As foreclosures flood the market and home sellers encounter more competition, experts say staging is necessary to secure a sale. The Real Estate Staging Association reports that in 2009, 39 unstaged properties languished on the market for 233 days on average but were sold about 53 days after being staged. Meanwhile, 284 homes staged before hitting the market sold in 40.5 days on average. Realtors may be certified home stagers or simply have a good grasp of buyer preferences, and they will focus on de-cluttering and de-personalizing spaces and take advantage of items already in the home. They also encourage sellers to clean, perform maintenance tasks, consider curb appeal, ensure walls are neutral in color, and furnish vacant dwellings. | Read More