Local Real Estate & Home Staging Expert

Named Among The Nation’s

Top 5 Home Staging Professionals
 

In a recent report by the National Association of Exclusive Buyer Agents, Mary McDonald, Broker Associate and member of The Mary Opfer Team at RE/MAX Unlimited Northwest was named among the Nation’s Top 5 Home Staging Professionals.

The report highlighted the effects of Home Staging on buyers and warned buyers and their agents to be aware of the emotional draw to properties that have been staged for sale. The report illustrated how working with an buyer’s agent who is unfamiliar with home staging can lead to selecting a home to purchase based solely on emotion. While the report’s intent was to encourage buyers to work with the association’s member agents, it exposed critical reasons why both buyers and sellers should choose an agent
who is very familiar with and embraces Home Staging.

FOR BUYERS?

Your agent’s role is not to point out how beautiful a kitchen is - you can see that for yourself. Instead, your agent is there to look for value either in the condition, location and square footage of a property as well as the area amenities and schools, for example. A skilled agent will help you see past the clutter and mess in a home that is otherwise a good value. Additionally, in a beautifully staged home, your agent should be able to help you appreciate what will be left behind once all of the décor is removed.

For example, a recent buyer working with Mary McDonald saw two very nearly identical properties.  One property was vacant while the other was beautifully staged. Both properties were in the same cul-de-sac, had hardwood floors, stainless appliances and gorgeous cherry cabinets. The staged property differed in that it was well-lit and decorated in warm neutrals. There was of course an immediate emotional draw to the staged home. Mary pointed out, however, that if the buyer were to duplicate the décor
in the staged home, she could make the vacant property just as lovely. Because the vacant home was priced more aggressively and the underlying value was identical, Mary’s buyer selected that home to purchase.

FOR SELLERS?

In today’s market with inventory of homes at an all-time high, buyers have a lot of homes to see before making their choice. Not only are buyers are looking for the best value in a home that is ideally located for their needs as well, but also one that is well-cared for and not in need of expensive repairs. When your home enters the market, it becomes a product similar to one on any store shelf. How many times have you found yourself rummaging through boxes of identical products on a store shelf selecting that
box that doesn’t appear to have been dropped in shipment and otherwise shows no sign of damage?

Similarly, buyers are looking for a home that shows little sign of wear and tear by previous owners. Before staging your home, Mary’s team therefore makes suggestions as to what, if any, repairs sellers should consider before exposing their home to the market. Then, as part of their marketing plan, Mary (also owner of Re-Creating Interiors, a professional home staging company) and her team performs a professional Home Staging before your home is photographed and marketed. The Staging is performed
to highlight your home’s best features and to help your home appeal to the widest audience. And it works. What happened to the staged property in the story above? While still within the appraised value range for its type of home, the staged property sold shortly afterwards for $12,000 more than the vacant home.