What is Aspirational Staging? What Every Seller Needs to Know
Here’s what every homeowner needs to know. Buyers aren’t buying your home. They’re buying what they think your home represents. The person they want to be, the life they want to live, what they aspire to.
When you prepare your home for market this must be top of mind. You must create emotional experiences throughout the home for your ideal buyers to connect with.
This is Aspirational Staging™.
Here’s what every seller needs to know to prepare their home for market.
1. Real Estate
First, aren’t you lucky that we have a background in Los Angeles real estate? And not any old background, but five years and being on a top team where we saw and experienced the best of the best and the absolute worst. Most stagers just know staging, but we know real estate.
Which brings me to my first point. You have to determine who your ideal buyers are for a particular neighborhood. Are you in the burbs where everyone is pushing strollers? Are you in a tech community with a bunch of Millennials? Determine your ideal buyer, and then you design with them in mind.
You don’t want to be slinging a bunch of Hermes blankets around in a neighborhood next to Walmart. Because it’s not necessary and people won’t relate.
You must create a home that relates to your ideal buyer.
2. Universal Truths
Some things are universal. Nobody wants to see a dirty house, and nobody wants to see your clutter or personal items. The only people that get very, very excited to see dirty, cluttered houses are developers, because they know that nobody else is going to make you an offer.
3. Symmetry and Balance
Symmetry is one of the laws of design and nature, it is pleasing to the eye. Whenever possible, we use symmetry in our design to create order and peace.
We use balance in a space to make sure the room isn’t lopsided. We want to achieve an equilibrium in a space that is also calming and pleasing. Symmetry is balanced but balance isn’t necessarily symmetrical. Get it?
Why do we do this? We want your home to have a good flow and good vibes. We want buyers to walk in and say “it feels good in here”.
4. Focal Points
Each room has a focal point, or we create one. If you have multiple focal points going on (fireplace, a view, etc) then we pick one and make it shine the brightest. You don’t want a bunch of focal points running around everywhere because then there’s no place for your eye to land and it appears overwhelming.
5. Connection Points
This is the heart of Aspirational Staging™. We find little moments, places throughout the home to emotionally connect with your ideal buyer.
This can be in the artwork, accessories, how we stage a particular room (is it a home office or a bedroom?), and how we prepare the outdoor spaces.
Ultimately it’s how we tell the story of your home, and we are writing this story with your ideal buyer in mind.
Want to know more about our Services? Schedule a complimentary Discovery Call to find out more, and so we can learn about your property.
Our services are not limited to a certain area, we offer Consults and E-Staging where we can help you stage your own items, plus a few updates, from afar!
310.903.2321
March 2, 2019 @ 5:06 am
I love this post, Jill, and how you stress that every staged home needs to connect, emotionally, with its ideal buyer. It’s clear you’re really, really good at what you do and understand how to get your clients the highest possible price for their homes.
March 2, 2019 @ 7:32 pm
Thank you, Leslie! I appreciate your feedback so much.
March 2, 2019 @ 7:49 am
A couple of weeks ago I created a rendering of the outdoor space for a house in Tucson that was perfectly updated and lovely inside, but had zero backyard appeal. The agent requested a very specific layout for the outdoor space geared to the ideal buyer, and wouldn’t you know it worked. Your words ring true, and have the proof to back it up.
March 2, 2019 @ 7:31 pm
Thanks awesome, Sarah! Very important to consider the outdoor living spaces as well.
March 2, 2019 @ 8:05 am
Jill, so many great points in here!
March 2, 2019 @ 7:31 pm
Thanks Sheri! Thanks for stopping by!
March 2, 2019 @ 9:38 am
Excellent, excellent post, Jill! In my experience, people buy based on emotion and justify it with rationale. Connecting with the target buyer on an emotional level is the key to a successful outcome for the seller – which is why staging is such a critical service, and one you do SO well!
March 2, 2019 @ 7:30 pm
Thank you, Janet! And you summed up the buying experience SO well. Emotion, then rationale. When we desire something we can always find a way to justify it.
March 2, 2019 @ 6:49 pm
What a great niche! I loved this log. It helps homeowners know how to sell to the buyer. We forget that when selling a house.
March 2, 2019 @ 7:25 pm
Hi Ariel, staging has been around for a while but it’s still remarkable how many homeowners still don’t use it as a tool for selling. Thanks for stopping by!
March 4, 2019 @ 8:05 pm
Excellent post Jill! And concise too. I had never really considered that point, creating an emotional experience. We’ve never had to sell our home (yet), but this may come in handy if we ever have to leave Austin. We’ve lived in out home for 35 years. Thankfully it was just freshened up this summer, but you bring up great points about clutter and focal points. I work with a stage here in Austin for Modern Home Tour. Learning a lot. LOVE the Trademark name “Aspirational Staging”. Very clever!!
March 4, 2019 @ 8:09 pm
Thanks Deborah! Appreciate your feedback, and thanks for stopping by!