Common Home Staging Mistakes Sellers Make

The most common home staging mistakes sellers make are easily avoidable but unfortunately, committed all-too often. Like the biggest home showing mistakes sellers make, staging faux pas and unintentional missteps can cost sellers a lot of grief and cause their homes to linger longer on the market. The entire point of home staging is to make the property more attractive to buyers. You want to pique their interests so they are excited to see your property in-person.

Common Home Staging Mistakes Sellers Make

Home staging works well and the statistics prove it. Staged homes enjoy a shorter days on the market lifespan, with an average of just 11 days. Conversely, non-staged houses linger on the market for an average of 90 days. In fact, 95 percent of staged properties sell in only 11 days or less. It’s not only a shorter average days on the market where staged homes outperform their non-staged competitors. Price is positively impacted, as well.

The experience can be grueling for sellers when their personal lives become public displays to strangers and their criticisms. If you’re going to be living in a home when selling, you have to willingly be inconvenienced. So what’s the best way to get out from under the microscope? Sell fast. Seems simple, but those sellers who have had a home on the market for months with no buyer leads can testify that many factors play a role in the final sale. —U.S. News and World Report

Staged properties sell for an average of 17 percent more. Backing that is a study from the National Association of Realtors, which found 52 percent of real estate professionals believe buyers offer more for staged houses. Moreover, the return-on-investment or ROI for staged homes are worthwhile. Ranging from .03 percent to 1 percent of the sales price, this investment returns between 8 and 10 percent. This makes staging one of the easiest ways to increase a home’s resale value. But, it’s got to done right; here are the most common home staging mistakes sellers make:

  • Color and/or theme overload. One principle of home staging places importance on sticking to a theme in each room. This is particularly true when it comes to colors and decor. But it’s just as true when it comes to balance. Striking a balance and not going overboard with color and/or themes is essential to success.
  • Not taking advantage of natural light. Heavy curtains and large furniture covering or obscuring windows is a huge no-no. You can’t expect buyers to form a positive impression about a dark, unwelcoming space. Use as much natural light as you can to make rooms look open and cheerful.
  • Failing to float arrange furniture for space. Homeowners usually arrange their furniture against walls to “maximize” space. But what they are really doing is compromising visual appeal and traffic flow. Arrange furniture into groups, away from the walls, keeping space between each piece, for the best results.
  • Not having a realistic home staging plan. When it comes to selling a home, you need an inclusive plan and that should include staging. You need an actionable plan to follow so each room receives equal attention. Don’t make the mistake of staging on-the-fly because it will produce chaotic, unpleasant results. Formulate a realistic plan and stick to it.
  • Publishing poor quality listing images online. Listing photo mistakes are a house selling blunder you cannot afford to commit. Because the vast majority of house hunts begin online, it’s extremely important to pique buyers’ interest with their first encounter, especially when it’s not in-person. Poor quality listing photos will cause your property to be passed up, time and time again by otherwise interested buyers.

If you are considering buying or selling a home in Orlando’s Hunter’s Creek, or another community, contact us for the latest market information. We are local and experienced in all facets of residential real estate, here to help you, when you need it.