Selling Your House In A Sellers’ Market

When selling your house in a sellers’ market, it’s tempting to believe it will sell quickly.  And if it connects with early buyers, it probably will.  But here’s the thing ~ wouldn’t you love to get more than you ever thought you could? And quicker than the competition, so you can spend that extra money taking a trip, furnishing your new home, or having the luxury to choose?  Probably the BEST time to stage is in a sellers’ market, and here are 5 reasons to do so:

1. Selling your house generates a return on investment for what is typically your greatest asset. Staging your house maximizes that return. Yes, even in a sellers’ market! This is because many people thinking of selling their house jumps on the same bandwagon during this period.  You will therefore still have competition.  You want YOUR house to stand out.
2. It’s ALWAYS a buyers’ market. At the end of the day, it’s the buyer who will determine what your house is worth.  A house that is professionally staged typically sells higher and for more money.   Recently Stage Right prepared a house that sold for 105% of list price.  Unfinished basement, no granite, no upgrades.  This house sold faster and for $50,000 more than a larger house the same age, with all the bells and whistles and on the same street. It was professionally staged so buyers could see its features; the other was not and it showed (no pun intended!).
3. When selling your house in a sellers’ market, it’s important to remain aware of the buyer’s need to be confident s/he can live in the space. Buyers don’t want to feel they are moving into someone else’s house.  They don’t want to know how YOU live ~ sorry, it’s the truth ~ they want to see themselves living in the house, with THEIR families and THEIR belongings.  Professional home staging depersonalizes and neutralizes the environment and allows a broad range of potential buyers to see their new space, not your stuff.
4. If you are selling a vacant house in a seller’s market, it is particularly important to have it professionally staged, at least key spaces (rooms you can see the main entry, kitchen, dining room, living and/or family room especially if no formal living room, principal bedroom and bathrooms). This not only creates a GREAT first impression but allows buyers to see the scale and visualize how space can be used and furnishings arranged.  It’s truly difficult to determine what size bed can fit in a bedroom if you can’t see it in context.
5. Nobody I know or have ever heard of lost money using a qualified, professional home stager to prepare their property for sale. The investment in staging your house in a sellers’ market or any market for that matter will result in a quicker sale and the highest price your market will bear.

Jill Ackerman, MHA, CCSP®, CCC™, RRPM, VSS is the founder and principal staging professional of Stage Right, a home staging company serving the Hamilton, Burlington and Oakville areas.  If you are thinking of selling your house in this very hot sellers’ market, call Jill at 289.880.0500 to book a comprehensive consultation or contact Stage Right through our website.