Staging a property takes a lot of effort. It can be challenging and time-consuming too, but if you want to sell your home and get the most out of it, you’ll have to make sure everything looks and feels fresh!
From the term itself, home staging is the process of preparing a home for sale. Naturally, if you've lived there for quite some time now, it won't be as neat as it was when you first moved in. Nobody wants a worn-out home.
What we want is a perfect property that’s free of clutter, clean, bright, spacious and of course, smells good.
The goal here is to top the property's current appearance and condition. Doing this bumps the offer price on a house by as much as 10%. It has also been proven that staged homes sell three times faster than non-staged properties.
In this article, we will explore different ways to make your home more appealing to potential buyers and increase your chances of selling it quickly at the best price.
You might be wondering how these two options differ. But there’s actually a decisive distinction between them.
When it comes to home renovation, the process can be as simple as replacing something broken, damaged, or outdated. Or, it can also be as complicated as rebuilding everything from the inside out.
When we talk about home staging, we’re not just looking to restore something old into something new, or doing the whole house over again.
A lot of planning is involved here, such as modifying the existing color palette, installing appropriate lights, creating new spaces, and setting up the most suitable furniture to change the overall ambiance of the house.
Staging a property is important, not only for the buyer and seller but also for the real estate agent handling the transaction. Why? It's all about confidence.
Walking into an open house with a potential buyer is not just thinking about how much money you can get from the property. It's about whether or not you will be able to sell it at all.
Hiring a professional home stager gets the job done but if you’re trying to cut the expenses down and want to design and stage the property yourself, congrats because you’re in for a treat! Here are:
The goal when staging a home is to make it seem human enough to live in, without making it too perfect.
The tips below focus on how to stage your house so potential buyers can see themselves living in the space without any stress around perfection.
Take out anything that is not essential. This can include both physical and mental clutter.
Physical clutter is anything that’s taking up space but is not needed. It could be old furniture, knick-knacks, or anything else you do not use daily.
Mental clutter is anything that is causing you stress or anxiety. It could be unfinished projects, unpaid bills, or anything else weighing on your mind.
This includes dusting, vacuuming, and mopping all surfaces. Don't forget to clean things like windows, blinds, and ceiling fans. These are often overlooked but can make a big difference in how a room looks. Little things count, right?
When you’re putting up a home for sale, it's important to remember that potential buyers should be able to see or imagine themselves living there.
It means that you need to remove any personal items from the property. This includes family photos, collections, and even memorabilia. The purpose is to make the space feel like a blank canvas where buyers can easily visualize their belongings.
Use only what you need. Because when it comes to furniture, less is more.
Too much furniture can make a room feel cramped and cluttered. Simply stick to the essentials and only use pieces that serve a purpose.
For example, if you have a dining room table that's never been used, consider selling it or storing it until after the sale. The same goes for extra chairs, end tables, or coffee tables.
Once you have decluttered and cleaned each room, it's time to start furnishing them, with a purpose.
For example, if you have an empty bedroom, you may want to stage it as a guest room or home office. If you have a formal living room, you'll want to ensure it looks welcoming and inviting. The aim is to make each room look its best so buyers can see its full potential.
Letting in natural light is one of the good ways to make a space feel more open and inviting. It means opening up all of the curtains and blinds during showings. You may also consider adding additional lighting fixtures to help brighten the space.
Potential buyers may not feel the same way as you do with bold paint colors. That is why it's important to neutralize the paint colors before putting your home on the market. It means painting over any bright or bold colors with a more neutral shade.
Your home's curb appeal is just as vital as the interior when selling your property. It would definitely help if you also took some time to stage the outdoors. It includes power washing the exterior, trimming overgrown plants, and adding fresh mulch to the landscaping.
Investing in some kind of storage solution is important because nobody likes a cluttered home. It could mean adding additional shelving in the closets or installing a new storage shed in the backyard.
Just be sure not to overload your home with too much stuff, making it seem smaller and less appealing.
Many homeowners and agents are surprised to learn that potential buyers often have difficulty envisioning how they can use a space.
This is why it's important to ensure that your room layouts are well-defined and make sense. If you have any oddly shaped rooms or areas that feel cramped, you may consider reworking the design to make the space more user-friendly.
The kitchen is one of the most important rooms in the house when selling your property. Everyone, including potential buyers, loves kitchens that are updated and well-maintained.
If your kitchen isn’t repaired or is outdated, you may want to consider staging it before putting your home on the market.
It doesn't always involve gutting the kitchen and starting from scratch. Even small updates like replacing the hardware or painting the cabinets can make a big difference.
Adding additional living space is one of the best ways to add value to your home. It can be done by finishing a basement, attic, or garage.
Creating an additional room or two can make your home much more appealing to potential buyers if you have the extra space and the necessary permits.
In addition to major updates, there are several minor repairs and updates that you can do to add value to your home. These might include replacing old appliances, fixing leaks and drips, painting walls, and fixing other cosmetic issues around the house. However, these tasks might not seem to make a big difference.
The best thing about staging your home that is up for sale is the planning and preparation you put into it. It’s not as simple as renovating because there are a lot of factors to consider like feedback from leads, current market trends, etc. But hey, don’t fret. Just keep in mind these key factors when staging a property:
Focus on creating a warm and inviting atmosphere.
Declutter and depersonalize the space.
Make sure the furniture is arranged in a functional and aesthetically pleasing way.
Follow these tips and surely, success will be well on your way!
Want to know how much your property is worth? The SetValue 'Maximize the Value' simulator gives you an estimated property value based on a variety of real estate scenarios
Message has been sent!