What It Takes to Rise Above the Competition and Stand Out
Posted: August 9, 2006
DENVER -- If you're one of the 30,000 people living in the metro area who is trying to sell your home, you know it's not easy. In this market, buyers are looking for a perfect match and there is a lot of competition. That's why some sellers who are trying to make their homes stand out try "home staging."
"Home staging is more than having the smell of fresh-baked cookies in the home, flipping on the lights, and playing smooth jazz before a showing," said Victoria Mahoney, a Realtor who is also owner and design consultant of Avant Garde Decor. Her company can take a home that's being looked over in the marketplace, and help it make a lasting impression.
"Home staging is the art of preparing a home for sale, showcasing the positive features of the home and minimizing any kind of negative features," she said. It's taking an empty house and turning it into a welcoming atmosphere.
Vacant properties sometimes feel smaller than they really are, and can give off a negative impression, so Mahoney's solution is to furnish and accessorize. "I would strongly suggest, if at all possible, furnishing it but not completely furnishing it.
Save money by putting in small vignettes and just the rooms of influence," Mahoney said. Those rooms include the main rooms, the living and dining rooms, as well as the kitchen and bathrooms
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Furnishings and accessories should match the style of the home, which will help define space and show function. "You want them to instantly know where, if you have it set up as a bedroom, OK, this is a bedroom. Or if you have a small desk area, they know this is a home office," she said.
Mahoney said staged homes sell 50 percent faster than non-staged homes, and that the perceived value of the home is more. "The result will be less days on the market for the home seller and a better sale price. Even homes that are furnished could use the "Wow" factor," she said.
Victoria Mahoney, Owner of Avant Garde Decor was Featured on Channel 7 News, 5-Part Series, "What It Takes to Rise Above the Competition and Stand Out," August 2006
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