Articles Tagged "Virtual Tour"

Should You Stage Your House to Sell It?

When you decide to list your house for sale, you may wonder whether or not to stage it. How much does staging cost? How do you do it right? Will it increase buyer interest? Let's take a closer look at the process.

What is home staging?

Home staging is the art of decorating your house to appeal to potential homebuyers. It allows potential buyers to envision themselves living in your home, which could increase the number of offers and size of the offers you get. Staging has many benefits that can lead to a successful sale without having to pay the many costs of a full redesign. Your best bet is to hire a professional stager who knows the elements of design and what appeals to buyers in your area.

Will staging help your home sell?

According to the International Association of Home Staging Professionals (IAHSP), an investment in home staging is always less than a price reduction or lower starting price. It's a proven, up-front investment to help get the highest rate of return on the sale of a property. In fact, it can net 5-20% more in the sale, according to statistics tracked by IAHSP and National Association of Realtors.

How much does it cost to stage a house?

Home staging costs around $1,500 on average but can range anywhere from $600 to $4,000. The pricing depends on the location, size, and list price of the property, as well as the number of rooms being staged, the type of furniture and decor, the duration of the initial staging agreement, and whether or not the property is vacant. The 2022 Home Staging industry statistics showed that $3,250 is the average investment for staging a vacant property.

Here's a breakdown of the costs you're likely to see:

• Initial consultation: From $150 to $600 and typically takes about two hours

• Room-by-room staging: The individual cost of staging a room is about $500 to $600

• Price per hour: Ranges from $25 to $150

• Price per project: Most stagers provide an estimate for the project after your design consultation, ranging from $800 to $1,000

• Furniture rental: For vacant homes or as needed, rentals can cost anywhere from $500 to $600 per room, adding up to $2,000 a month

• Maintenance projects: Costs for things like light fixtures, refinishing, hiring a cleaning service, or painting will range depending on your needs

Is home staging worth the price?

When it comes to staging your home to sell, the cost of staging is usually worth it. There are plenty of affordable ways to get the jobs done and the experts at JJ Elek realty can help. Contact one of our agents at 732-634-9100 for more information.

Step-by-Step Guide to Creating a Virtual Home Tour

The COVID-19 economy has drastically increased consumer demand for virtual home tours. Using 360-degree and 3D tour technology, you can deliver an immersive experience to view potential homes while limiting in-person contact.

And it's not as complicated as you might think. This step-by-step guide includes everything from the equipment to the execution needed to set up a successful virtual home tour.

1. Use the best equipment and technology

Anyone who's doing any volume of home sales should invest in a 360-degree camera. You can capture and turn thousands of square feet into a dynamic home tour in less than 20 minutes. Most models cost between $250 and $500. Whichever 360-degree camera you use, you'll also want to purchase a tripod or monopod, an extra battery, and a battery-charging station. You'll also need to download a smartphone app or invest in a hosting platform to store, edit, and share your photos. There are hundreds of 360-degree tour providers and hosting platforms, including Giraffe360, and EyeSpy360, Immoviewer, Matterport, Ricoh360 Tours, and Box Brownie. Choose one that allows you to upload and store your photos as you take them, and you're ahead of the game.

2. Organize and set up a photo shoot

Before you take any pictures, plan your shoot, preferably during the daytime.

• Take your photos just like you would walk through the property, starting with the exterior.
• Place your camera on a tripod or monopod, and take one photo from the street, one in the front yard, and one in the backyard.
• Before taking interior shots, open all doors and turn on all lights. Open blinds and curtains unless the view detracts from the shot.
• Place the tripod in the center of each room at eye height set at eye height, above furniture and countertops.
• Navigate through the house, taking as many photos as possible to give a sense of the flow — one photo per room, or two or three for larger rooms.

3. Create the tour from walkthrough to exit

Many editing programs, including Box Brownie and Immoviewer, will put your photos in the right sequence as they upload, as long as you've taken them following the floorplan. If you have the editing skills to stitch the images together yourself, you can use Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop, available as a monthly online subscription.

4. Publish and market your virtual home tour

Once the images and 3D model have been created, it's time to share it. MLSs, platforms like Realtor.com, and social media are key places to publish your virtual home tour. You can share the link on Facebook, and even embed it in email campaigns and text messages

Moving forward as an agent, it's vital to make sure to make virtual home tours a part of your process. At JJ Elek, we empower our team with cutting-edge technology, education, and 100% administrative support for successful marketing campaigns. This makes all the difference.