Despite rising interest rates and market uncertainty, properly presented homes continue to attract buyers in Atlanta, according to leading home stager Topher Fuller. The Linden Creek franchise leader says the current market standoff between hesitant buyers and sellers makes professional staging more crucial than ever.
“There are a lot of people, a lot of sellers, that are on the sidelines, and a lot of buyers on the sidelines, just waiting to see what’s going to happen with rates,” Fuller says. However, he notes that well-staged properties continue to stand out even in challenging conditions.
The Emotional Connection
Fuller argues that proper staging creates an emotional response that can overcome market hesitation. “If it’s staged well, there’s still an emotional reaction, and there’s still a lot of buyers out there,” he says. “If they walk in and they see themselves living there, those houses are still moving.”
This observation comes as Atlanta’s market shows signs of slowing. “There’s definitely a slowdown. You’re seeing houses stay on the market longer,” Fuller notes. “The realtors that we’ve talked to have said that the good houses still sell fast. If it’s a house with good bones that also looks good, then it’s moving quickly.”
Market Dynamics
Fuller sees the current market conditions as temporary, with potential changes on the horizon. “If there is a rate cut, which it looks like is imminent, I think you’re going to see a lot of people on both sides enter the market quickly,” he predicts.
This anticipated surge in activity could make professional staging even more important. “Throughout all of that, what’s good for us is that just creates even more need for staging, for the house to stand out among the crowd,” Fuller explains.
Strategic Staging
In the current market, Fuller advocates for strategic staging that focuses on key areas rather than entire homes. “We recommend staging the entry room, of course, the family room, the kitchen, the primary room,” he says. “If there is a room that it’s hard to tell what the purpose is, we recommend staging it just so that the buyer can see, like, ‘this is obviously an office, or this is a craft room.'”
This targeted approach has proven successful even in challenging conditions. Fuller cites a recent example where selective staging helped sell a property that had been struggling to find a buyer. “We have one recently that had languished for seven months. They made the decision to make some cosmetic improvements and stage the most important rooms, and it was under contract at listing price in less than 14 days.”
As the market continues to evolve, Fuller remains optimistic about the role of professional staging. “It is currently a buyer’s market. We could see that soften a bit as rates go down and there’s more competition for inventory,” he notes. “But throughout all of that, we’re very optimistic and excited about the future.”
