I am very proud to announce that Stage to Sell has been nominated for the Real Estate Staging Association (RESA®) Industry Award for RESA Professional Stager of the Year™ for the West Region.

Fabulous stagers from all over North America submitted their before and after photos for consideration, and I am humbled and honored to be counted among the finalists.

The finalists will be judged by a panel of industry professionals, and the winners will be announced at the RESA Home Staging International Conference, January 24th in Las Vegas.

It may sound cliche, but it really is an honor just to be nominated!

In his blog, David points out how the national stats are clear that sellers need to have their homes “priced right and staged right” in order to sell in this highly competitive buyers’ market. He goes on to say how buyers are looking for homes in move-in condition and don’t want to spend time painting and remodeling after they move in. I couldn’t agree more!

Especially in today’s market, it is crucial that your home appears well-maintained and move-in ready or buyers will simply move on to the next property on the list. Some buyers even tell their agents they only want to look at Staged homes.

When you properly prepare your home for sale, you are telling the buyer:

1) You’re not desperate.

Have you already purchased your new home and moved in, leaving your old house completely empty except for the cobwebs? That is a clear clue to a potential buyer that you are likely paying two mortgages and are desperate to sell. Hiring a professional Home Stager to Stage it with furniture and accessories will create a beautiful lived-in look that has buyers breaking down the door to view your home! It also shows buyers that you’re serious enough about getting your home sold that you’ve invested in Staging to show it in its best possible light.

2) Your home has been well-maintained.

Today’s buyers want a home to be move-in ready. So as they walk through your home they are assessing everything they see, trying to determine whether the home has been well-maintained, or whether they will need to do lots of work before they can move their family in. Not to mention that when they see something that hasn’t been well-maintained, they often jump to the conclusion that if the paint/carpet/fixtures haven’t been kept up, there are probably many other problems that have been left untended in the home.

Today’s buyers are also looking for any reason to ask for a credit to lower your asking price. Is the carpet worn? Credit. Is the paint old and peeling or too bright of a bright color? Credit. They may have mentally taken $15,000 off your asking price before they’ve even gotten to the back door.

A professional Stager will advise you on the necessary updates you need in order to get your home in proper showing condition. If paint and carpet are required, we will select a neutral yet appealing paint color and the proper carpeting to make your home look brand new and ready for any family to move right in. Once the initial updates are complete we can add the extras that make your house show like a model home.

If you’re still living in the home and prefer a Do-It-Yourself option, a Staging Consultation will provide you with a comprehensive checklist of what you can do using mostly what you already have in the home to properly Stage the property. If you want a professional to do the work, a Stager can bring in art, plants and accessories to enhance your home’s appeal. If you have a vacant property, we can bring in furniture, art, rugs, plants and accessories to create that model-home look that will entice any buyer!

According to the latest Staging statistics, 94% of Staged homes sell in 35 days or less. If you are serious about selling your home, consult a professional Home Stager.