If you’re looking to pick up some quick and handy tricks on how to stage your home for a fast and successful sale, this is the article for you! It’s important that when you’re putting your home up for sale you set it up in such a way that potential buyers can envision living in that home. This means that you must accentuate the best features of your current home while choosing a palette that is appealing to the broadest audience (so as to maximize offers!).
Here are some common tips I suggest, and use, while staging homes:
1. Declutter – No one likes a messy home. Take the time to clean out all areas of the home from unnecessary clutter. Potential buyers will not get the best first impression when walking into a home that is filled with too many items. A tidy, clean and organized home is what appeals to people. If you are hesitant to throw things away, there’s always the option of packing stuff up and storing it in the basement (if you have one) or renting a storage locker while the house is on the market.
2. Clean, Clean, Clean – If there’s one thing I emphasize the most with my clients, it’s the importance of cleaning. Whether you do it yourself or hire someone, it must be done! This includes cleaning floors, counters, staircases, windows, cabinets, light fixtures, and dusting furniture. As mentioned, if you don’t want to do the cleaning yourself, or don’t have time, it is well worth your money to invest in a cleaner who will clean your house from top to bottom. Trust me, you will recuperate your money on the higher sales price of your home due to your staging efforts.
3. Let There Be Light! – A nicely lit room can totally change its appeal. I’m sure you would much rather spend your time in a well-lit room than a dark and dingy space. Ensure to make use of all light outlets in your home. If there are any rooms that don’t offer enough light from above, think about purchasing some floor and table lamps. Make sure to also clean windows (inside and out) so as to let as much light shine through. Keep curtains wide open as well.
4. Curb Appeal Matters – What most people don’t realize is that staging the outside of your home is as important as staging the inside. When prospective buyers see the outside of the home, this is the first impression they get. And as we all know,
“first impressions are lasting.”
Think about freshly repainting your front door and even your garage doors. Accent planters filled with green shrubs or flowers should be placed near the front door. Lawns should be trimmed. While this tip may not be as applicable to condo owners, you still want to make sure your front door looks clean and if you have a patio don’t be afraid to stage that area as well with a cute, but affordable, patio set and some small planters.
5. Pick Neutral Colors – An easy way to freshen up your home for staging is to give it a fresh coat of paint. While bright colors such as red or yellow may appeal to you, these are not ideal for staging. Neutral colors are best. Think grey, taupe or beige. These colors fit well in most spaces and keep rooms light and fresh. Plus, they appeal to most people. You have to remember that you are trying to appeal to a wide audience, not going with what you would necessarily prefer in your own home.
6. Rearrange Furniture – There should be a clear and easy walking path that allows you to move from room to room. Furniture should be arranged so as to maximize this flow and to show off the best use of the room. This helps buyers navigate the space, and also helps them visualize their own furniture in each room. If there is too much furniture in a certain space, don’t be afraid to move it somewhere else or to get rid of it entirely. Furthermore, if you have any damaged pieces, you should consider replacing them with fresh and modern pieces.
7. De-personalize All Spaces – A buyer needs to be able to envision themselves living in the home they are viewing. One way to help them with that visualization is to remove any personal items belonging to the seller. The list includes, but is not limited to: family pictures (on walls and counter tops), religious items, toothbrushes in the washroom, etc. Clothes should also be out of sight and stored away. As a general rule of thumb, you want the home to be devoid of any personal touches that would suggest the home belong to the seller and not the buyer.
If you follow these easy staging tips, you should be on the right track to stage your home for a faster sale. But, if you find that all this might be a little too much for you to tackle on your own, let me help! I’m glad to assist in all your home staging needs and am devoted to help my clients get the best return on the sale of their home. Book you’re consultation today!