Diane Black Staging - Serving Oakville, Milton, Burlington,

Home sellers are often challenged by issues like how much to spend on home staging when selling their property. Here are answers to the questions I’m frequently asked by sellers and real estate representatives.

	Do I need to furnish a vacant property to sell it?

	Yes definitely, even though one would think a vacant home is the best way to see exactly what you are buying. There are two reasons why furnishings and accessories should be brought into vacant properties.

	Buyers will often shy away from vacant homes because they need the point of reference provided by furniture to visualize whether their own furnishings will fit the space. Many worry their purchase costs will increase by having to also buy new furnishings. Research shows only 1 in 10 buyers can actually visualize their ‘furniture fit’ in a vacant space. This is one reason why vacant properties can take 3 or more times longer to sell.

	The other reason is that vacant spaces evoke a cold, lack luster feeling. Buyers are looking to attain a desired lifestyle. This is conveyed by seeing the function of each room through its furnishings, and accessories that hint at a life well lived.

	Should a child’s bedroom be transformed back to an adult space?

	There is no right or wrong answer. It truly depends on which buyers your home is most likely to attract. If you live in a child-focused neighbourhood, a child’s room is likely to appeal to younger buyers. A good rule of thumb is to avoid conventional vibrant pink or blue colour schemes and keep the room a gender neutral colour, if possible.

	Is there a guideline on how much to invest in home staging?

	Yes, understanding that the condition of the home and neighbouring competition should influence your staging investment.

	In my experience, a good rule of thumb is to invest .5% to 1% of your list price to move your property quickly. For a $500,000 property this means $2,500 to $5,000. Of course, condition of home and upgrades being showcased in competing properties will influence the staging investment. Interestingly, research reveals that Canadians would be willing to consider investing up to $5,000 to prepare their homes for sale.

	Staging provides a very effective marketing tool to protect your home against costly price reductions - typically occurring in increments of $10,000 decreases - if it sits on the market for a long time. Staging also avoids having your property develop a ‘no buyer interest’ image.