The Difference Staging a Property Makes

• May 19, 2009

by Mark Wellborn

We know that staging a property makes a difference in a buyer’s perception of it, but not until we looked at the Woodley Park condo below did we realize just how much it mattered. Local stager Roslyn Ashford weighs in on the effects that staging has on this unit.

“Research has shown that the majority of buyers can not visualize their own items in an empty space,” Ashford tells UrbanTurf. “An average buyer may look at the condo below and wonder: Where is the dining space? The living room seems large, but where would the sofa and TV go? How large of a bed can I place in the bedroom?”

Ashford says that those questions are easily answered by staging.

Living Room Before Staging

Living Room After Staging

“The living room space is carved out with a sofa, a table and a chair, and this helps answer questions about the sofa and TV placement. Without the staging, it is hard to visualize where to put things.”

Bedroom Before Staging

Bedroom After Staging

“When the bedroom is staged with a bed and nightstand, it gives the buyer a chance to determine whether a full bedroom suite (bed, nightstands, dresser, and chest) will fit.”

Foyer Before Staging

Foyer After Staging

“The typical buyer views 8 to 10 properties before making a decision, so adding something unique can help keep a property fresh in his or her mind. In this condo, the lobby table stands out, and might become a way that a buyer remembers the space.”