I like to keep track of what is happening in the home staging industry globally and the following article by American Home Staging Expert, Alice T. Chan arrived in my inbox today on this very topic so I would like to share it with you.

Don’t Make Your House Appeal to the Masses

By Alice T. Chan – Setting the Stage

On a recent episode of HGTV’s Designed to Sell they said something that really made me think about the mis-perceptions and old school and ineffective guidance that surrounds the home staging and real estate industry.

The person said, “you should make your home appeal to the mass market”

Let me be the first to tell you that that is 100% WRONG!!

You don’t want to appeal to the masses because that’s not who is going to buy your house.

Think about it. A young family is not going to be interested in purchasing that 1 bedroom condo in the city. In fact, they are probably the sellers of that property, so “staging” that condo to include child friendly features would not make any sense at all. In fact, it would be confusing to buyers and may even be a turn-off to most.

What you need to do is appeal to your ideal target buyer. Who is most likely going to purchase your home? Based on your neighborhood, your price range, your school district and many other factors, who is your home going to appeal to? Is it a young family? A bachelor or bachelorette? A wealthy executive family? or is it seniors?

What has been taught and preached over the years is that you need to depersonalize your home, you need to make it appeal to the general public, and the list goes on.

Unfortunately, what’s happened is that we end up with a flood of boring, cookie cutter, generic houses on the market.

Yes, you should remove YOUR personality from the home, but your home still needs A personality.

Consider this, white or beige walls, white cabinets, white countertops, beige flooring, no photos, no color…BLAH!!! How memorable is that? It’s not! And remember, when buyers are out seeing 10, 20 or hundreds homes, what is going to make your house STAND OUT from the rest and be memorable…it’s not the boring vanilla box you created that’s for sure.

Also, neighborhoods tend to attract a specific type of crowd. Homeowners generally know what that demographic is because they are that demographic or was at one time. Design a lifestyle in your house to attract that specific demographic.

Don’t get trapped in the other mis-perception which is that you just need to make your house pretty. Sorry to burst your bubble again, but pretty doesn’t sell.

Your home should tell a story about the ideal homeowner…make that story count!

So…for a truly effective home sale, really consider who is most likely going to purchase the home and upgrade and showcase your home with the features that will attract those buyers – appliances, flooring, colors, room use and more.

Oh, and one last thing…get away from the mindset that you’re going to put the cheapest products in the home to get it ready to sell. I hear it all the time…you don’t care because you’re not living there. When that is the energy that you’re putting into preparing the house to sell, you will invite the same type of energy back with home buyers who give you lowball offers. It’s an energetic exchange..be careful what you put out there.

I would love your feedback and welcome your comments on this article.

I recently started writing articles as an industry expert for The Saving Money Expert digital magazine.  The online magazine was created for Australian consumers to discover ways to become better, smarter, consumers and by providing news, articles,guides and how-to’s they educate their readers about how to save money.

My first article is Prepare your House for Sale by Getting Dressed for the Occassion.

In the article I share my Top Six Makeover Strategies to Add Massive Value to Your Home

Read More

Charyn Youngson

Author | Professional Home Stager | Speaker | Mentor

The recent RP Data – Rismark Home Value Index Release landed in my inbox this week and the news for homeowners around the country wishing to sell their homes in 2011 is not great.

Capital city (-0.2 per cent) and ‘rest of state’ (-0.1 per cent) home values both fell in seasonally-adjusted terms in November. In raw terms, the declines were larger (-0.6 per cent and -0.8 per cent, respectively). RP Data & Rismark expect further weakness in 2011 as rates rise.

Christopher Joye, Rismark’s managing director, stated “We believe that there is a risk of at least three cash rate increases in 2011”,  in which case he predicts there will be little-to-no nominal dwelling price growth over 2011, with a chance of small nominal declines.

What is happening in today’s real estate market?

A slow real estate market is called a “buyer’s market” because there are lots of homes for sale and fewer buyers fighting for them. With a glut of houses on the real estate market pushing prices downward, buyers have more power in any negotiation. They know the seller needs to sell their house more than they need to buy it. The perceived pressure to make a quick buying decision is gone and buyers have higher expectations than ever before. They demand value for money and will walk away if a property fails to impress. Houses that don’t appeal are left languishing on the market dropping in value with each passing week that they sit there.

How can sellers improve their bottom line?

Home staging right now is more important than ever because of this shift in the balance of power from sellers to buyers. With house prices trending down, it means home sellers have a greater need for home staging services to preserve their equity and help them make a faster sale.  The current statistics for average days on the market is 120 days or longer – that’s 4 months! What is it worth to you to sell your home fast and to achieve the best possible price?

I am happy to report that even in this downward market, my clients have been achieving great results. Some are still selling on the first open which is the absolute perfect time to get your highest offer when buyers are first exposed to the property and there is the highest level of interest. If you are contemplating selling your home any time soon then take my expert advice.

Charyn’s Top 3 tips for Selling in a Buyer’s Market

1. Be realistic about price – face up to reality and accept that if the market has dropped in your area, you will have to lower your expectations. Do your research and compare similar house sales in your suburb. Go out to open inspections and get a feel for what buyers are looking for. Make mental notes of the best things that appealed to you and see how you could improve your home in a similar way. Listen to what buyers are saying at open inspections – you will be surprised at the things that they don’t like and won’t compromise on.

1. Change your mindset about spending money on a pre sale makeover – There is a big difference between something that “costs” you money – you understand the money has gone and that’s that. But when you make an “investment”, you plan to see a return on your money. Home Staging is an investment in your single largest financial asset.

1. Put in 100% effort. It may sound like a no brainer, but unfortunately not all of my client’s fully embrace the recommendations that I make to prepare their home for sale. Some only put in 50% effort and therefore they end up with 50% result. This is your largest asset. Get off your rear end, put in the hard yards and you will receive the best possible outcome. Remember like all things in life – you only get out what you put in!

Happy Selling

Charyn Youngson

Professional Home Stager, Property Renovator, Mentor, Speaker

Author of Sold for Top Dollar.

What will it take to sell my property? That is the burning question on home seller’s this lips this silly season.  But are they willing to listen to the answer and take appropriate action.  In my experience home sellers are their own worst enemy and they sabotage the sale of their properties by failing to meet the buyer’s needs.

It is a buyers market out there people!  This is the toughest Real Estate market experienced in years with a record amount of homes on the market and these homes are staying n the market for an average of 120 days or more. That’s 4 months of week in, week out stress of keeping their house in open inspection mode for the average home owner.

Buyers have a virtual smorgasbord of homes to choose from and if they don’t like what they see they will just keep on looking until they find that elusive dream home. If a house doesn’t measure up to their high expectations, buyers aren’t even putting in low offers. Homes that fail to impress, are getting no offers!

Home sellers are not responding to market conditions. They believe they can just whack their home on the market “as is” with minimal effort and expect to get their asking price. They are delusional – no buyer in their right mind is going to pay top dollar for a home that has poor presentation and no wow factor. Buyers have all the power and they are not going to part with their hard earned cash in these economic times for any old house. They are seeking perfection. They are not buying a house they are trading up to a new lifestyle and if a house isn’t presented to them in a “move in” ready state with nothing to do but unpack their bags then home sellers have no hope of getting a favourable deal anytime soon.

So when a new client asks me “What will it take for me to sell my property?” I give them the hard cold truth – give the buyers what they want. Walk out of your home, put on your buyer’s glasses and look at your home through their eyes. Invest some time, effort and dollars in presenting your house like a show home because that is the only way to you are going to get sale in this heavily weighted buyer’s market. Show them the lifestyle!!