Staging a home for sale is the art of projecting the home in an appealing light to attract potential buyers.
Sellers, in general, want to get their house sold quickly and staging is one of the smart ways of accomplishing that goal.
Staging romances the buyers to allow them to connect themselves with the house emotionally.
Staging is effective in reducing a home’s time on the market, attracts more buyers, and most importantly, justifies the asking price.
Typically, sellers feel that staging a home may be a costly affair, but it is not always the case. Any seller can effortlessly stage their house themselves for free. However, professional stagers are available to physically or digitally enhance your home’s appearance.
The following step by step best practices for staging a home not only helps the sellers in understanding why it is important to stage the home, but also works as a checklist for staging their homes.
Step by Step Best Practices for Staging a Home
Declutter the House
In order to begin the staging process, a seller has to first start with decluttering their home by getting rid of unwanted items.
This decluttering is basically performed to increase the amount of interior space in a home. Buyers appreciate seeing spacious homes. Decluttered homes offer a refreshing feeling.
In order to declutter the house during the staging process, a seller can start by organizing one room after the other, by paying closer attention to huge and large space consuming furniture and interior infrastructure like closets, cabinets, wardrobes, pantries, dining tables etc.
Depersonalize
Depersonalizing is an important part of staging because it removes reflections of your personal interests and tastes so that the buyer can imagine themselves and their belongings in the home.
Another reason to depersonalize is to avoid the risk of offending potential buyers who may have different beliefs than yours. Even something that seems as insignificant as your sports team preference could rub a buyer the wrong way.
Pack up the books, the nick-knack collection, the wall decor, personal photos, and return the house to a neutral state, like it was when you moved in.
Erase Signs of Pets
Some buyers may be interested in pets while some are not. It is important for a seller to always maintain a neutral stand while decorating the house.
Put away pet toys and other pet-related items, ensure there is no pet hair struck on the carpets, and try to improve the fragrance of the home and remove the pet odor or scents from home.
It’s a good idea to make arrangements for your pets during in-person home viewings. Pets can make buyers uncomfortable, can irritate allergies, and it’s stressful for the animals, too.
Deep Clean
Clean sells. When people tour a home and see dirt or grime, smell unpleasant odors, or rugged carpets, they begin to devalue the property and start subtracting dollar signs from their pending offer.
You can do the cleaning yourself, or you can hire a professional cleaning company to assist with the job.
The cleaning process should be well organized, covering untouched parts of the home including ceilings, walls, cupboards, closets, ducts and so on.
This deep cleaning may be a hectic job, but it plays an important role for selling a house.
Increase Lighting and Ventilation
Light and air create an ambiance that buyers find attractive. Light can make a room look more spacious, can highlight elements of a room, and can show off outside views.
Replace any non-functional lights, place new lights and bulbs at various dark spots in the home to illuminate each and every nook and corner of the house.
While showing a house to a buyer, open all the blinds and drapes to allow conventional sunlight flow into the house making the house bright and upbeat.
Modify the Furniture Arrangements
Big, bulky pieces of furniture, no matter how beautiful or sentimental, can make a room feel dark and stuffy.
This is the time to store things like China cabinets, armoires, desks, extra chairs, bookshelves, and other pieces that aren’t required for your day-to-day living between the time you list your house and the time that you move.
Final Upgrades to House Interiors
There are several ways you can inexpensively accessorize the rooms of your house to give them more charm, warmth, and appeal.
Consider replacing things like light switch covers, electrical socket covers, doorknobs, window and door screens, and minor updates that could make the house feel newer and well cared for.
Additionally, potted plants and fresh flowers can give the sense of nurturing and livelihood. A bowl of fruit on the kitchen table or counter has the same effect.
Fresh, vibrant, white towels and candles in bathrooms can give them a spa-like feel.
Take a Look at the Exterior for Curb Appeal
Curb appeal is, perhaps, the most critical element of staging your house for sale because it’s the first thing a buyer sees. It’s their only first impression. Your goal is for the buyer to feel excited about seeing the rest of the property. The best-case scenario is for the buyer to fall in love at first sight.
Follow the same principals of decluttering, depersonalizing, cleaning, and accessorizing like you did on the inside of your house. Make sure the yards are free of weeds, debris, toys, and lawn furniture, unless the lawn furniture is arranged into conversational areas to add living space to the yard.
Stand at a distance from your property and look at it with a critical eye. Does anything stand out as an eye-sore? Are there loose boards in the railing? Is the paint chipped? Could the house use a good power-wash?
You can also apply the same idea of using potted flowers and live plants on the outside and inside of the entryway.
Conclusion
When you’re able to positively influence a buyer’s perception of your home by showing off its best attributes, you increase your chances of selling your house more quickly, and maybe even for more money.
Remove any unnecessary items, including furniture. Store away your personal items. Give the entire house a good scrub, or hire someone to do it for you. When showing the home, make sure blinds and curtains are open, and remove signs of pets. Then, accessorize to add to the ambiance of the rooms.
Talk with your real estate agent, who is an expert in staging, about ways that you can increase the perceived value of your home, and sell quickly, through the art of staging.
Have Questions? Ask The Kevin Pickles Team!
Your real estate agent is the best source of information about the local community and real estate topics. Give The Kevin Pickles Team a call today at (678) 887-1967 to learn more about local areas, discuss selling a house, or tour available homes for sale.
