Home Staging is a real estate marketing technique that consists of preparing and revaluing a property to be sold or rented. The objective is to transform a property into a model, sober and welcoming one, to take photographs, videos or virtual tours to make it easier for potential buyers to view it, and to increase the possibilities that the different rooms have. In Spanish, Home Staging would be something like “puesta en escena de la casa”.
Thus, the objective of the home staging is to obtain a positive change in the presentation of the premises or property, in order to make it more attractive to potential buyers and tenants, and thus increase the chances of selling or renting it in the shortest time and with the greatest benefit for the owner.
Home Staging objectives and results:
Depending on areas and market conditions, the application of Home Staging techniques to a property or premises for sale has an impact on :
- More attractive photographs.
- Increase in the number of commercial visits to the property.
- Improving the first impression of potential buyers.
- Increase in selling price.
- Reduction of time to market.
- Acceleration of the sale or lease transaction.
Home Staging is not the same as decorating the property. The decoration or interior design has an aesthetic objective and the search for comfort for the inhabitants of the property, so it is done in a personalized way according to their tastes and needs. The objective of home staging is to sell the property as soon as possible, so we look for a standard or universal style that highlights the strengths of the property and appeals to as many people as possible.
1.- Your property does not “burn”. Speaking in real estate jargon, when a house or premises goes on the market and is not sold or rented quickly, it is “burned”. Home Staging prevents this from happening and allows you to sell or rent for the initial price without having to undergo downward negotiations or annoying haggling.
2.- Your property stands out online. In a market in crisis and saturated with properties, Home Staging becomes your best weapon to stand out from the rest. The work ends with a professional photographic report aimed at capturing the attention of customers on the Internet. Better photos=more visits
3.- Your property makes you fall in love. As always when it comes to image, it’s the first impression that counts. Special attention must be paid to emotional details (even using sensory marketing techniques) so that visitors fall in love in a matter of seconds?
4.- Your property is exhibited. Most people are not able to imagine the potential of an empty house that always seems smaller than it actually is. With the minimum possible investment, any corner can be shown to its full potential.
Low Cost Philosophy. The goal of home staging is for the homeowner to make money, not spend it. Money spent on home staging is an investment, not an expense. If it is intended to be rented, the furniture shall be suitable and sufficient for such use.
6.-The investment in Home Staging that you make in a house destined to rent is deductible in your income tax return. It is a very profitable investment in every way.
What techniques are used in Home Staging?
Home Staging techniques do not involve major renovations to the property, they consist of incorporating small changes in the furniture, in the organization of the space, in the decoration and in the way the property is presented. However, the condition of a house will depend on the general condition of the house.
In the case of a second-hand house, the main tasks will be:
- Remove the personal belongings of the owners. One of the missions of home staging is to make prospective buyers imagine themselves living there and this will be more difficult for them if they see the photos, objects and personal belongings of the owners.
- Order the spaces. To make a good impression, it is necessary to eliminate overcrowded drawers and cluttered furniture and shelves.
- Clear and remove excess furniture. If the house is spacious, you can afford to have two sofas, otherwise you will have to remove one. In addition, if the property has an unused room, having it as a storage room will make potential buyers perceive it as a wasted and useless space. So turn it into an office or a play area.
- Clean and repair all those small flaws that give the appearance that the house is in need of renovation. Offering a home that is ready to move into is another mission of home staging.
- Organize the spaces and decorate strategically to highlight the strengths of the property and make the drawbacks invisible.
