Before selling their house, many homeowners in Illinois perform a thorough cleaning, take care of minor repairs and mow their front lawn to make a good impression on potential buyers. However, sellers who wish to find a buyer as quickly as possible may want to consider letting a professional stage their home. According to the Real Estate Staging Association, real estate properties staged by a professional spend approximately 73 percent less time on the market.

The purpose of staging

The purpose of home staging is to create an interior that is aesthetically pleasing and to help buyers view the property in its best possible light. When a home is staged well, it is inviting, comfortable and elicits the emotion of desire within potential buyers.

Home staging also allows properties to compete with similar locations on the market at the same time. For example, a homeowner is selling their house at the same time as their neighbor down the street. Both homes have three bedrooms, two bathrooms and feature a variety of other similar interior and exterior features. If the homeowner chooses to stage his home and their neighbor does not, more attention may be given to his home, allowing him to take it off of the market faster than his neighbor.

What do home stagers do?

Those selling property who hire a home stager to enhance the appearance of their home will likely focus on creating a look that appeals to a wide variety of tastes, instead of the unique style of the seller. During the staging process, the staging professional may complete the following tasks:

  • Examine all aspects of the home and explain what needs to be done to get it ready.
  • Identify ways to highlight the best features of the home and compensate for its shortcomings. For example, the stager may recommend removing curtains from a window with a beautiful view of the outdoors.
  • Help a seller understand which pieces of furniture they should keep in their home during the selling process and which should be removed during showings.
  • Bring in artwork, curtains, furniture, carpets and other household accessories to make the home appear like a place where buyers can picture themselves living in.
  • Put finishing touches on the home, like placing a bouquet of flowers on the kitchen table, before a showing.

Although home staging may help a home appeal to buyers and increase its chances of selling quickly, the need for staging often depends on the current state of the real estate market. Buyers who are curious about whether or not staging would benefit the sale of their home should consider consulting with an attorney who can provide more information about the current market.