Once you decide to sell your home it needs to look its absolute best for potential buyers. That's where home staging comes in. Home staging is a decorating method which highlights your home's best assets. When it's done correctly, it will absolutely help your home sell faster, and for more money. It makes sense that when selling your home you put time and effort into staging your home.
Here are a Few Simple Home Staging Tips
Remove the Clutter
Clutter takes up a lot of space. You can make your home look much bigger and more appealing by removing unnecessary items. You don't have to throw things away, or get rid of them forever, but you should pack them up and get them out. This includes un-seasonal winter coats in your hall closet (if you're selling in spring or summer), personal papers & bills laying around, refrigerator magnets, and anything else that you don't need on a daily basis.
Often buyers look in closets to see how much storage is available, so be sure to remove non-crucial items. The less clutter you've got, the bigger it will look.
Clean, Clean, then Clean Again
When your home is for sale, you want every square inch to shine, from the baseboards to the corners of your ceilings and everywhere in between. A squeaky clean home tells buyers that you took good care of your home. If you tend to ignore unpleasant tasks, like cleaning the inside of your refrigerator or regularly dusting your window blinds, now is the time to take care of them.
Fresh Coat of Paint
Bright colors on walls may help people express their personality, but they are usually a turn-off for buyers. When you're staging your home to sell, one of the best things you can do is give your home a fresh coat of paint in a neutral color like white, light gray, or taupe. Bold colors may distract your buyer from a room's potential. Buyers might want to add their own bright colors, but a neutral home gives them the option to do that – or not.
A Good First Impression - Curb Appeal
The first thing people see when they walk up to your home is the front entrance; you want to make a positive impression. Remove any seasonal decorations, which can date a house in pictures and during showings. If you have a front stoop, consider power washing it. Add a simple doormat and maybe a potted plant. Keep the space simple and welcoming to start buyers off on the right foot.
Keep it Light
Brighten up your rooms by letting in as much light as possible. Open the blinds to let in the light, and make rooms seem bigger. Turn on all the lights in your house for showings to help make your home more welcoming. It also saves buyers from having to stumble around trying to figure out which switches turn on which lights.
Rearrange your Furniture
There should be as much walkable space as possible. This helps buyers better visualize their own furniture in each room. Put unneeded furniture in storage to get it out of the way, get rid of oversized or damaged pieces, and those that that don't match the rest of the room.
Focus on the Important Rooms
Not all rooms are equal when it comes to staging. You should focus on the rooms that have the biggest influence to buyers, and spend less time on rooms that aren't as important such as guest bedrooms & children's bedrooms. Focus on the living room, master bedroom, master bath, and kitchen.
Hire a Pro
If this all seems overwhelming to you - I can help you with the Home Staging process. Just Call! 708.814.6253
