In such a lopsided sellers market, do you really need to stage your home? The answer is yes, definitely!

While this is a sellers market and even the “ugly ducklings” are selling, foregoing the staging process will still result in leaving money on the table. Buyers are surely overlooking many of the flaws they previously would have objected to, however minimizing these flaws, de-cluttering, de-personalizing and transforming empty or outdated spaces will still put more money in a seller’s pocket.

The process of staging is used to allow buyers to visualize themselves, their families and their belongings in the home, and they can do that more easily when they are not distracted by the current homeowners’ personal items or style, especially if it’s not exactly mainstream.

In the case of an empty home, staging helps buyers visualize how the spaces could work for them and allows them to see the home in its very best capacity. By using color pallets and furnishings that are neutral and current, you can appeal to a much larger audience.

While you might love that bright orange wall as a focal point, not everyone else will appreciate it. Removing as many items as possible on the future buyer to-do list will translate into a higher value for the seller, regardless of the market conditions.  Painting and small repairs are an easy, inexpensive way to remove hurdles for the buyer, which adds value. Just giving a house a good solid cleaning can translate into thousands of dollars added to your offer price.

So while it may be tempting to leave your home “as-is” in this sellers market, even a small amount of effort and investment will translate into a far greater gain when it comes to staging and preparing your home prior to listing.

Kerri Payne is a realtor and staging specialist for Residential Properties and owner of Resourceful Staging & Décor. You can contact her at 401-837-0325.