How To Stage Your Home (So It Sells Faster And For More Money!)
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Home Staging Works!
You’ve seen it. You’ve toured a home and thought OMG, who would want to sleep in this room, watch a movie here, etc. Even empty rooms leave a lot to be desired (and show off any imperfections.) Staging your home is an effective way to help your home sell more quickly - and likely for more $. Buyers are more motivated to consider purchasing a home that suits their family size, budget, and location requirements, but also one that appeals to their senses. What will a buyer see, smell, hear, and touch when they tour your home for the first time?
I always recommend that your home is professionally staged for showing. Many clients go with this suggestion, but not all. If you choose not to have a professional stage your home, staging your home yourself doesn’t have to be difficult or expensive.
Declutter counter tops! This goes for all counter tops.
Lighter is better! Painting this room would also help.
Here’s a list of ideas of how to stage your home yourself:
Say Good Bye to Clutter - The most important thing you can do to prepare your home for sale is to get rid of clutter. You’re going to have to pack anyway, this is the time to pack up stuffed closets, offices, and kitchens with a million things on the counter. Buyers are going to look everywhere.
Depersonalize - Buyers want to see a home they want to live in, not a home someone else lives in. Do your best to remove items that may put off potential buyers or constantly remind them they are in someone else’s home.
Clean, Clean, Clean! Make sure every inch of your home has been cleaned; invest in a professional carpet cleaner or housekeeping service if that makes more sense for you. (Check Groupon or those coupons that come in the mail.) Don’t forget ceiling fans, baseboards, grout and caulking. Buyers can be turned off by the smallest of things.
Lighten and Brighten - Brighten dark areas and rooms or soften harsh light with dimmers and the newer soft light bulbs. Make sure curtains, blinds and rugs are light (and drawn during open houses). Mirrors help to emphasize natural light.
Paint and Repair - Keep the color palette of your home neutral. If you’ve got brightly colored or patterned walls, now’s the time to paint white or a light neutral color to emphasize the light in your home. Also repair broken cabinets, doorknobs that aren’t working, dings in walls, etc.
Create a vision - Rather than empty rooms that may leave buyers wondering what a space could be used for, create scenes to spark their imagination. Set dining tables, use colorful, modern, decorative items to create the look of a home. Create a seating area outside that’s ready for a party! Potted plants and fresh flowers can add a sense of home. Keep all of this neutral; remember you want to appeal to a broad group of people, not just your taste.
Lastly, consider some of the online photos you’ve see and thought “Oh, I’ll pass on that one.” Sometimes it’s really hard to get passed bad pictures of a listing (this is why I like to preview many listings for you, to be sure it is worth touring). Staging changes that. With a professionally staged home and a professional photographer (As your listing agent, I pay for professional photography), your home will be attractive online and attract more potential buyers.
Again, I do recommend professional staging for all of my sellers, as staging makes a huge difference in how your home is perceived. I do provide to all of my sellers, a complimentary consultation with a professional stager, who will tour your home, provide feedback on what you can do yourself as well as provide information on what services they can provide, should you choose to work with them.
Now let’s put your best foot forward and sell your house!!! Call if you have questions.
