Staged Homes Sell Faster
When you show a home that has been properly staged, you have 100% confidence that the first impression a buyer gets is a good and lasting one. Proper staging showcases the benefits of the house in the best possible light. It makes the house look like a model home allowing potential buyers to easily visualize themselves living there.

The Psychology of Home Staging
Psychology experts have proven that people react based on emotion and then seek logic to back up the feeling. From a real estate prospective, a buyer will make an initial reaction in less than a minute whether they like your listing or not. Then, after the potential buyer's initial decision has been made, they will either confirm that decision or rescind it to the next 6 to 20 minutes as they tour the property. This is why staging is critical for any listing.

Move-in Ready Sells Faster
A properly staged house appears to the buyer to be "move in ready" condition. Staging a house for sales means that every component of the house is as close as possible to the buyers just moving in and "enjoying their new home". Sometimes they will pay a premium for this.

Staged homes project an image of being well maintained and cared for. The underlying psychological message is sent to the potential buyers is that it is worth more. It also gives the message they will not have to move in and spend additional cash to bring the home up to their personal expectations. It removes the psychological image of the home being in disarray.

Comparable Property Sales
When the agent shows the buyer comparable properties based on the buyer's price range and the staged home is creating a look of move in condition the buyer believes they have instant value and appears the staged home is a better deal.

What is Home Staging?
Many techniques are used to stage a property. De-cluttering, de-personalizing, updating old or unattractive fixtures, painting, furniture rearrangement, and accessorizing are just part of the psychology for making a home more inviting to potential buyers. It has been statistically proven using rental furniture and accessorizing vacant home helps it sell faster.

Spaciousness and Light
Spaciousness and light determine the success of a staged home. The larger a room appears, the better it will seem to homebuyers. Non-essential items should be removed to minimize crowding and clutter.

Tips for Sellers
The seller's participation is the key. Suggestions and tips costing mostly the time and labor of the seller can include the following:

• Let the Light in
• Windows Should Sparkle
• Attend to the Yard
• De-Clutter and De-Personalize
• Deep Clean the Kitchen and Bathroom
• Beautiful, shiny floors are a huge drawing card
• Fresh Paint
• Remove furniture or rearrange furniture
• Accessorize and Decorate
• Fix and Repair
• Get Rid of Odors

The Accredited Home-Staging Specialist, AHS course is Modern, Up to Date and Comprehensive. Focusing on 100% on Staging and the Staging Process including the principles of staging, staging the exterior, the interior, conversations with the seller made easier and accessorizing do's and don'ts.

Champions School of Real Estate offers this AHS Designation course.

Call 800-284-1525 for more information. www.ChampionsSchool.com

Rita Santamaria, owner Champions School of Real Estate, received the 2007, 2006,2005 Pinnacle Award for Best Real Estate School in the Nation recently in Boca Raton, FL. Rita also received the WCR Houston, WCR FM 1960 Chapter, 2007 Business Woman of the Year Award. Rita is also a NAR REBAC Realtor Hall of Fame inductee and 2008 Houston Assoc. of Realtors Home Town Hero recipient.