Model Home Staging and Buyer Psychology
A good home builder knows that the right layout, location, and curb appeal will attract buyers. But how do you really make a house into a home? For most people, deciding to build it’s all about the details. Model home staging is what ties everything together.
Home builders that choose to work with a professional staging company get a real edge over their competition. Utilizing the right furniture only enhances your designs. (Plus, it helps make your marketing materials really pop.) A fantastic floorplan isn’t always enough to seal the deal, so staging helps you paint the whole picture. By complementing your homes’ unique architecture and beauty with a few accents, it’s easy to win over today’s homebuyers.
Model Homes in the Modern Market
We live in a digital age, which means buyers are spending more time online to search for a local home builder. Investing in professional home staging can help your specs stand out from the crowd. Great photos present that clean, polished image your buyers want for their new home.
Home builders carefully select the floorplans and models for their neighborhoods, and your staging company should be just as thoughtful in their own design selections. Consider the demographic of your target market. Does your staging actively attract that same sort of buyer, or does it miss the mark? The key for model homes is to present your designs and custom home building options in their best light. You want your home tours to feel comfortable and inviting in every room—and every corner. Understanding the real estate market in your area should inform your architectural choices just as much as your staging company’s aesthetic.
The Psychology of “Everything in its Place”
Staging is so important for model and spec homes because it’s hard for most buyers to imagine life in an empty space. Although model homes are new and clean, buyers aren’t usually able to wrap their head around when to do with a totally open area. Every room needs to have a clear and defined purpose. Otherwise, people may not know what to do with the space.
Questions like, “Is this room going to fit my furniture?” or “Where are things supposed to go in an open floorplan?” are common for both new and experienced home buyers. Staging is a great tool because it answers these questions with a quick glance. As buyers walk through a staged spec home, they don’t need to worry about these same design questions. Seeing furniture already in place will showcase how cozy and versatile every room can be.
Giving that move-in ready vibe has a huge appeal, but empty rooms aren’t usually the solution. Define spare bedrooms as a guestroom or office space to help buyers use their own imagination for how to use your layout. Being able to see exactly how furniture should be used in the room offers huge advantages. That way, no area of the home will feel “wasted.” And that just makes the new home lifestyle look even more appealing.
Set the Tone with Professional Home Staging
The new home market is picking up steam in recent years, which means home builders need to set themselves apart. In order to capture the attention of today’s buyers, more builders are relying on professional staging to complement their floorplans. Staging can have an incredible ROI for home builders. Even staging one model home can have a huge impact on your area’s market.
Vacant rooms don’t have the wow-factor that staging brings. By setting up each room to look its best (in person, and online) your model home will definitely get the attention of more buyers. You can even work with your professional staging company to update small pieces through the year so the home feels “in season” for each tour. Warm, velvet pillows on the living room sofa are great during winter, but you might need to swap them out for bright floral patterns in summer. Every detail counts with a home’s architecture—don’t let the home’s staging go to waste!
If you’re interested in working with Home Matters for your existing spec homes, or even an upcoming design, please give us a call (317) 774-7025. Our design packages for builders are a great way to keep your walk-through tours fresh and inviting every season. Visit our Facebook page to see additional samples of our work, then send us a message to get started on your consultation. We look forward to hearing from you!