-- HOME STAGING FACTS --

The Real Estate Staging Association (RESA) has published home staging statistics for the 2007 year that includes January

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and February of 2008 as well. The statistics certainly show the value of the services provided by a home stager. Peachtree Home Staging's statistics in the Atlanta area actually reflect fewer days on the market during this 2008 year since the conclusion of this study. As a professional home stager I am excited to see that the homes we are staging are selling, and for the most part, in a record number of days for this market. To view the national statistics for staged occupied home services and for vacant staged home services please click here.

A recent study published by Maritz Research revealed “that decor improvements make a strong impact on home buyers and can ultimately affect a home's market value." The study confirms that 41% of men put a premium on decor while only 30% of women do the same. The study by Maritz also confirms that 63% of home buyers preferred a higher priced home that does not require any renovations over a lower priced home in need of repairs and updating.

Home staging qualifies as a tax deduction.  Home staging fees are often tax deductible as an expense in preparing your home for sale. Contact your accountant for more information.

A recent study by the National Association of the Remodeling Industry found that a $700 paint job results in a 200% recovery of the cost upon resale of the home. (National Post, March 11/05)

Why do new homes always seem to sell quickly in good and bad markets? Designers create beautiful model homes with strong visual and emotional appeal. The functionality of the home becomes clear to home buyers. They are drawn to well-maintained homes that are fresh, well-decorated and in perfect condition.  Home staging creates that effect for both occupied and vacant homes.

A professional home stager is trained specifically to create a clean and stylish environment that appears more like a model home and isn’t focused on any one style. As described in the Business Week article “Showtime for Your Home” by Anne Tergeson, home stagers “usually work with what’s already there. They rearrange furniture to point the eye to a home’s strongest features... To create a sense of spaciousness, they declutter – relegating the contents of countertops, closets and bookshelves to storage. To dress up tired kitchens and outdated bathrooms, they buy accessories, such as area rugs and framed prints. To add warmth, they install light fixtures and repaint walls in warm, neutral tones. Some even remove your furniture and rent replacements.”

What is the return for hiring a home stager? According to the National Association of Realtors, the average time of sale for a staged home is 13.9 days as opposed to 31 days for a home that has not been staged. Additionally, according to the Wall Street Journal, staging can bump up prices 2 percent to 10 percent in a moderate market.

It has become more common for sellers to stage their homes before marketing. With a potential tax deduction, shorter time on the market and the possibility of extraordinary profits, can you really afford not to stage?

Beware!  The credentials some home stagers use is simply indicating the training school they attended, or course they may have taken.  There are no official credentials, licensing or education requirements to become a home stager.  Make sure when you choose to stage your home, your largest asset, that you are selecting a company you can put your trust in as an experienced professional.

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