By Julia Boyle
THE ERICKSON TRIBUNE

While the real estate market has adjusted in favor of the buyer—meaning houses are selling for less than they were a few years ago—along the Jersey Shore, that doesn’t mean houses aren’t selling.

In fact, according to Pauline Poyner, a Realtor for Coldwell Banker who serves eastern Monmouth County, “This is the best time in ten years to buy a house, so houses are absolutely selling. And those that are priced aggressively and presented as a commodity are selling quickly and for a good price.” However, sellers may need help with presenting and pricing their homes.

First impressions count
“Even though it’s a buyer’s market, it’s not a bad market. People just have to have the right tools and professionals on their side,” says Seabrook Sales Specialist Angela Garofolo.

That’s where the professional stager or real estate agent comes in. Staging, or the act of making a home appealing to buyers, includes neutralizing colors, depersonalizing decorations, decluttering, deep cleaning, and arranging furniture to make the house appear more spacious.

“Staging eliminates distractions in the house, which take the potential buyer’s eyes off the structure’s core assets,” says CinDee Giannotti of Finding Spaces, an Oakhurst-based space management company specializing in home staging services and interior design.

Not only do the services of a stager make the house more appealing for showings, they also take some stress off the seller.

Big savings, faster sales
Hiring a professional staging company like Finding Spaces costs about $1,000, according to Giannotti. That may seem like a big chunk of change, but a survey conducted by industry training company Stagedhomes.com reported in 2004–2005 that staged homes were selling for an average of 6.9% more.