Are you looking to work with a Bergen County realtor and list your home on the market? Though the area is experiencing a seller's market, you still must make sure you are displaying your home's selling points and making it appeal to potential buyers. One way to do this is by staging your home. Here is more information and 10 reasons why seller's should consider staging. 

What Does it Mean to Stage Your Home?

Simply, home staging is the process of rearranging furniture and or adding or removing decor to make your home attractive to potential buyers. Home staging usually involves removing excess furniture and depersonalizing a home, so buyers can better visualize themselves living in it. Additionally staging involves designating a purpose for each room. For example, you may have a second bedroom upstairs that is currently used for storage, you would put a bed in during the staging process so buyers can clearly see what the room can be used for. 

Your experienced Bergen County Realtor will likely recommend you have your home professionally staged by someone who has been trained in the art of arranging a home to sell quickly. While some seller's prefer to stage their homes themselves since the pandemic. Either option is likely to help make your home more competitive on the market, as long as it is done correctly.

Why Should I Stage My Home?

1.   It Will Sell For More. 

The National Association of Realtors found that 31% of potential buyers increased their home offers on staged homes. Also, Most buyers’ agents (81%) said staging a home made it easier for potential buyers to visualize the property as a future home in a 2023 study. The Most common rooms staged in a home include the living room, kitchen, primary bedroom, and dining room. 

2.   It will sell Faster.

In addition to selling for more money, staged homes also sold in less time. Homes not staged stayed on the market for an average of 140 days, while staged homes sold on the market after an average of 25 days. Further, A survey from the International Association of Home Staging Professionals shows, staging helps sell homes three to 30 times faster than the non-staged competition. And again, staging can help increase the sale price by up to 20% on average.

3.   Staging Will Encourage Buyers to See Your Home In Person.

In the age of COVID, most potential buyers were viewed all homes online and narrowed their search to a few, and only then would they go see the home in person. Staged homes look better online and research shows that buyers were 40% more likely to get in their car and visit a staged home in person than an un-staged home. 

4.   Staging Gives Your House that "Cozy Home" Feeling.

When people are looking for homes to purchase, they want to be able to see themselves living in it. A study showed that with staged homes, 81% of Buyers' agents said it was much easier for their clients to envision themselves creating a life in your house.

5.   Staging Will Help You Get a Jump On Moving. 

Your Bergen County realtor will recommend that you pack up a large percentage of your belongings before you list your home, which is also the first step of the staging process. The staging process pushes you to start the moving process early. Rather than waiting for your home to sell and then starting to pack and hire movers and scrambling to make sure everything is accounted for, you will already be ahead of the game when stage. 

6.   Staging Helps You Stand Out. 

Right now, in most of Bergen County and even the country we are experiencing a selling market. This means there are more potential buyers' than there are homes for sale. While it's generally easier for homes to sell in this type of market, that will never mean the competition should be taken lightly. When you stage your home, you ensure that you will stand out immensely and be more favorable and appealing compared to other homes around you that are not staged. 

7.   Staging Helps Certain Features Stand Out. 

In the times during and since COVID, people have turned basements and spare rooms into home offices, home gyms, bars, theaters, and other rooms to entertain themselves and the family. Staging will help these features stand out and can be a huge selling point and ensure that potential buyers pay attention to them. 

8.   Staging Maximizes Your Space. 

Space became even more favorable as the pandemic hit and still continues even at a much lower scale. For a majority, homes double as offices, schools, gyms, restaurants, and more therefore buyers are looking for homes with as much space as possible. When you stage your home and remove the clutter, bulky furniture, and other items that are consuming the space, you now have opened it up and can maximize the use and space of the room. This makes smaller rooms feel larger and encourages potential buyers to schedule more showings. 

9.   Staging Gives Your Home An Inviting And Well-Maintained appearance. 

Even with diligent home maintenance, wear and tear are inevitable. During the initial stages of staging, focus on addressing any broken elements and refreshing areas showing signs of use or damage. These minor enhancements project a well-maintained image, assuring potential buyers that they are investing in a cared-for home.

10.   Staging Gives A Positive First Impression. 

When prospective buyers are exploring various homes for sale in Bergen County, you have a singular opportunity to create an initial impact. If online viewers encounter cluttered spaces, traces of pets, or rooms lacking a clear purpose, they might swiftly shift their attention elsewhere. Staging your home guarantees a consistently positive first impression, whether online or during in-person visits.

If you're considering selling your home, you should consider having it professionally staged, or stage it yourself before you list it with your local, experienced real estate agent like those at the Jacob Lewinson Group. The investment you put in with your time and money will be well worth the quicker and higher priced sale.