Real estate professional or a curious bystander, to your benefit, this post will give you reason to rethink two popular paradigms: What home staging is, and how/why it pays to stage co-ops.

‘Home Staging’ was first trademarked over 50 years ago. It became mainstream in the 1980s, when everything really was all about how something looked. Channeling Barry White, rental furniture was the first, the last, the everything. Anything else was just less, a compromise. Not real staging.

With exceptions, “vintage” comes to mind when describing most anything unchanged for 45+ years.

Rental furniture remains a valuable option for some types of properties. But here in Westchester County, clinging to rental furniture as a starting point, or the standard, creates obstacles, wastes time and opportunity, especially for co-ops.  There are better ways to show and deliver real value to buyers.

What repositioning furniture, adding rental art, bright pillows, about $125  of slipcovers, and professional photography will do.

The most successful sellers are the ones who never forget what it’s like to be a scared buyer.

The Refreshed Home defines Home Staging as whatever is done to improve the market position of a property while easing everyone’s minds. When you decide to speak with this stager, you’ve chosen to listen to ideas,  explore options, and see what makes sense for you.

The best staging work is logical and practical. Our Simple Staging approach demonstrates value and adds to the emotional footprint of a property.  So it’s easier for buyers to say YES we counsel sellers and agents to anticipate and solve problems for buyers. Being clear on who the buyers are and what’s on their mind makes it easier to understand why it pays to stage co-ops.

Co-ops are often seen as the red-headed stepchild in Westchester County real estate. Buyers know they’re there, but often consider them Plan B or Plan C.  They’re modest spaces. The price point is appealing, but the process to buy (or sell) is long, and there are many rules about living there.

The two biggest co-op buyer pools are usually first-time buyers and downsizers. Here are five reasons why it pays to stage co-ops.

1. Affordability and availability have increased their popularity. Most recent HGAR data YTD through Q2 shows more new listings and more solds; pending sales are up over 18% and median sales price up 10%.
2. They’re great buyers!  First-time buyers have fewer financial obligations, and their purchase isn’t contingent on the sale of another property. Downsizers generally have the funds, and both usually have more time flexibility.
3. Co-ops are modest spaces. It costs proportionately less to do impactful things, and to stand out. And because many co-op sellers don’t do much at all, your updates become exponentially more visible.
4. Buyers don’t know (and will over-estimate) what it costs to do things.  And after all that red tape to get to the closing table, who wants to deal with more of it before moving in? An unfurnished space is not the end of the world folks!!  Clean, pristine, and move-in ready with fresh finishes and small updates is gold to buyers.  Repair/update pre-list lets you control costs and choose tasks that match your ROI expectations.
5. At the end of the day, we all just want to be in a space that makes us happy. These groups are often disappointed by their buying options or sad at what they are leaving behind.  They likely feel they’re compromising. Understand that part of things, show the space so it engages the buyer and touches their heart is the quickest way to get it noticed and sold.

The Refreshed Home specializes in polishing and updating Westchester County properties, co-ops and condos, up to about 3500sf.  Our Simple Staging works with you to develop a plan, then helps you implement it, if that’s what you want. Curious if and how this could work for you or your clients? Ask around!  Read our reviews, or just start a conversation!