If you’re in the process of selling a home in the Boston area, you’re in luck. The real estate landscape, packed with young professionals and buyers looking to settle down, has reached a fever pitch. However, you may want to consider a few selling strategies before putting your home on the market. To this end, home staging is becoming increasingly important for potential buyers.
In order to ascertain the benefits of and tips for Boston home staging, we talked with Adrian Diorio, a realtor at Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage and CEO of the Art of Staging. We discussed his experience in home staging, as well as the importance of what he calls “Millennial-Driven Design”. According to Mr. Diorio, home staging is one of the most strategic choices you can make when selling a home.
Boston Real Estate and the Importance of Home Staging
Our chat started with the acknowledgment of an undeniable fact: the Boston real estate market is hot. Diorio continued, saying, “Although we’ve seen quite the influx of modern glass condominiums with nearly every building amenity conceivable, historic homes throughout Beacon Hill, Back Bay, and the South End have held their own.” Boston’s rich cultural history holds a certain appeal for residents and homebuyers. However, the city’s charm might not be enough to sell a house.
Diorio agreed: Staging is an invaluable strategy for selling a home. “It’s very important to stage any home, and it all starts with the initial first impression—the MLS listing photography,” Diorio explained. “Without stunning photos that draw you in, the average buyer is unlikely to request an appointment to view the home. Sellers lose out on a ton of potential buyers because they’ve already lost interest.” Staging a home helps increase the likelihood of scheduling a showing. If you can see yourself living a specific lifestyle in a certain space, you’re more likely to have your interest piqued.
The Importance of Staging and Millennial-Driven Design
Mr. Diorio is perhaps best known for his development of something called “Millennial-Driven Design.” He explains home staging approach is meant to appeal to millennial home buyers, whether it be in the city or the suburbs. Diorio elaborated, “Gone are the days of multiple area rugs, fake flowers, cluttered knickknacks, and heavy curtains. These create obstacles when viewing property while making the spaces appear smaller and darker.” He went on to say that most millennial buyers want to see property that is already somewhat reflective of who they are; “they want to be immersed in the lifestyle they have or desire the moment they walk through the door.”
As for advice? Diorio says that he attributes most of his success to knowing his market. This is something important to keep in mind when choosing a home staging professional. Millennial-Driven Design is important, especially for the Boston area. The city is full of young professionals seeking long-term housing. “It’s been long said that buyers want to see plain, neutral décor, which is supposed to appeal to a wide range of buyers,” said Diori. He continued: “I strongly disagree. Buyers want to see styles they like and trends that are popular. Boring does not sell a house—character does. It makes a house a home.”
The Need for Storage in Home Staging
What happens with the furniture and belongings that remain unused in the staging process? Diorio says that, though he always tries to utilize the furniture he works with, it sometimes doesn’t fit with the results that need to be achieved. “In these situations,” he says, “the homeowner may opt to donate furniture they ultimately don’t want anymore—but in most cases, they opt for a storage unit.”
That’s where Closetbox comes in. Our Boston storage center team provides a pickup service that’s perfect for individuals busy trying to sell a home. Instead of wasting a valuable day moving items into and out of storage, we’ll do it for you. Additionally, our exact storage pricing offers cost-effective solutions whether you’re looking to stage a home that’s 2,000 square feet or 4,000 square feet. Likewise, if you decide that your home staging efforts require a piece of furniture you’ve placed in storage, our on-demand return service will have the items delivered to your home in no time.
