RISING WOMEN EXPERTS... 

I have noticed the recent trend of TV shows geared toward “staging” homes for sale. Why is staging suddenly so important?
    By Vicky Blaine of Inner Space Home Styling

Staging, in real estate terms, refers to preparing a home for sale so that it appeals to the widest possible variety of potential buyers. It involves accentuating the positives of a home, while removing or drawing attention away from the negatives. It is about creating the best possible first impression with each person that walks through the door, while also leaving a lasting positive impression in their mind after they leave. While this has always been the goal for anyone trying to sell a house, there is a steadily-increasing awareness of the art of home staging and the benefits it can provide.

TV shows such as Take This House & Sell It or Designed to Sell are helping people to realize the benefits, even the necessity, of staging a home for sale. Studies have shown that staged homes consistently sell faster and for more money, often above the list price, than unstaged homes. In some markets staging has become the norm, and the competition is such that it may be difficult to sell a home that has not been staged without a significant drop in price.

In terms of the Calgary market, the unprecedented increases in the cost of housing brings with it high expectations. The average selling price of a home in Calgary is now over $496,000. The new popularity of staging just means that people have become more discriminating in their choice of a place to call home, and have a certain expectation for what a purchase of that magnitude should look like.

In many ways, it is a wonder why it has taken so long for the concept of “fluffing” a house for sale to become main-stream. Most of us wouldn’t dream of going to a job interview without dressing in our best business clothes and being groomed to perfection. The same concept applies to showing your home. Buyers are essentially interviewing your house to see if it has the potential to become their home. Just like the job market, the competition can often be tough. You want to make sure you take advantage of every opportunity to capture buyers’ attention and stand out from your competitors.

For more advice on home staging, please contact Vicky at 403.686.7517 or via e-mail at inner-space@shaw.ca  Visit her website at www.innerspacecalgary.com