Michael Lissack - SELL FOR MORE THAN YOUR NEIGHBORS!

STAGING VS. NON-STAGED CASE STUDY

Many people find it hard to believe that the simple act of staging helps one home sell for more than another, similar home. To illustrate the point, I looked for examples of similar houses being sold for differing amounts of money where only one of the two houses was staged. The clearest example I could find was in the case of two listings in a development with 200 equivalent townhouses. Every single townhome in the neighborhood is three stories with three bedrooms and three bathrooms. Every unit has the same floor plan.

I looked for two sales there and found these:

• 4438 Capital Dome Drive sold on August 26. • 4456 Capital Dome Drive (5 doors down) sold on July 26, for $40,000 less. I visited this neighborhood, and I am personally familiar with these properties. You could not find a better example of two identical properties that sold for different prices. The details show these two homes are identical in every substantial way: • The lots the units sit on are identical as far as the desirableness of the location. • Both units had the same kitchen plan with the same cabinets and a tile floor. • Both units had nice hardwood floors in the living room and carpeted bedrooms.