Staged4more Home Staging + Redesigns | Home Staging in San Francisco Bay: San Francisco, San Mateo Counties

I read this script today that teaches realtors how to teach their clients “on staging home to sell:”

“I’m going to give you the two biggest money-making words there are when it comes to showing your home: depersonalize and declutter. It’ll make you house look bigger and is the best thing you can do.”

Hmm, really?

I have heard agents telling their clients all the time, and I even have sellers say to me all the time, “Oh, I know I need to de-personalize and de-clutter. I learn that from HGTV.“ or “All I need is to de-peronsalize and de-clutter, I don’t need anything else.” And that’s ALL they do.

And you know what happens when you just de-personalize and de-clutter? You are just showing an empty space and a shell of a home. BUT PEOPLE WANT TO BUY MORE THAN JUST 4 WALLS AND A ROOF.

We often forget what it felt like when we were buyers when we sell our homes. We forgot that we want to buy the best quality and the best value on the market. We want a turn-key home. We want big yards and nice neighbors. We want a home that can show off to our friends and family. We want a personal space to relax and put our feet up. And some, even want “panty-dropping” houses. (Yes, I learned that important aspect from my Top Design rerun yesterday.) So, what are we selling?

Ultimately, in home staging, we are selling FEELINGS and LIFE STYLE: feelings of big spaces, lots of practical use and the home is going to be the most house with the smallest budget can be. While de-personalize and de-clutter HELP buyers to see the space and see the structure, just by doing these 2 things along CANNOT give buyers the warm and fuzzy feelings that “ah, I am home.” A cold house lacks emotional resonance to its visitors. I have often seen sellers who DIY their staging, which is totally fine, some do it really well. But I see 85% of those homes become too stripped and cold. That’s missing the point on home staging.