by buymeprestige 
When the time comes to sell a luxury home, many owners ask whether it is really necessary to invest time and resources in preparing the property before putting it on the market.
In the case of a small house or condominium in similar condition, you may choose to neutralize the interior, clean up the space and present it with minimal furniture and fixtures. However, if you are advertising a higher-end property, it is important to present the best of the property usually by prepping the interior. In this article, we will explore the benefits of preparing a luxury home for sale and how it can affect the selling process.
Why is presentation key?
- Larger interior spaces are less defined than a simpler floor plan like a small house. This may require you to help potential buyers visualize ways to use the space effectively.
- Many luxury homes have been customized to the tastes of the current owner. This may not be the best fit for the property or, more importantly, for most potential buyers. Usually, buyers have a hard time seeing through the clutter and noise of someone else’s design preferences.
- Higher home prices translate into higher expectations – on the part of both buyer and seller. You will have to do more to impress potential buyers and justify the asking price.
- Proper preparation of a luxury home has the potential to maximize the value perceived by buyers. Small improvements, such as repairs and paint touch-ups, can make a big difference in the overall appearance of the property.
- Professionally prepared homes sell faster. According to the 2019 National Association of Realtors report, 81% of real estate consultants said that preparing a home made it easier for a buyer to view the property as a future home. Some figures suggest that home preparation can speed up the sale of a home by as much as 73% over unprepared or empty properties.
Regardless of what real estate market you’re in, the first impression potential buyers have of a home is crucial. When it comes to a luxury home, that importance is amplified.
Preparing your home before you put it up for sale can help create a positive and lasting first impression. A clean, well-maintained home with attractive decor can delight buyers from the moment they walk through the front door.
Buying or renting furniture
You can invest in your own furniture, rugs, artwork and decorative elements and use them to organize your properties. You should make sure that the elements you choose are of high quality and are in keeping with the house itself. Most experts consider that it is worse to prepare a luxury home with cheap items than to leave it empty.
Often, luxury home buyers ask that some of the staging elements be included with the purchase of the property. In that case, you will need to ensure that you can negotiate sufficient replacement costs in the sales contract or include them in your fee.
You can choose to rent furniture and accessories on an as-needed basis to ensure that you have what you need when you need it. That way you don’t have to worry about having a moving crew or a warehouse.
Hire a company or a specialist
This can greatly simplify the process and can be a great value-added service to offer clients. You will need to decide if you want to pay for the staging as part of your normal marketing costs or make it optional and pass the fee on to your client.
Also, if you outsource the staging, you will have much less control over the final look. If you have an eye for design, you may find it difficult to give up your own vision and allow the staging specialist to implement yours.
Virtual Staging Applications
There are several virtual staging applications that allow you to show pictures of your home enhanced with furniture, artwork and other design elements added in post-production. This can allow you to have your home interior designed easily and more economically and without the hassle of hiring staging services in reality.
However, you need to check with the consultant to see if these enhanced photographs conform to the advertising guidelines. You may find that you can use the photographs on an independent website, a social media publication or a brochure, but not in the MLS. It may be that you cannot use them at all.
Whichever way you choose to do it, well-prepared luxury listings are associated with higher sales prices, reduced days on the market, and a more positive impression on buyers and their advisors.
While it is understandable that some owners are hesitant to invest in preparing their luxury home before putting it up for sale, it is important to consider the significant benefits that such preparation can bring. First impressions, maximizing perceived value, differentiation in the marketplace, and reducing time to sale are all important factors to consider.
The decision to prepare or not to prepare your home for sale depends on several factors, including the local real estate market, competition, the current condition of the property, and the expectations of potential buyers. However, when considering the benefits mentioned above, it is notable that proper preparation can play a key role in the successful sale of a luxury home.
BUYME Prestige will assist you throughout the process of finding the perfect home by combining excellence, experience and a personalized touch to turn dreams into real estate reality.