No, no, and no! Decorating is something homeowners do to create the environment that they enjoy. Remodelling and updating are projects homeowners do to create more value and/or a better quality of life.
As a Realtor I am hired to sell the house for the best price! Staging is simply the best way to showcase qualities and generate that sale. As an example, think about the bad MLS photos you have seen, what made them BAD? Generally it was poor camera skills but many of them are just plain confusing. If I can't make the picture look good why would the potential buyer want to tour the home? Buyers are not interested in the decor or great pieces of furniture that do not stay with the house after transfer. Biggest problem seller's face is most buyers can not see the houses potential. What they can see are the challenges; the clutter and the perceived lack of space.
My goal as a staging Realtor is to simplify the rooms by reducing the "stuff." That sounds very easy but most sellers love their "stuff" and do not see how it creates a challenge. The way we live in our homes is based on what is comfortable for us. (That is true in my home too!) I am not saying my seller's need to live uncomfortably but we need to work as a team with the goal in mind.
Take a step back with me and look at the marketplace. If you are the manufacturer of a given product you would look at many factors before attempting to sell it. The price, quality, competition and packaging come to my mind. To sell the most of that product you have would need to be the best in those categories. Taking this concept to real estate the Realtor is responsible for the Comparative Market Analysis. The CMA should objectively look at the first 3 categories and act as the foundation for the pricing strategy. Historically the seller is responsible for the presentation or packaging on the house... not any more! This paradigm shift will allow the staging Realtor to create a "Staged List Price" based on the market data reflecting both staged and unstaged homes.
I will close with these stats from StagedHomes.com:
93% of ASP staged homes sell on average of 1 month or less!*
Average days on market before the SOLD:
160 days for non-Staged Homes*
31.8 days for ASP Staged Homes*
* Based on a StagedHomes.com survey of over 400 homes across Canada & the Continental US prepared for sale by an Accredited Staging Professional (ASP™) from June 2007 through November 2007
