What is this new thing called “staging a home for sale“? First it’s been around awhile and used mostly for high-end homes. Today everyone watches HGTV and can see what rearranging a few pieces of furniture can do for a home. Real estate agents have a home staged primarily for two reasons. First, to make the home more appealing to a larger cross-section of buyers; the second reason is to get better photos. Staging can be done by a professional home stager, the homeowner or the real estate agent.
The first thing anyone can do in staging and the most cost-effective tool is paint…you may love the chartreuse in the dining room, however no one else will, so for the cost of a gallon of paint and several hours of time you can make the buyers viewing your house want your home. Staging is used to eliminate problems when possible…does the 
pink tile in the powder room need to be covered by wainscoting? Arrange furniture so that the best features of the room stand out. Put away that old oversized recliner while the home is for sale. If you still are using your college desk, you may want to consider investing in a new one. Consider whether you want a home buyer looking at the furniture or the room. Staging is used to create harmony so that homebuyers focus on the positive attributes of your home.
With color and furniture arrangement done, the real estate agent is able to take interesting photos of your home. Photos are the first impression for a home buyer! They use the photos to virtually walk thru a home, consider the size of rooms, and decide if the home would be somewhere they want to live. Real estate agents use photos to tell the story of a home and neighborhood. They create visual interest and excitement. 
Remember a picture is worth a thousand words, so if you are selling your home, you want those words to portray your home in it’s best light.
Staging can be done with a nominal budget and a few days of time. It’s one of the best investments a seller can make when putting their home on the market to sell!
