Virtual Staging

Maybe 15 years ago, I attended a workshop by "Staging Guru" Barb Swartz, who coined the term "staging" and has been teaching Realtors how to enhance their listings since 1972.  I wonder what Barb thinks about the new trend of "virtual staging"?  Literally "photoshopping" furnishings into a vacant room is certainly less costly than actually hiring a staging professional.  With more and more (estimated 85%) folks beginning their home search online, it is one option.

I wonder, however, how a buyer feels when walking into a vacant house after seeing those enticing "picture perfect" views online?  Even with full online disclosure ("This is how the home could look"), I can't help but feel it would be a bit of a letdown.  Many of my clients have had professional staging done over the years, and I feel the investment (usually less than $2,000 here in Chico) usually helps to sell (especially a vacant home) more quickly and at a higher price.

You can click here to read a Realtor Magazine article about Virtual Staging,  and click here to see some interesting "before and after" photos by a company called Virtual Staging Solutions.com.

What do you think about this new marketing technique?

Chico Residential Market Update

First Quarter stats are in at the Chico Association of Realtors. With the current excellent interest rates and softer prices, it appears the "$300,000ish" range is attracting more first-time buyers and investors. Although average sales price for residential sales (including condos) has been declining, the "days on market" (# of days from listing until opening escrow) has also been declining, from 118 days in February to 69 days in March. So homes are selling more quickly now. I've even seen some "multiple offer" activity on a number of listings--something we haven't seen in a while! Spring/summer is typically our "busy" selling season in Chico, and every week new listings hit the market. What a great time to buy!