Selling Your Home - Staging Matters!!

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I recently sold a home in Woodinville, WA, a family home for many years. When my client became the sole dweller in the home, she decided to downsize and sell the house and surrounding acreage. (I helped her find a super cute home in a 55+ community!)

Clients have thoughts about staging their homes to sell; some would like to use their own furniture, others don’t feel the need to stage at all. My job as your real estate agent is to help navigate you through this process and to get you the highest sale price we can. I also firmly believe that a home that is staged in a neutral fashion helps potential buyers imagine living in the property.

The following pictures show three separate scenarios: 1) my client staging with her furniture, 2) the house empty and 3) the house professionally staged.

While this client wanted to use her own furniture (she’s not alone in that, many do. I mean she loves the way her home looks, who wouldn’t?), her furniture and decor are very specifically suited to her (as it should be!) However, when we show a house, we don’t want the decor to lean in any direction. You might love antiques or ultra-modern or anywhere in between, but the folks touring may not only not like it, but it stop them from even touring your home. We want the listing photos to speak to every person (which is also why I have professional photos taken!), to not sway them into not considering your home.

Just as we don’t want a lot of individuality in furnishings, being empty isn’t perfect either. The space feels cold and deserted; people like to have an idea of how the space might be used, how furniture might be laid out.

More than 80% of real estate agents representing buyers said staging made it easier for their buyers to see themselves in the home, according to a 2021 survey by the NAR. And 23% of agents said that home staging led to increased offers between 1% and 5% compared to similar homes that weren’t staged.

Staging can get your home sold faster, too. According to HomeAdvisor, homes that have been staged spend between 33% and 50% less time on the market. That not only means getting the proceeds of a home sale faster but also spending less money on added expenses such as a rental or storage unit while you wait for the sale to happen.

I have never regretted a client having their home staged, not once. If you have questions about selling your home and how best to get it ready for the market, please give me a shout. I’m more than happy to help you understand the best practices for selling your home in the Seattle real estate market!

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Saviya Robinson

Saviya Robinson is a top-producing broker specializing in lifecycle moves, international relocations, and unique property acquisitions.

An international traveler, Saviya has spent extensive time abroad, including living in Amsterdam. In 2010, she moved back to the states with a focus on advocacy and education for international clients. Committed to this purpose, Saviya earned her Certified International Property Specialist (CIPS) accreditation and uses this today in her work.

Originally from Zillah, Washington, Saviya made the move to Seattle in 2000 and became a fulltime REALTOR in 2007. Since then, Saviya has represented hundreds of buyers and sellers in real estate transactions throughout King, Pierce and Snohomish Counties.

When not practicing real estate, you can find Saviya spending time with her family, planning her next travel adventure, or catching up on her favorite streaming series.