Staging can sell your home faster and for a little more, but only if you do it right. Here's how to spend where it counts and skip the rest.
 

Somewhere between "you absolutely have to stage" and "staging is a waste of money" sits the real answer, and it depends far more on your specific home than on any blanket rule. 
If you're getting ready to sell, you've almost certainly been told staging is a must. Before you rent a truckload of furniture or write the whole idea off, it's worth knowing what staging really does, what it costs, and how to tell whether your home is one that needs it.
Start with what staging is actually for. It's not about making your home look like a magazine. It's about helping a buyer walk in and picture their own life there. That sounds soft, but it's the whole game. In the most recent national Realtor survey on staging, 83% of agents working with buyers said it made it easier for their clients to picture a home as their own. 
An empty hous ...

You budgeted for the commission. Most sellers stop there. Here's what else comes out of your check before you ever see it.
 

When you decided to sell, you did some math. Sale price, minus what you owe, minus the commission. That's your number.
That number is wrong. Not because the commission is wrong. Because it's the only cost you counted.
Almost every seller runs the same calculation. Price minus payoff minus commission equals what they walk away with. Then, closing comes, they look at the settlement statement, and there are lines on it that nobody warned them about.
Here's how common this is. Realtor.com surveyed people planning to sell this year. 83% expect to get their asking price or more. They're confident. But only 39% expect to make any concessions at all.
Then look at what actually happened. Redfin tracked closed sales this May: 46.2% of sellers gave the buyer a concession. Highest May on record.
So sellers are underestimating that one line item by about seven; ...

There are two buyers for your home, and they want opposite things. Finishing the work earns about 3%. Not finishing it costs 14%.
 
You're standing in your kitchen looking at cabinets you've been meaning to replace for years, and now you're selling, and the question finally has a deadline on it. Is it worth doing?

Most sellers treat this as arithmetic. Spend some money, get some money back, hope the second number is bigger. But that framing is what gets people into trouble, because a repair isn't really a line item. It's a decision about who you're selling to.

There are two buyers, and they want opposite things from you. One wants to sign, move in, and never think about the kitchen again. The other wants your kitchen precisely because it's dated, because that's where the discount lives. Both are shopping right now. Both close on houses. The problem is they want opposite things, and you cannot hand them the same house.

Both buyers come with a price tag, and the two tag ...

Recently, I received a call from a friend asking about a “lowball” offer they received while trying to sell their home. Even though they had priced their home very reasonably, this offer was well below what they were expecting—what was happening? As it turned out, this offer came from an investor. 

In case you aren’t aware, offers from investors are becoming more common all across the country. According to Business Insider, 44% of homes were purchased by investors in 2023, and this number is expected to increase. 

So, if investors pay below market value for homes, why do so many people accept their offers? Does it make sense for you to consider an investor offer when selling? To answer these questions, today, I’m going over three key benefits of investor offers you should consider when selling your home:

1. Investors don’t care about the condition of your home. To get top dollar on the open market, you need to put in a little work. ...

The community event will feature decorated trunks with treats, a photo booth, and kid-friendly activities, uniting Florence residents in festive spirit.

Join us at the 2024 BrickDriven Realty Trunk or Treat, where fun, laughter, and community spirit come alive. 
This event is open to everyone—our current clients, past clients, future clients, friends, neighbors, and all community members. We believe in the power of community and would love for you to be part of this special treat that our partner vendors helped make possible.
 
"Join us for an unforgettable evening of fun and festivities at the 2024 BrickDriven Realty Trunk or Treat!"

WWe'll have a variety of decorated trunks brimming with treats, a photo booth to capture your special moments, and plenty of activities to keep the kids entertained. It's going to be a memorable night for everyone. 
Mark your calendars for October 28, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., and head to our office at 115 Helton Court i! ...