**The Power of Home Staging: Why Sellers Should Invest Before Listing**
When it comes to selling a home, first impressions are everything. In today’s competitive real estate market, sellers are always looking for ways to stand out—and one of the most effective strategies is home staging. While it may seem like an optional expense, staging a home before listing it can make a world of difference in both the sale price and the speed of the sale. Here’s why sellers should consider staging and how much more they stand to gain by doing so. ### What is Home Staging? Home staging involves arranging furniture, decor, and other elements of a home to highlight its strengths and downplay any potential drawbacks. The goal is to create a welcoming and visually appealing space that allows prospective buyers to envision themselves living there. This can range from simple touches like adding fresh flowers or re-arranging furniture, to more extensive efforts like renting furniture and repainting walls to create a more neutral, contemporary look. ### The Financial Benefits of Staging a Home While staging a home may seem like an unnecessary expense, it’s an investment that can yield significant returns. Studies consistently show that staged homes sell for more than unstaged homes. According to the *National Association of Realtors* (NAR), staged homes sell for an average of **17% more** than those that aren’t staged. This is a powerful incentive for sellers who want to maximize their profit. Here’s a closer look at how staging affects the bottom line: #### 1. **Higher Offers from Buyers** Staging helps buyers emotionally connect with the home. When a property is beautifully staged, it allows potential buyers to easily visualize how they would live in the space. This emotional connection can drive more competitive offers, as buyers are often willing to pay more for a home that feels move-in ready and reflects their style and needs. In a market where buyers have many options to choose from, staging can help your property stand out. Homes that look well-maintained and thoughtfully designed convey a sense of care and value, which often results in higher bids. #### 2. **Quicker Sales** Homes that are staged tend to sell **faster** than those that aren’t. According to the same NAR survey, 25% of sellers’ agents reported that staged homes sold 1-5% above asking price, while an additional 17% saw offers that were 6-10% higher. Not only are these homes selling for more, but they are selling **faster**—which is a huge advantage for sellers looking to close quickly and move on to their next property. The average time a staged home spends on the market is also typically shorter than that of a non-staged home. Staging helps reduce buyer hesitation, leading to quicker decisions and fewer days spent on the market. #### 3. **Appealing to a Wider Audience** Not all buyers have the same vision for a home. While one person may have trouble seeing past outdated decor or clutter, another may overlook the space’s potential. Home staging neutralizes the space, presenting it in a way that appeals to a broad audience. By emphasizing clean lines, spaciousness, and timeless design elements, staging helps prospective buyers focus on the home’s features—not its shortcomings. Additionally, staging allows a home to photograph well for online listings, which is crucial in a time when nearly 90% of buyers...
read moreThe Impact of Home Staging
Most homeowners know it is important to keep a home clean, bright and free from clutter while it’s on the market for sale. But, sometimes taking the extra step to stage a home can make a difference in how a buyer values it and the price a seller might get for it. Read...
read moreThe Impact of Home Staging
Most homeowners know it is important to keep a home clean, bright and free from clutter while it’s on the market for sale. But, sometimes taking the extra step to stage a home can make a difference in how a buyer values it and the price a seller might get for it. Read...
read moreHalloween Treats!
