspiration for your room.
Jane ~ A homeseller textbook... Hmmm =)