Wondering what is home staging? Home staging originated in the United States in the 1970s, and arrived in Europe in the 1990s. In Spain it started to be used in 2000. Currently, more than half of the homes that are sold or rented in the United States use home staging techniques. In Spain these techniques are still not very well known, although more and more real estate agencies and specialised companies are implementing them.
But what is home staging?
Home staging involves a set of real estate marketing techniques that help to enhance the value of a property in order to accelerate its sale or rental. The way to enhance the value of a property is by highlighting its strong points while depersonalising it and concealing its shortcomings, with the aim of making it attractive to the greatest possible number of buyers.
Home staging should not be confused with home decorating, as it is not about adapting a house to the personal tastes of any buyer, but rather, as we have said, making it an attractive, comfortable and timeless setting for the majority of buyers.
There are several reasons for using this method:
- In real estate jargon, when a property remains on the market for a long time because it is neither sold nor rented, it is said to be “burnt out”. Home staging allows it to be sold or rented quickly and at its initial price.
- The property gets a lot of online visibility, which is essential to capture the attention of clients, and the property is not hidden among the hundreds of properties that are published every day.
- The property makes a very good impression on clients.
- There is no need for large investments, as home staging is based on a low budget philosophy. The purpose of home staging is for the owner to make a profit from the sale or rental, not to spend money, so the cost of home staging is considered an investment.
- Furthermore, the money spent on a rented property is also considered an investment cost and can therefore be deducted in the tax return.
A home stager is in charge of determining the changes that need to be made to the house, with the aim of recreating a comfortable and pleasant environment so that potential buyers have a favourable first impression and see themselves living in it.
How to sell a house?
Home stagers use interior design and marketing techniques to create attractive spaces and boost sales. Their work is based on determining what changes need to be made to the property.
It will depend on each house and the state in which it is kept, but, in general terms, the following actions are common to this technique for selling a house:
- Depersonalisation. This involves removing the owner’s personal effects and leaving as few elements as possible. Small, discreet, classic-style decorative accessories are used to achieve an impersonal effect.
- Cleaning. The property must be thoroughly cleaned.
- Repairing and painting. This consists of repairing the small flaws in the property and painting the walls in neutral tones to keep them unobtrusive.
- Lighting improvement. Light is one of the most valued attributes by buyers. This can be achieved by the use of mirrors or diaphanous curtains.
- Enhance the strong points of the property through decorative elements that make it feel like a home. For example, the use of plants can create this effect.
Surveys carried out by the Spanish Home Staging Association on the importance of these techniques have shown very positive results. They were implemented in 230 properties, of which 30% were for rent, 40% for sale, 18% for show homes and the remaining 12% for holiday rental. It was found that 88% of the rental properties were rented in less than 15 days, and 75% of the properties were sold in less than 90 days. Furthermore, thanks to home staging, the price of the property is increased in 40% of the cases.
Home Staging. The before and after in the sale of a home
By applying home staging techniques, substantial differences can be achieved between the before and after of a property, but let’s take a closer look at the most outstanding aspects in terms of the results obtained:
- Photographs of the property are much more attractive.
- An increase in visits from potential buyers is achieved.
- The first impression of buyers is much more favourable.
- Higher sales prices are achieved.
- The purchase or rental transaction is accelerated and, therefore, the time the property is on the market is reduced.
- It represents a significant saving for the seller.
For more information on the procedures involved in buying a property in Spain, visit this section of our blog.
And, if you are thinking of getting started in home staging, at Sonneil we will accompany you through all the steps of the process of selling and renting your home. We look forward to seeing you!