While fall foliage is sparse in LA, there’s no shortage of Halloween spirit. Here are some local, spooky adventures for the entire family! Los Angeles Haunted Hayride A haunted hayride and other Halloween attractions. It’s held on selected evenings at the former site of the L.A. Zoo in Griffith Park. The mazes are updated annually, so you’ll encounter new thrills each year. October 1, 2, 7-9, 14-16, 20-23, 26-31 Boo at the Zoo The L.A. Zoo will feature Halloween decorations, exhibits and demonstrations during the entire month of October. Activities include Halloween crafts, shows and entertainment, pumpkin carving demonstrations, photo ops with roaming characters and more. Visitors are invited to wear costumes. Trick or Treating will be held on October 29 and 30. The event is included with admission to the L.A. Zoo. October 1 to 31 (weekends) A Faery Hunt’s Halloween Party A Faery Hunt is an interactive show with performances that include dancing, singing and embrace uplifting life messages of kindness, forgiveness, respect, and ecological responsibility in a light and entertaining way. Located on Fern Dell Drive in Griffith Park. October 22 The Nightmare Before Christmas Live with Danny Elfman “The Nightmare Before Christmas” is returning to the Hollywood Bowl for Halloween with Danny Elfman reprising his live performance as Jack Skellington, the melancholy Pumpkin King who longs to celebrate Christmas.The performances, will feature an orchestra and chorus led by conductor John Mauceri performing the soundtrack to the Tim Burton stop-motion animated movie live to screen. October 28, 29 and 30 L.A. Dia de Los Muertos A day of celebrations, exhibits, presentations and other activities at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery. The event runs from noon until midnight. Some celebrity graves are decorated, most notably those of actor Rudy Valetino, and punk rock band members Johnny Ramone and Dee Dee Ramone. Live bands play on various stages throughout the event. October 29 Silver Lake’s Halloween Spooktacular Candy, games, refreshments, arts & crafts, prizes, costume contest. It’s hosted by L.A. Dept. of Recreation and Parks at the Silver Lake Recreation Center. October 31 The Oaks Halloween Walk Ghosts, goblins, pirates, princesses and all are invited to begin the Halloween Walk at the intersection of Alto Oak and Hill Oak. A table of holiday treats and beverages marks the meeting spot. Trick or Treating will be better than ever and the walk ends at Spring Oak and Park Oak Drive. October...
read moreLuxury home sales soar in Southland
According to the Los Angeles Times, sales of homes priced $2,000,000 and above are soaring to heights not seen since 2007. In the recent quarter, 14% more houses in this range have sold since the same quarter last year. A total of 1,413 homes have sold over $2,000,000 in the past 3 months in the Southland. Selma Hepp, senior economist for the California Association of Realtors was quoted as saying “It reflects a housing market that is moving at two speeds. Fast for the high end, sluggish for the rest. It’s a completely different story between the two segments of the market. Those who are doing well are doing really well.” See the full story at http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-luxury-home-sales-20141124-story.html#page=1...
read moreWhy Redfin Is Predicting a Home Sales Surge
DAILY REAL ESTATE NEWS | TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 02, 2014 A slowdown in home price growth and a shift in pricing power from sellers to one that more closely aligns with buyers expectations will “drive an unusual surge in home sales this fall,” predicts analysts at the real estate brokerage Redfin in its latest housing report. “Home buyers who have been willing to wait for better deals are starting to be rewarded for their patience, as sellers drop listing prices to meet buyers’ more value-focused expectations,” Redfin notes in its latest report. The number of homes that sold above list price in July was down nearly 7 percent to 20.1 percent from 26.8 percent a year ago, according to Redfin’s analysis. “Sellers are finally catching on that it’s not a seller’s market anymore,” says Jeremy Cunningham, a Redfin real estate professional in Virginia. Sellers are adjusting their prices, particularly in markets that have seen a large increase in for-sale inventories or big increases in home price appreciation over the past year. According to Redfin, Denver is the metro that has registered the largest percentage of listing price drops. Its median sales price has increased by 15 percent year-over-year compared with an average of 5.5 percent for all metros. On the other hand, Ventura County and Sacramento, Calif., have seen more moderate price growth year-over-year but have seen their for-sale inventories rise by 25.6 percent and 18.3 percent, respectively. The two metros had the second and third largest percentage of homes for sale with price drops in July, according to Redfin. Get Ready for a Hot Fall? Redfin analysts are predicting a surge in home sales in September and October. “We continue to see strong buyer demand as we head into fall,” according to Redfin’s housing report, which shows the number of tours and offers picking up from July and into August. “The buyer fatigue from competing against multiple offers, bidding wars. and tight inventory is diminishing. Additionally, the widespread increase in price drops is likely to give buyers even more confidence that they have regained some of the bargaining power lost last year.”...
read moreWelcome to my new website and blog!
Drawing upon a bachelor´s degree in communications and advertising, Gary Bergevin is renowned for unique and highly successful marketing strategies that complement his considerable real estate experience. Gary knows how to maximize the value of your home. In addition to selling real estate, Gary has successfully “flipped” several homes in the area. This provides an exceptional foundation for helping clients put their homes in the best showing condition possible and maximizing the ultimate sales price. As one of the top producing agents in his office and the area, Gary Bergevin brings a large network of past and present clients, industry colleagues, as well as an enormous database of the movers and shakers in the entertainment world. Quite simply the proven real estate skills of Gary Bergevin is the ideal way to ensure that you receive the most amount of money for your home in the least amount of...
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