How to stage your home to SELL!

 

 

Today we want to give you a few tips on how to stage your home, and why this is so important.

When you are in the process of selling your home, staging is something that can really make a big difference for potential buyers. When you stage your home properly, it puts a spotlight on your home. Ideally, the goal here is to bring lots of attention to the selling points of your home, and spruce up the other aspects. You want to stage your home in a way that not only brings life to your space, but also allows the viewers to really be able to envision themselves setting down roots and making a life there!

Now that you know why staging is so important, we're going to give you some tips on how to do this effectively, and what mistakes to avoid.

THE "MISTAKES TO AVOID" LIST:

 #1. Hiding instead of removing:

  • This is a very common temptation for many of us. Hiding the clutter in a closet/storage space seems reasonable right?? Sorry to burst your bubble, but NO. Buyers will want to view every part of your home. They want to see an open, spacious, clean, and organized space. Buyers love to see an abundance of storage space, so the goal here is to really showcase that aspect of your home. This means that if you're like us, and you're still holding onto those clothes that you have outgrown and have been meaning to donate, or have three closets full of bargain items that you know you will probably never use... REMOVE THEM. We're not saying that you have to completely rid your home of all of your personal belongings, but you definitely need to go through and declutter- sell, donate, throw out, and organize.

#2. Showcasing unusual collections:

  • Collections are very often a source of pride and joy to the owner. However, when it comes to selling your home, it's best to pack them away in storage (storage some place else besides in your home! Remember we want to remove.. not hide).
  • Although the collections are probably very valuable, having them in your home when potential buyers come to view it could take up some valuable space.. It could also hinder the prospects from being able to envision their own things in the home, as well as distract from the strengths that your home has to offer.

#3. Not staging to scale:

  • What does this even mean? We're here to tell you... Most people assume that smaller, more lightweight items can create the illusion of a larger space. However, experts say otherwise. Effective staging includes furniture and decor that is appropriately sized and positioned for optimal effect.
  • Example A- A large living room with an oversized sofa in a room with a particularly small coffee table.
  • Example B- Using lots of tiny/small/lightweight decor. This can make the room look and feel cluttered.

#4. Neglecting the smell:

  • This is a big one! No matter how much you declutter, organize, and correctly scale your furniture/decor, if you neglect an odor, it could be a deal breaker for the potential buyers. Make sure you rid your home of any possible unappealing smells (pets, smoke, food... you get the idea). You should shoot for a pleasant, but clean and neutral smell in your home when its going to be viewed. If your sniffer isn't the best, maybe use a friend or your trusty real estate agent to sniff test your home.

 Now that we got the bad and the ugly out of the way, it's time to discuss the GOOD! 

THE "DO" LIST: 

#1: Lighting!!

  • A bright space can do wonders for your home, and the good news is, this is very simple to achieve! Open your curtains and blinds, replace any blown bulbs, make sure your windows are clean. Natural lighting is always a positive!

#2: Create conversational furniture arrangements.

  • Doing this can make your home appear to be very friendly and welcoming. It will set the tone for a very warm and inviting environment. When doing this, its important to keep in mind tip #3 from the DO NOT list. The goal is to achieve a space that is inviting and conversational, but also appropriately scaled.

#3: Keep it neutral!

  • Just because your purple wall in your kitchen shows off your personality, doesn't mean you should leave it that way when selling. Most people like to come into a neutral space. Staging a home isn't about living in it, its about selling it! Make it where it appeals to the as many people as possible.â €

#4. Curb appeal, curb appeal, curb appeal...

  • The saying don't judge a book by its cover is good and all, but when it comes to your home, expect people to judge the book by its cover! Curb appeal is majorly important, especially when it comes to selling. You want people to be drawn to your home. If they like what they see from the outside, they will be much more likely to want to see whats inside. How can you do this? Update your exterior fixtures. Make sure your shutters are hanging straight and in good shape. Trim the hedges. Make sure the grass is cut and well maintained. Plant some colorful flowers to incorporate a fun pop of color. These are simple things that can help bring buyers in and potentially help your home sale faster.

#5.  Arrange in odd numbers.

  • This will add visual interest to otherwise symmetrical spaces. Hang three pictures instead of two. Use five pillows instead of four. Try light fixtures with three bulbs or one bulb instead of two or four.â €

#6. CLEAN, ORGANIZE, AND DECLUTTER!!!

  • We can not stress this enough. It is so important that we have now mentioned it at least twice.  Definitely make sure each room is cleaned and organized, but never leave a room completely empty. Show the potential buyers that each room is usable and how. Remove unnecessary items. Put personal items in some type of storage that is not in your home. Emphasize the space that you have!!

  


If you are in the process of selling your home, and you're trying to make your home THAT home, these tips and tricks are a great place to start. If you do these things, its pretty much guaranteed to not only draw in buyers, but have them leaving pleasantly intrigued by your home.

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