The return of Alert Level restrictions across New Zealand has brought open homes and other real estate activities to a halt. While we wait for normalcy to resume, now can be a good time to roll the calendar back a year or so, and take another look at our 2020 guides.
In April last year, we had some tips for agents and vendors during uncertain times. As difficult as 2020 was, there were some silver linings for real estate agents. Open homes slowly returned, and some agents made the most of virtual tours as well.
In the meantime, Kiwis’ love of property hasn’t waned. If anything, after a long time spent at home, our needs and desires have just evolved a little. Most importantly, we now know that the housing market will restart, as soon as deemed safe to do so.
With this in mind, here are some expert tips* for your vendors on finding a good home stager – one experienced enough to make their property stand out in this hot market. Please feel free to share it with whomever might be interested.
Use a professional or DIY?
If you have a flair for interiors, it may be tempting to stage the property yourself. Sometimes, it can be as easy as rearranging existing furniture, removing clutter, or adding some artwork.
However, keep in mind that experienced home stagers know what makes buyers tick, and how to use staging to highlight the best features of your property. Of course, it’s an additional cost to factor in, but if carried out properly, staging can be an ‘investment’ in emotional appeal.
How much does professional home staging cost?
Fees vary widely based on the stager’s experience and competency. While it’s better not to choose on price alone, you may want to know what options are available within your budget. When it comes to ball-park figures, prices depend on the size of the property and period length, usually ranging from as little as $1,000 to $5,000 (and even more at the highest end) for a five-week period.
It’s crucial to find a balance between what you’re comfortable to pay, and what you’d like to achieve. Keep in mind that hiring a less expensive stager doesn’t guarantee that you’ll save money. Some stagers may cost less, but they might also use cheaper furniture and accessories. And if the look is not aligned with the property and your target buyers, it may affect the sale price.
The good news is, you may not need to choose between your budget and your property opportunities. With our ‘Advertise Now, Pay Later’ finance option, you can borrow up to $15,000 (or higher amounts on request) to fund the marketing of your home – and you won’t have to make any repayments for 90 days. It’s longer than most vendors need to find a buyer.
Have they received formal training?
Though certification isn’t mandatory for home stagers, it goes to show that the stager has invested in their professional development. Most courses focus on providing market knowledge as well as teaching targeted lifestyle design skills. It can also be a good idea to ask the stager how they’re keeping up to date with staging trends and new techniques.
Keep in mind that a good decorator or interior designer doesn’t always equate to a good home stager. In fact, these two professional figures have opposite goals: interior designers personalise the space to reflect the owners, while home stagers de-personalise it to create buyer appeal.
How does their portfolio look?
More than any certification they might have, a home stager’s portfolio is a representation of who they are and their body of work. Aside from asking simple background information (e.g., whether the stager has a solid track record with clients), portfolio photos will give you an idea of the variety of styles the stagers uses, their overall design sense, and the quality of the accessories they use.
Are you ‘compatible’?
It may sound unimportant, but how you interact with your home stager is also key. After all, this is someone you’re allowing into your home, so you need to feel confident asking questions, and importantly, trust that they can get the job done.
If you’re not satisfied, make sure you ask for clarifications before and even during the contract signing. You can get a good idea from how they respond to your queries and from the information they provide you with.
How we can help
Home staging isn’t only for high-end listings: any property can benefit from quality staging, no matter their price point. Seeing the property furnished, rather than empty, helps the buyer mentally move in. And by using the right scale furniture, staging can even help small properties feel larger.
Like to get started? Click here to learn more about our ‘Advertise Now, Pay Later’ finance tool, and don’t hesitate to contact us if you’d like to discuss your needs.
*Sources:
The Staging | Houzz | Itwdesign
Disclaimer: Please note that the content provided in this article is intended as an overview and as general information only. While care is taken to ensure accuracy and reliability, the information provided is subject to continuous change and may not reflect current developments or address your situation. Before making any decisions based on the information provided in this article, please use your discretion and seek independent guidance