Staging a flip - whats your opinion?

Question

Morning all, happy Friday!

We are getting ready to list a home and have been reading a few RE blogs and thought I would ask those that have been there, done that.

What is your experience/opinion on staging a home before listing it?

Staging the home with a few pieces of furniture & home decos certainly makes the home look more "homey" (especially for the MLS photos) and staging can help a buyer visualize their items being in the house. But on the other side, does it make more sense to leave it empty and let a buyer see it as a blank slate?

Probably not a cut and dry/black and white answer - just curious on your opinions on the subject.

Thanks for sharing any of your thoughts!

Chris

David Avetisyan · Answer

Staging would depend on your local market, and your budget.

You can consider, as pointed out preciously, possibly staging only for MLS photos with the use of the same items.

My personal recommendation would be, if considering staging, to stage the house completely using the big ticket items, so as to provide a vision, as it seems like a lot of first time buyers really need that.

Good luck!

Kevin Edwards · Answer

It's been a few years since we did this, but we personally staged the house we rehabbed and it sold quickly.  In fact, they tried to negotiate the furniture in the house deal!  Unfortunately, it was our own personal furniture from our apartment.

I don't necessarily recommend doing what we did, but the point is that it can make a huge difference especially if the one staging understands the basics of interior design.

Jesse T. · Answer

I think it will depend on your price range - how much you want to do in terms of "staging".

For smaller, lower end properties it may be better to just offer the lower price.

The low end would be to get furniture on CL and/or fake "beds".

If you can't find a stager in a good time frame, but think furniture would be way to go, you could rent furniture for pictures/showings.  It probably would end up being similar price-wise.

One thing you can do with either the CL or rental furniture is use the same piece in multiple room photos.  You probably don't want to drag beds around, but a small couch, desk, table or nightstand could be in pics in multiple rooms.

Less is more for furniture for staging.

Tonia Hill · Answer

Chris,

What is popular in your area?  Where I live, staging a house is almost never heard of and there are not companies around here to even offer that service.  In larger areas it is almost a given.  I believe it does serve it's purpose if that is the area trend.  If you were to do it yourself, keep in mind, the likely hood that the buyer may already have furniture of their own.  Do you have a place to store if needed? Would that add to the cost? Also, the crew to haul in and out?  Would that furniture work for the next house?  There are lots of staging "hacks" you can do and there are some sites that give good suggestions. i.e, putting rubbermaid containers or boxes covered with a bed spread to give the appearance of the bed (obviously putting a sign saying "For Display purpose only, not to be sat on"  but not the cost.

Also, maybe the thought maybe instead of staging furniture cost you could offer the buyer help with closing costs and/or maybe an allowance say of $1,000 for new washer and dryer.  This way the buyer is actually feeling the benefit of your willingness to get the sale. Hopefully you added a little cushion on your asking price above your needed profit so cover these.  :0)

Best wishes and good luck in selling your house!

Tonia

Marc Carlson · Answer

Hi Chris,

On average a home that is staged will sell faster and for more money.  As Cal said, if you can find a good staging company, then it is well worth the money.  Talk to them and see if they will give you a discount if you give them repeat business.

Cal C. · Answer

I've done both.  If you have a stager you have worked with and they know what the heck they're doing and for a good price, then I strongly suggest you do it.  However, I've also been unable to find a local stager in  one of my markets and I've still been able to sell the properties, but not near as fast on average as I did with a great stager.

Michael Connor · Answer

Morning Chris and all,

In my opinion (as I don't have any experience per se in staging for flips), is that if you knew that the actual buyer of your home would pay top dollar preferred a blank slate, that's what you'd do. Seeing as we don't have crystal balls, or know what type of vision each potential buyer has in mind, it's virtually impossible to match that. However, I think that staging can certainly help create an ideal of what the house could look and feel like if it were decorated. The staging gives configuration/space/layout options. A blank slate can give the illusion the house is larger than it is. It'll also save you money on the staging costs.

Cheers,

Michael

Sam Craven · Answer

We do a good volume of properties.  We stage them to maybe sell for more, but definitely sell faster.

Eric Moore · Answer

@Chris Cooper I guess it would depend on the level of the flip.  For a low end flip I wouldn't think it would be necessary to do.  Plus if you don't have your own furniture it probably won't be cost effective.  I know each market is different but I would imagine staging would be more appropriate for middle to high end flips.

Chris Cooper · Answer

Hi Tonia,

We did read about a few hacks. One we are using is to use 4 milk crates and an air mattress with a bedspread for a bed (and a do not use sign!). Much easier to store and was less expense.

It does go both ways out here, searching the MLS there are a good mix of both staged and vacant. Majority have furniture, but they are clearly lived in by the amount of items in the house vs few items to "sell the vision".

We are leaning towards minimal staging, which will help by giving us a place to sit and talk to buyers (we hope!) during a open houses we'll hold.

Just looked up your town, you are way up North in Wisconsin!

Thanks for the input and have a good weekend!

Chris

Staging a flip - whats your opinion?

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