Realtor.com reports that staged homes sell 88% faster and for around 20% more than non-staged homes. But bringing in a professional stager might not be the best route for you. There are several things you can do on your own to stage your home!
Here are five quick home staging tips for a faster sale.
1. Cleaning is Half the Battle
When sellers think of staging, they typically think about positioning furniture and accessories. But cleaning is a large part of the staging process. You could have expensive designer furniture and home decor, but if the home isn’t clean, buyers won’t be impressed.
In addition to all the normal dusting, scrubbing, vacuuming, and moping you do regularly, take care of those details that don’t get cleaned as often:
Clean the windows and window coverings.
Revisit the exterior (clean up the landscaping, power wash the sidewalks and home exterior, clean the gutters, etc.).
Dust off the baseboards.
Sweep out the vents.
Deep clean the carpets and polish the flooring.
2. De-Personalize
It can be hard for buyers to imagine themselves living in the home when there are clear, visible reminders of the current owners. So, as lovely as your family photos are, it’s best to store them away while your house is on the market. The same is true of sports memorabilia and personal awards.
To help the house appeal to as many buyers as possible, try to keep the house fairly neutral. Swap out the thought-provoking artwork you love for something “safer,” and go with relaxed, natural paint colors rather than intense colors.
3. Strategically Position the Furnishings
Remove any erroneous furniture from the home. Keeping it only makes the home feel smaller. And consider replacing overly-bulky furnishings with smaller, more delicate pieces that will make the home feel larger and more open. You want buyers to walk in and feel as though they have lots of room to move around.
And while it’s perfectly normal for living room furniture in American homes to be focused on the TV, positioning the furniture to create conversation areas makes a home feel more inviting.
4. Don’t Forget the Cabinets and Closets
Buyers will absolutely open your cabinets and closets. They want to make sure there’s enough storage space in the home. You can stage your storage spaces by removing whatever you don’t need and neatly arranging what’s left. When a buyer opens a cabinet or closet, they should think, wow, there’s so much storage space that the current owner doesn’t even use half of it!
5. Create a Lifestyle Image
Buyers are really looking for a lifestyle. They don’t just want a house. They want a space where they can live their best lives and make good memories for years to come.
Staging little vignettes through the house helps buyers see the potential lifestyle instead of just the structure. Here are a few ideas:
Set the french press and two coffee cups on the kitchen counter with a sugar bowl.
Place a bottle of wine with wine glasses on the dining room table.
Arrange luxurious spa products in the bathroom.
Staging your home takes a little time and effort, but pays off when your home sells in less time. Follow these five quick home staging tips to enjoy a faster sale and perhaps a higher sales price!
And when you’re ready to sell your house, Sequoia’s team of real estate professionals can provide a custom analysis of your home’s value. We can even give you personalized advice regarding whether professional staging or self-staging is the best path to maximizing your profits. We look forward to serving you.