Can
Staging Help Buyers Look Past Defects?
HouseMaster
helps educate home sellers on the proper role of staging
in selling a home
As
home prices decline and mortgage funding dries up, many Realtors® and
home sellers have looked to “staging” to help move
a home. However, a fresh coat of paint
and a little de-cluttering won’t necessarily make a savvy
buyer overlook more serious problems with a house.
The
art of staging prepares a home for sale by removing
certain personal items, rearranging furnishings, adding furnishings
in empty homes and making minor cosmetic changes to neutralize
the home’s decor while highlighting the home’s virtues. Kathleen
Kuhn, president and CEO of HouseMaster, says, “Staging
is an important tool that can help make a positive first impression,
but today’s home buyer is more cautious than ever and still
wants to know the true condition of the home behind the fresh
coat of paint.”
More
than 40 percent of resale homes on the market – that's
two out of every five – will have at least one serious
defect when they are listed for sale. HouseMaster
franchises have conducted almost 2 million home inspections system-wide,
and their experience revealed that the following issues are most
likely to be a major issue to a homebuyer.
· cracked
heat exchanger in furnace
· failing
air-conditioning system
· environmental
hazards, such as radon, water contamination, and asbestos
· signs
of a wet basement
· defective
roofing and/or flashings (or signs of leakage)
· insect
infestation, such as termites or carpenter ants
· mixed
plumbing
· aluminum
wiring
· horizontal
foundation cracks
· major
house settlement
· undersized
electrical system
· chimney
settling/separation/deterioration
Staging
a home definitely helps make it more appealing, but making select
repairs adds value and marketability to a serious buyer. More
home sellers are using a pre-listing home inspection to better
understand how potential buyers might view the home’s condition.
This information can be used to invest in repairs that will make
the home more desirable and competitive, or it can be shared
with prospective buyers to show that the house was priced in
a thoughtful and educated manner. Both approaches give
the seller a little more control over the process.
“Many
homebuyers do purchase houses with aging appliances or other
issues,” Kuhn explains. “They simply want to factor
these repair costs into the home buying equation. Having
good, credible information on hand can help people budget wisely
and contribute to a smoother negotiation process on both sides
of the table.”
For
more information about common home deficiencies, finding reputable
home inspectors, and negotiating tips, visit www.housemaster.com.
About
HouseMaster:
HouseMaster
is considered the most experienced home inspection company,
with a network of independently owned and operated franchises
in more than 365 markets across North America. In operation
since 1979, HouseMaster has collectively performed nearly 2
million inspections, consistently delivering high quality service,
innovative industry practices, and solid business leadership.
For more information, visit www.housemaster.com or call 800.526.3939.
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