Home staging can possibly give your home a quick sale and high return on your investment. So, to archive this you will need to stage your home. Unless, of course, your area is selling like hot cakes.



But, today's volatile marketplace is starting to climb down from up high and the prices are getting to somewhat reasonable levels. So now especially, you will want to have your house stand out from the others.

Staging is not only about clearing out clutter and re-arranging furniture, but could also include painting, redecorating and landscaping. The best way to evaluate the big ticket items is to look at your home. Is the kitchen old, worn and un-inviting? How about the bathrooms? Are they old and outdated? These upgrades usually bring a good return on your investment, but plan carefully and use neutral colors.

You can also speak to your realtor, but keep in mind they want to sell your home, so they may not want you to take the time to update. So, ask how much more your house can sell for with the upgrades. Ask others (friends, family and neighbors) also and try to decide on a price for your house. But be flexible and decide what's important. Do you need to sell quickly or for the right price? Your realtor can help with those decisions, so tell them what you want and expect in the sale of your house.

STATISTICS FOR HOME STAGING

• Non-staged homes were on the market an average 30.9 days. Staged homes /12 time less.

• Staged homes average 5-10% more than the asking price.

• A survey of 2,772 mixed properties indicated that 129 of these homes were staged and they sold an average of 13.9 days and 6.3% over the asking price.

Home staging can be done by you or you can hire a professional to do the work. Keep-in-mind that if your home is going on the market today, you will want it to look it's best to prospective buyers. A nice looking home sells quicker and at a better price. How many times have people looking for a home said; “We looked a lot of homes and all needed work or were messy.” You want a buyer to fall in love with your home once they enter.

Would you purchase a home that was in lousy condition? Of course not. So; why would you show your house if there were things that needed to be fixed or repaired? Home buyers can be very savvy when shopping for a house. So; you should also be as savvy when preparing your house for sale.

Home staging can be a simple process if you can do the work yourself. But it can also be financially rewarding if you have to hire some one to do the work for you. How? In the fact that your house will be more price competitive and can sell faster than the houses without home staging.