I always make it a point to explain to my clients the importance of staging, not only for the photos of the property that will show up on the internet and on the MLS, but for showing appointments and open houses. It’s all part of that very critical "time on market." In this area, if you are on the market much beyond 60-90 days, you need to make some changes because buyers will be more likely to pass you over for fresher inventory; at that point, your changes will need to include a serious price review. The home must be ready and staged by the time it is listed: no grace periods!
I’ll share an experience with you from a recent open house on one of my listings: I was holding an open house at a vacant listing. (iIf you think staging is important in your lived-in home, imagine a vacant home where EVERY flaw is glaring at you!) I sat at the open house on Saturday and Sunday. Saturday I had a couple of guests and they didn’t look too impressed. The floors were dirty with the standard "walked on" appearance that you get in fall and winter. The windows had splatter on them. The bathrooms were dull. The owners had painted — not professionally — and there was paint splatter and streaks. There was a stale odor in the home. Some of the smoke alarms were chirping because of almost-dead batteries. I called the sellers who live far away and asked them if they could quickly get somebody to come in and spruce up the home for the next open house on Sunday. I worked with them to make some minor changes: We staged the bathrooms, swept and vacuumed the floors, cleaned a few windows, changed some curtains that were very worn and purchased some room spray for a more pleasant odor. Sunday’s open house brought several groups of multiple people. Feedback on the condition of the home was more favorable and the visitors were more willing to discuss price and other issues with the home.
Information provided by Nancy K. Smith, First Weber Group Southwest Regional Manager First Weber Group-Dodgeville , Platteville , Mineral Point , Spring Green , and Muscoda Sometimes it doesn’t take much to drive home buyers away or draw them in. Take the time to clean and stage when selling your Wisconsin property. Thanks for stopping by the First Weber Wisconsin real estate & Wisconsin living blog for a real-life lesson on the difference staging makes.