Property's latest fad: To stage or not to stage your home for sale

I want to impress my workmates with my property knowledge; what is the hot topic at the moment for vendors and buyers?

Staging a home for sale has fast become the latest fad in the property world. It was once only destined for Canberra’s elite property sector but it now appears to be becoming a part of the norm.

The meaning of preparing a home for sale has diverged from the days of baking cookies to create a warm and inviting ambience. The truth of the matter all it really did was leave prospective buyers hungry. Vendors are now enlisting the help of professional stagers to showcase their properties, from minor decorative accessories to a home full of hired furniture. Staging is about highlighting the best selling points.

If you currently have your home on the market untouched by a professional stylist you could be missing out on potentially tens of thousands of dollars from the sale price. Or are you? It could be deemed a little narrow-minded to assume the vast majority of buyers have zero vision. Indeed showcasing your home to the best possible standards will obviously have a positive impact on prospective buyers but is it really necessary to rope in a professional stylist?

Homes are meant for real-life family living, but it is like anything in life, it is always better to put your best foot forward. It is well known selling a vacant home can take significantly longer than one that is lived-in. Styling in this case is surely a no-brainer. Whether styling a home for sale has a positive impact on the end figure is something yet to be set in stone. Anecdotal evidence suggests the correct styling, in the right home, can lead to a better result for the vendor.

Recently I viewed a prestigious property on the market. It was built in the 1930s and was the first time this well-loved family home had been presented for sale. The fact it had been relatively untouched over the last 30 years made it ripe for renovation and opportunity. It is not often gems like this present to market. To my surprise the home had been styled professionally. The latest designer blanket had been precisely strewn across a faded old wingback chair. The chair deserved retirement not decoration. In my mind, the staging had been taken too far in this particular case.

It is a subjective matter, to stage or not to stage. It really does depend upon the individual case. There is no real way of statistically determining at a macro-level whether staging can add a significant amount to the end sale price. It is made even harder under the current heated market conditions, with many homes already achieving above vendor and even the agent expectation. There is no doubt that staging a home for sale is likely to attract potential buyers and the odd sticky beaker. It is a personal choice and worth a discussion with colleagues the next time you’re gathered around the water cooler.

Nicola Powell is a property expert for Allhomes.