Staging is all about highlighting the best features of a home and neutralizing any potential negatives. We want to create a space that will appeal to a wide range of buyers. And we want to showcase the lifestyle afforded by the house so that potential buyers can imagine living their best lives there.
Here are 10 staging tips to transform your house into a must-see listing that all the buyers are talking about!
1. Replace Family Photos With Something Neutral
When buyers see family photos, they are reminded that they’re in someone else’s home. And this makes it harder for them to imagine themselves living there. So pack the family photos away for a quicker sale.
2. Paint
Fresh paint can completely transform a space. Painting is one of the most cost-effective ways to give your house a complete facelift. You can use light colors to make small rooms feel larger and use darker colors to make cavernous spaces feel cozier.
Even if you keep colors similar to those you already have, fresh paint makes any house feel cleaner and newer!
3. Consider Staging a Designated Office
With so many people working from home in the 2020s, home offices are a premium feature. Even if you’ve not been working from home, you can set up an office space in one of the bedrooms to assure buyers that there is plenty of room for a home office.
4. Don’t Neglect the Closets
Buyers love to see closets with just a few items hung neatly. Imagine a high-end retail clothing store with lots of empty space and only a few curated pieces displayed.
This aesthetic is clean and modern. And it makes buyers feel like there is more than enough storage space.
5. Get Creative with Lighting
There are so many ways to use lighting to enhance a home. Use spotlights to highlight exceptional features. Use uplights to brighten up dark corners. And use strings of bulbs to add a sense of fun and festivity to an outdoor area.
Speaking of outdoor areas…
6. Show Outdoor Spaces Some Love
Buyers love useable outdoor spaces. Whether you have a small balcony or a large backyard, show off those areas by creating conversation areas with your furniture and adding accessories to make the space feel like an extension of the home.
7. Add Thriving Plants
Plants bring fresh life into a home. You don’t need to go crazy, but a few living plants will make a big difference in how your house feels.
8. Skip the Table Setting
Back in the 2010s, home staging almost always included setting the table as if for a dinner party. But most markets have moved away from that trend. Perhaps because formal dinner parties have become a rarity.
Instead, simply place a runner down the center of the table and use candles, bowls of fruit, or a floral arrangement as a centerpiece.
9. Add Lifestyle Elements
Think of the kind of life people might want to live in this house. If you have a great bathtub, for example, stage it with candles and home spa products so your buyers can imagine soaking in the tub at the end of a long day. If you live near a bike path, position your bikes in the garage or backyard as if you’re going to hop on them and go for a ride as soon as you get home.
A bottle of wine on the kitchen counter with two glasses is always a nice touch.
10. Make Your House Smell Like Home
Scent plays a major role in forming our perceptions. The smell of freshly baked cookies makes a house feel like a home! So it’s important to incorporate scent into your staging. Fresh flowers and candles work well. You could also have spices simmering on the stove or in a crockpot. Just be careful with synthetic air fresheners as they can be too heavy.
We’re Here to Help!
The experienced agents at Sequoia Real Estate are experts in marketing homes. We know what it takes to get a home sold quickly, for top dollar, in the Bay Area. And we’re excited to help you find the right buyer for your house.
If you’re considering selling your home, contact us today for a free, no-obligation consultation. We’ll let you know how much your house is worth in today’s market and how you can maximize your profit on the sale. We look forward to serving you!