If you’re thinking about selling your home, it might not be as simple as putting it on the market and waiting for the bids to pile up. Instead, you may have to put forth some extra effort to show your prospective buyers just how valuable your property is.
Enter: home staging.
The goal of staging a home for sale isn’t necessarily to put your personal tastes on display, but rather to make the space appeal to the right audience. To give your property the freshening up it needs to impress even the pickiest of buyers, we’ll be diving into eight helpful tips.
But first, let’s dive into what home staging means and why it could play an integral role in unlocking a new level of selling potential.
Home staging is the art of bringing a space to life for a wide range of buyers. Whether it’s arranging fresh-cut flowers in a vase, slapping on a fresh coat of paint, or rethinking furniture placement, staging could determine how fast—and for how much—you sell your home.
According to the Real Estate Staging Association, staged houses typically sell 73 percent quicker than un-staged ones and, more commonly than not, above the asking price.
Home staging requires a particular skill set, unique vision and the costs of home staging can differ depending on the type of home. Most people that visit your home won’t see beyond what’s in front of them, so it’s up to you to show them what’s possible.
When a buyer walks through the door of a house, first impressions are as crucial as any. So, let’s take a closer look at why staging a home is so important and how it can help leave a lasting impression:
So, why not take advantage of its freshly painted walls, sleek furniture, and new spatial layout by snapping a few digital photos to post on your preferred online channel?
With that in mind, let’s dive into some actionable tips on how to stage a house for sale:
You want to strike the right balance during the staging process. It’s perfectly normal to accumulate belongings over the years, but you don’t want a potential buyer to feel claustrophobic.
So, what better time than the present to box up the nonessentials and trash, sell, or donate the items that are no longer in use?
Keep in mind that a potential buyer should be able to move freely through the house and easily access its rooms and unique features. Whether this means paring back on bulky furniture, throw pillows, or over-accessorized coffee tables, remember, less is more.
This might mean taking down your husband’s World Series memorabilia, family portraits, and any political or religious artwork. A good tip is to fill these spaces with photographs or paintings of landscapes, nature, or still-life subjects.
Also, ensure all your clothing is stored away, neatly hung or folded in the dresser drawers. It’s a smart idea to remove all personal items from the kitchen and bathroom countertops, and to reexamine your shelves, replacing any intimate keepsakes or souvenirs with small vases, table books, or candles.
Each room should be its own clearly defined space. Present prospective buyers with a chance to picture themselves in the home without having to strain their imagination. Only 10 percent of buyers can clearly envision a dwelling’s potential, so don’t waste an inch showing them how to maximize all of the home’s one-of-a-kind spaces.
If you have an office that’s also functioning as a storage room, then it’s time to remove the bins and boxes, tidy up the desk, dust off the shelves, reorganize the furniture, and add a few accessories until it becomes a room that tells a compelling story.
Natural lighting is one of your most trusted companions when staging and showing your home. So, open the curtains and shades, and don’t be afraid to crack a few windows for some fresh air to flow in.
Turn on any lights in the house, especially in areas that don’t benefit from natural lighting. Doing so will make your home feel more welcoming, and buyers won’t have to waste their time looking around for light switches.
Use reflective art or mirrors to amplify the home’s natural or artificial lighting. Consider a floor-to-ceiling mirror to illuminate the space or a series of gallery wall mirrors to make an artistic statement. Each will add a significant amount of brightness and depth to any room.
A fresh, clean home is pleasing to enter and tells the buyer that the property has been cared for by the owner. Here are a few cleansing touches that go a long way when keeping things fresh:
We love our pets dearly, but it’s best to leave no trace when it comes to showing a house. Give a friend or family member a call to see if they can pet-sit for the day—or at least take little Milo to the park for a few hours.
It’s also a good idea to wash their bedding and toys, clean their bowls, and keep it all out of sight during the showing. A suggestion would be to store everything in your car—you never know when a potential buyer may be allergic to fur or simply put off by pet odors.
During the home staging process, it’s easy to be consumed by everything happening inside the house that the outside gets neglected. Remember, a buyer’s decision-making begins not when they enter your home but when they exit their car.
So, see to it that the grass is cut and the weeds are pulled. Consider a fresh coat of paint on the front door. Clean the windows and layout the patio furniture as if you were expecting friends over for a barbeque. Finally, think about replacing any old soil or adding new mulch to flower beds.
After the heavy lifting has been done, it’s time for a few finishing touches. On the day of the showing, consider arranging fresh-cut flowers in vases and place them throughout the house. Open your windows to let in the fresh air, light a few candles, fluff the pillows and bath towels, and brew some coffee, so the place feels and smells like home.
Whether you’re a first-time home buyer or need help pricing or preparing your home for sale, it’s important to have a team you can trust on your side. Buying or selling a house can be one of the most important decisions of a lifetime.
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties is a real estate brokerage franchise with expertise in various residential and commercial markets. Our teams are packed with experts eager and ready to assist you with all of your home service and real estate needs. Find an agent today.
Sources: The San Diego Tribune 1, 2
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August 1st, 2022 at 11:00 am