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soft staging your home

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Soft staging is a lesser-known version of home staging. Staged homes have a better track record of selling faster and for more money than empty homes, but while the investment in it definitely comes back to you when you sell the home, not every seller has that investment readily available.

In those cases, soft staging can be an excellent alternative. Soft staging has the same concept as traditional home staging but without the furniture. The seller can bring in just a small amount of new artwork and accessories that complement the home to make it feel warmer and more inviting. These decorative additions may seem simple, but they have a big impact on a home buyer’s psychology. A home with at least some touches of décor is more attractive than one without them.



The Benefits of Soft Staging

It’s budget-friendly. As I mentioned, soft staging requires a much smaller investment than conventional home staging. Instead of bringing in full rooms of furniture, just use artwork and smaller pieces of décor to freshen up the space. This makes the number of pieces (if you rent these items for staging or if you actually purchase these items and take them with you when you move) significantly smaller, as well as the move-in and move-out process much simpler, resulting in significantly smaller fees. Even a small investment in soft staging will provide a noticeable return.

It makes an empty home feel warmer and more inviting. The most powerful part of home staging and soft staging alike is the effect staging has on potential home buyers. Staging makes a listing feel more like home rather than just an empty house. It may seem unnecessary from the outside ─ after all, the décor won’t be there when the buyer actually moves in ─ but the truth is, buying a house is a very emotional process. Small details like towels in the bathroom and an open cookbook on the kitchen counter help buyers imagine themselves living there. It’s especially helpful in a home that doesn’t have many upgraded features, or in brand new homes where the kitchens and bathrooms can sometimes look too sterile. While cleanliness is extremely important, soft staging takes the hard edge off of a sterile-looking kitchen or bathroom. Warming it up with some decor makes it look more approachable and natural. Some pleasing décor will show the possibilities and help buyers focus on the positives rather than the negatives. They are more likely to become emotionally attached to a home that has these charming touches.

It helps define each room. One of the biggest downsides to an empty home is the lack of structure for each space. For many buyers, imagining how to use each spare bedroom or an awkward loft space can be overwhelming. Staging these areas, even with just a few accessories, can help fill in the blanks. You don’t want potential buyers getting caught up in confusion. By answering these questions before they even ask them, they will be able to focus on the positives of the home.



A Vignette for Soft Staging:

A vignette is a small visual element that provides context to an area. Vignettes can be used in secondary rooms, such as kid's bedrooms, offices, or those areas that don't really have a defined purpose. Vignettes can also be used to visually take the curse off entering a cold vacant house in lieu of full staging.


PRO's of Vignette Staging:

Cost is low, perfect for small budget.
Instantly changes the emotion of walking in to a vacant room.
Gives a vacant house a homier feel.
Gives a vacant property a human element.
Takes the buyer's attention away from any possible flaws.

CON's of Vignette Staging:

Not as effective as full staging in getting offers.
Buyers will have a more difficult time establishing an emotional connection to the house.
Buyers will not easily envision themselves living there.
Will not give buyer a frame of reference on size of room.
Will be more difficult for buyer to imagine furniture placement.

Vignette staging should always be consistent with the purpose of the room. In other words, stage an office as an office.



What to Keep in Mind when Staging:

Place objects in odd numbers. Groupings of objects in 3's or 5's are more visually pleasing than even numbers of objects.

Draw the buyer through the house with the vignette. Draw the eyes through the room with the vignette.

Consider Full Staging of the main living areas, the emotional spaces of the property, kitchen, master bedroom, and family room is recommended, Soft Staging the other spaces.



Any level of Home Staging will improve your chances of attracting more buyers to visit your home and ultimately result in a SOLD sign in the front yard.