Last Updated on May 10, 2023
You want your house to seem absolutely gorgeous for potential buyers when you’re selling it. In this situation, home staging is useful. One of the best investments you can make to make sure a house sells quickly and for the highest possible price is to stage it before listing it. According to research, staged homes sell three times as quickly as unstaged homes, and up to 10% more money can be offered for a home thanks to home staging, according to 70% of real estate professionals.
What is Home Staging?
Home staging is the process of preparing a private residence for sale in the real estate market. The goal of home staging is to make a home appealing to the highest number of potential buyers, thereby selling the property more quickly and for a more competitive price.
It involves a variety of techniques, such as decluttering and depersonalizing the space, making repairs and updates, and rearranging or adding furniture and decor to enhance the overall appearance of the home. Staged homes typically look cleaner, brighter, and more welcoming, which can make a positive impression on potential buyers and help them envision themselves living in the space.
While home staging is typically done in advance of showing a home to potential buyers, it can also be done to enhance the look and feel of a home for the homeowners themselves. Many people find that the process of staging their home helps them to declutter and organize their space, which can be a satisfying and stress-reducing experience.
10 Tips For a Successful Home Staging
1. Clean up
The cleaning you should perform before listing your house for sale is nothing like the spring cleaning you conduct. From the corners of your ceiling to the baseboards, and everywhere in between, you want every square inch to sparkle. The idea that the existing tenants took exceptional care of the property extends beyond the kitchen counters to the entire house and is reinforced by a spotlessly clean home for potential purchasers. Now is the time to complete any pending duties, such as cleaning the interior of your refrigerator or routinely dusting your window blinds.
Start with those and add more as necessary. The cleaning you’ll perform for staging purposes will follow a similar process to the deep clean you perform when you move into a new property.
2. Depersonalize
Helping potential buyers envision the space as their own is one of the main goals of home staging. Setting up a canvas that is as empty as you can make this happen more quickly. Although you want the house to have beauty and style, it should be free of any indications that the seller, not the buyer, is the owner.
Start by taking down any personal images, making sure to include anything hanging on your refrigerator as well as any framed pictures on walls and other surfaces. Keep clothing hidden and out of sight, and remove personal objects like toothbrushes off bathroom counters. Depersonalizing your home can make it feel a little strange to live in, but it’s also quite helpful for improving how well buyers connect with the property.
3. Declutter
The thing that sells is space, and clutter takes up space. By simplifying to the bare minimum, you can make your house appear larger and more appealing. Even though you don’t have to throw away anything permanently, you should definitely pack them up and leave the house with them.
This applies to any clothing you aren’t wearing (there’s no need to stuff your front hall closet with winter coats in the summer), the majority of your decor (you can keep a few special pieces if they’re subtle or minimalistic), papers, games, and pretty much anything else that you don’t use on a regular basis. Take your time clearing out as many extraneous goods and non-essential items as you can because buyers will be opening your closets to assess their capacity for storage.
4. Patch and repair
When presenting a home, it’s a good opportunity to fix any nicks, scrapes, holes, or other flaws that buyers might perceive as signs of neglect. Going from room to room, start with a melamine foam eraser pad and scrub away any wall scuffs.
Watch for any spots that could use some TLC, and then caulk and spackle as necessary. You might need to perform some paint touch-ups if you see places where previously applied paint has chipped. Similar to cleaning, the goal is to make the home look great while also demonstrating to potential buyers that you’ve taken care of the property.
5. Stage every room
Ensure that each space serves a single, clear purpose. And ensure that each room’s space is used for a certain purpose. This will show potential purchasers how to make the most of the house’s square footage. Make an office out of your finished attic if you have one. A junk room can be converted into a guest bedroom, and a finished basement can serve as an entertainment space.
The buyer needs to understand that every square inch of the house is useful space, even if they do not intend to use the room for the same reason. Alcoves, window seats, corners, breakfast nooks, and other spaces fall under this category.
Read: How to Stage Your Home for a Quick Sale
6. Make the house gender neutral
This staging advice requires a little more effort and money, but it can significantly impact your sale price and length of time on the market. Bright wall colours allow homeowners to show their personalities, but they also deter potential buyers. When hosting an open house, you never know who will arrive. A single girly girl or a big, strong man who adores the location of your home because it’s close to the gym and his preferred after-work hangout could be the potential tenants.
One of the best things you can do when setting your house for sale is to paint over any gaudy colours with neutrals like grey, white, and taupe. A neutral property allows potential buyers the freedom to decorate however they choose, even if they themselves prefer vibrant hues.
7. Flooring
Nobody wants to live in a house with damaged, filthy carpets, especially if it was someone else’s fault. Linoleum is also out of date and unattractive. Despite being expensive, hardwood flooring elevates and add value to a house. Additionally, they require little upkeep, offer excellent long-term value, and are ideal for allergy-suffering consumers. In other words, they are appealing to the majority of people, and if not, the buyer may easily cover them with carpeting to preserve them for the subsequent owner.
If you’re adding hardwood flooring, the living room, dining room, and kitchen should be your main priority. Ideally, you should also renovate the restrooms. Since they have a small amount of floor space, they won’t be too pricey. If you can afford it, use stone or ceramic tile in the kitchen and bathroom. Alternatively, use premium vinyl tiles that resemble these more pricey materials.
8. Lighting
Nobody wants to buy a house that is dark and unappealing. Pull the drapes back, roll up the shades, and let the natural light in on open house day. When showings begin, turn on all of the lights and add fixtures as needed (including those in the closets).
Even if it is winter, there are times when you might want to swap out exceptionally thick curtains for something a little lighter. In other cases, if it’s difficult to direct the sunshine, you can even think about doing away with the window coverings entirely. Having said that, you must also make sure that your windows are immaculately clean. Some of us neglect window cleaning because window treatments frequently conceal filth. So get a bucket and start washing those windows till they sparkle!
9. Exterior
Due to their potential to significantly affect a buyer’s first impression, the outside and entryway, which contribute to the home’s “curb appeal,” are crucial areas to pay attention to. They might even decide whether someone wants to see the inside of the house.
Be careful to remove any weeds and neatly cut your lawn, hedges, trees, and other vegetation. To make windows even more cheerful, thoroughly wash them and think about adding flower boxes. If you can, powerwash the exterior of your home to give it a nearly new paint job appearance with less work and price.
A new doormat should be purchased for the front and rear doors, and the walkway leading up to the home should be clear and clean. Make your pool stand out by making sure it is crystal clear if you have one. Another method to make the most of your home’s exterior is to create some form of outdoor living space in the backyard, such as a deck or patio with patio furniture.
Read: 10 Questions to Ask Your Landlord Before Signing a Lease
10. Add staging touches
Adding staging touches is the final step in the process of preparing a home for sale. These touches are designed to add personality and warmth to the space, making it feel more inviting and welcoming to potential buyers.
Some ideas for staging touches include:
- Adding fresh flowers or plants to the space. This can bring a touch of colour and life to the home and make it feel more welcoming.
- Using scented candles or essential oils to create a pleasant aroma. This can help make the home feel more inviting and comfortable.
- Adding decorative elements such as throw pillows, blankets, and artwork adds some personality and interest to the space.
- Setting the table with place settings or laying out a tray of snacks to create a welcoming dining experience.
- Arranging books and other decorative items on shelves and mantels to add some character to the space.
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