24 November 2021 | prestonhollowpeople.com
Real Estate Quarterly
CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT: Photographer Costa Christ says well-executed images often start the “emotional” connection to a home for a prospective buyer. (PHOTOS: COSTA CHRIST MEDIA); Sarah Nowak calls staging “a bridge that connects that person’s current life to the house you’re selling.” (PHOTOS: DANIEL TANNER PHOTOGRAPHY/COURTESY SARAH NOWAK INTERIORS)
FIRST IMPRESSIONS
Industry professionals: Even in a busy market, homebuyers want to fall in love By Bethany Erickson
bethany.erickson@peoplenewspapers.com
W
hen the residential real estate market is as hot as Dallas-Fort Worth’s, it may seem like gilding the lily to expend the time and money to stage and professionally photograph a listing. But experts say it can make the difference between full asking price and top dollar.
Staging essentially eliminates that question by physically proving the home can be functional. Sarah Nowak “They say staging a home brings more money — 17% — but in addition to price, homes that are well maintained, edited, staged, and with curb appeal sell better,” said Paige Elliott, a real estate agent with Elliott & Elliott Real Estate Group and
Dave Perry-Miller Real Estate. “Plus, good photography often sells (the home) sooner too, and the cost of staging is less than a price reduction if the home isn’t selling.” Photographer Costa Christ and home stager and designer Sarah Nowak stressed how good photography could create an emotional connection for a prospective buyer. “When a real estate agent hires me, they’re hiring someone who shoots for magazines, too,” said Christ, who photographs houses for real estate agents, architects, magazines, and interior designers. “So it looks like an editorial spread. They want an emotional trigger for the buyer. “I have photographed homes that have been on the market for months or even years,” he added. “I shoot it with a different eye, and it sells in hours sometimes.” The photography can be so important, he said, that his company sends an extensive checklist to homeowners so they can get more out of their shoot. “Staging is important because it elicits an emotional response from potential buyers,” Nowak said. “It’s like a bridge that connects that person’s current life to the house you’re selling by helping them envision what
it would be like to live there.” Elliott said that staging helps with the practical aspects of home buying, too. “Buyers can more easily envision how the space in the home can be used and get a better idea of the size, and see themselves living there, too,” she said. “We often see irregular layouts, unusually small rooms, and awkwardly large spaces that tend to leave buyers questioning the home’s livability,” Nowak agreed. “Staging essentially eliminates that question by physically proving the home can be functional.” Nowak said hiring professionals could make a difference in the price of a home — and the amount of stress involved. “Selling a home is a lot of work, and especially for those who have never done it before, there are so many things that can go wrong,” she said. “Find a licensed real estate professional that has a team of relevant supporting professionals; contractors, stagers, and real estate photographers are invaluable assets to a successful real estate agent’s team.” Read more from all three experts by subscribing to People@Home, our weekly real estate and homes newsletter.
We’re here to help you find your way this Fall. Navigate this market with an expert by your side. Get started at daveperrymiller.com
TA K I N G T H E S TA G E • 47% of buyers’ agents said home staging had an effect on buyers’ view of the home • Staging the living room was found to be important for 46% of buyers, followed by the master bedroom (43%) and kitchen (35%) • 23% of buyers’ agents AND sellers’ agents said staging a home increased the dollar value offered between one and five percent compared to homes that weren’t staged. • 22% of sellers’ agents said there were slight decreases in the time a staged home stays on the market. • The median cost when using a staging service was $1,500. Source: National Association of Realtors
