As a real estate agent, you know the importance of staging a home before listing it on the market. A well-staged home can help attract potential buyers and make your client’s property stand out from the competition. However, what happens when your client doesn’t want to stage their home? Here are some steps you can take to address this situation:
1. Educate your client: Explain the benefits of staging a home, such as enhancing the property’s appeal and increasing its value. Also, discuss how staging can help sell the home faster and for a higher price. Provide examples of other properties in the area that were staged and sold quickly.
2. Identify the reasons: Ask your client why they don’t want to stage their home. Perhaps they don’t have the budget for it, or they don’t want to deal with the inconvenience of moving furniture around. Knowing the underlying reasons can help you come up with a solution that addresses their concerns.
3. Suggest alternatives: If your client is hesitant to spend money on staging, suggest low-cost alternatives such as decluttering and cleaning the property, enhancing curb appeal, and making minor repairs. If they’re worried about the inconvenience, suggest staging only certain rooms or hiring a professional stager to do the work.
4. Provide data: If your client still insists on not staging their home, provide them with data that shows the impact of staging on home sales. This can include statistics on how quickly staged homes sell compared to non-staged homes and the difference in sale price between staged and non-staged homes.
5. Be flexible: Ultimately, your client has the final say on whether or not to stage their home. Be flexible and willing to work with them to find a solution that meets their needs. If they’re still unwilling to stage, focus on other ways to market the property, such as professional photography and virtual tours.
Staging a home can greatly benefit the home selling process, but it’s not always possible to convince your clients to do so. By educating your clients, suggesting alternatives, providing data, and being flexible, you can help them make the best decision for their specific situation. Remember, the most important thing is to work together to ensure a successful sale.
So, your client has refused staging, what should you suggest they do instead?
If a client doesn’t want to stage their home, there are other things they can do to improve the appearance of the property and make it more attractive to potential buyers. Here are some alternatives:
1. Declutter and clean: A cluttered and messy home can turn off buyers, so encourage your client to declutter and clean their home thoroughly. This can include removing excess furniture, personal items, and knick-knacks, and deep cleaning the floors, walls, and surfaces.
2. Make minor repairs: Small repairs such as fixing leaky faucets, replacing burnt-out light bulbs, and patching holes in the walls can make a big difference in the appearance of the property. These repairs can help show that the property has been well-maintained and cared for.
3. Enhance curb appeal: The exterior of the property is the first thing buyers see, so it’s important to make a good first impression. Encourage your client to keep the lawn mowed and edged, add fresh flowers to the garden beds, and paint the front door and trim if needed.
4. Invest in professional photography: Professional photos can help showcase the best features of the property and make it more appealing to potential buyers. Consider hiring a professional photographer or using a virtual tour platform to showcase the property in the best possible way.
5. Highlight the positives: Even if a home is not staged, it’s important to highlight its positives to potential buyers. Encourage your client to focus on the unique features of their home, such as a great view or a spacious backyard, and make sure those features are highlighted in the listing description and photos.
Staging consultations conducted by a Professional Home Stager can relieve you, the Real Estate Agent, of having these tough conversations. As important as it is to stage a home prior to listing, it’s just as important to include a home stager to a listing conversation. If you’re interested in adding a stager to your listing appointments, click here to submit a request.
