The Psychology of Home Staging

The concept of home staging is not hard to grasp. Essentially, home staging is the art (and science) of maximizing the appeal of a home to prospective buyers. The goal is to help a home to sell as quickly as possible, for as much money as possible. The process is proven to work-in fact, studies have shown that while staging requires an investment of 1%-3% of the home’s asking price, it typically generates and 8%-10% return!

Of course, there is more to the process than simply tidying up the home—in fact; effective home stagers are knowledgeable in psychology as well as interior decorating! But home staging is not, decorating. There is a difference. When we decorate our homes, we choose the colors, elements, our hobbies and personal tastes and design them in ways that make us happy. This is the other half of the coin, with redesign and taking these concepts into consideration with the client. This is interior design. But, the day a sign is placed in your yard saying “For Sale”, it is no longer your home, but merchandize for potential buyers. By blending the principles of interior design, the psychology of “why people buy things” and for lack of a better term merchandizing techniques, a certified and trained home stager will take the property and make it appeal not just for the homeowner or agent but for many more, in order for the potential buyer(s) to visualize how they would live in this particular home. This is home staging.

It always amazes me when an agent will say, “I stage my own homes”, and some are okay, but it is more than just tidying up the house. There is a reason why we place the plant in a certain area and hang the towels just so, make the bed a certain way, place certain art in the home. In addition, to use the analogy: There is a reason when you walk into Pottery Barn, Pier One, etc, you want to buy! a particular item(s) for your home. The same principles are incorporated into the certification and training process of home staging. There are many who call themselves home stagers, but few have actually taken the extra steps to become fully certified. There is an actual psychology of décor-ology.

I personally have been in many beautiful and tastefully decorated model homes and existing homes and the homeowner/builder/agent is confused and troubled as to why it is still on the market after 60 plus days. I tell them, it’s too decorated. I will say, your home is just lovely (and it is), but now it’s time to stage it to sell. A professional home stager would never begin to tell a surgeon how to do a procedure or an auto mechanic how to repair a car, but when it comes to the selling of your property we will tell you what sells.

The short and long of it is look for the certification, the training, not just the” fluffy pillow look” with the fake food on the plate. There is a difference.