“Do I need to stage my house in a hot market?” That is a very good question. Houses are selling in record time so it makes sense to ask. Just how much work do you need to put into getting your home in top selling condition and ‘staging’ your home? 
The word ‘staging’ can mean so many things to different people. Many think that staging means taking all of your furnishings out and bringing in all new. That may be the case for people moving out of state or into their new home before listing their current home, but most of the time that is not what staging is.
Home Staging really is about ALL the things that go into getting your home ready such as cleaning, repairs, painting, updates, upgrades and on down to the smallest details of what to leave on a bedside table. The MLS photos are so important and are what first gets a buyer’s attention to get them in your door. A Home Staging consultation will get your home ready for it’s glamour shots. 
But again, it’s a hot market so is that important? It depends on if getting top dollar on one of your largest assets is important to you. That really is what it comes down to. Will your home sell without staging, yes. Will it sell quicker, for more money or maybe even over asking price if it is staged? Very likely right now.
 In the homes that Rooms With Style have worked on recently, many have sold in a couple days (50 showings in a weekend means those MLS photos were amazing) and many with multiple offers (some over asking price). One $50,000 over asking and another $200,000 over asking!!
Staging your home does not guarantee you will receive more than your asking price or even a full price offer as so many other factors come in to play. Location, fair asking price to begin with etc. But are you potentially leaving money on the table if you don’t stage your home? 
A Home Staging Consultation is always the best place to start. Get your ‘to do’ list and take it from there. An experienced home staging professional can walk through your home with you and give you a list of the best things to do to receive the best return on your investment.
If your home is going to be vacant, I highly recommend staging the key rooms with furniture and accessories. Otherwise on the MLS photos it is just empty room after empty room. So underwhelming for the buyer scrolling through a lot of homes. The furnishings will not only enhance the space on the photos, it will define the space and look larger with furniture in the rooms when they enter. Empty rooms actually look smaller believe or not. With a staged room versus an empty room they will not need to wonder if their sofa will fit or where the TV goes.
So the potential is great in a hot market for getting the most for your home, in a short period of time, if you spend some money up front to get it staged. Nothing in life is a guarantee but the cost of staging is almost always less than the rewards received from it.
