If you’re looking to sell your home, properly staging it can make all the difference. Your home staging efforts should be designed to appeal to the widest possible range of buyers.
According to a 2017 National Association of Realtors study – 77% of buyers’ agents said staging made it easier for buyers to visualize the property as a future home, and one-third said that staging a home increased the dollar value between 1 – 5% compared to other similar homes on the market that are not staged. The study also found that the most important rooms to stage are the living room, kitchen, master bedroom, and dining room.
Here are 9 tips for staging your home that will have a positive impact on its price and appeal:
1. Highlight the home’s best features
Show what sets your home apart from the rest. For example, if your home has a fireplace, arrange the furniture to make it a focal point. If your home has a pool or spa, stage the area with neutral patio furniture, so you don’t detract from the water feature.
2. Lighting
Take advantage of your home’s natural light. Open all curtains and blinds when showing your home. Add supplemental lighting where necessary. Outdated or broken light fixtures can be cheaply and easily replaced. If you think your existing fixtures are fine, make sure to dust them, clean off any grime and empty out the dead bugs. Replace any blown bulbs.
3. Remove family photos and other sentimental items
Before you invite buyers into your home, it’s important to remove personal collections, sports memorabilia, family photos, and other personal items. Doing so helps potential home buyers envision themselves in the space.
4. Declutter and remove any trash
Make sure your trash cans are empty, and toilet lids are down. Ensure your closets aren’t overflowing with belongings. Remove all clutter from living areas and consider using air fresheners throughout your home, especially near pet areas and bathrooms. If you have cats clean the litter-box daily. If you have dogs make sure they smell clean and you wash the linens they lay on are cleaned often.
5. Consider the curb appeal
The lawn should be mowed, and leaves raked. Consider a hanging or potted plant for the entrance. Sweep the porch, walkways, deck, and ensure the garbage and recycling are tucked neatly away from the front of the house. You could also scrub the front door, porch, steps and outside railings.
6. Furniture
Ensure the furniture is the right size for the room, and try not to clutter a room with too much of it. Furniture that’s too big will make a room look small, while too little or too small furniture can make a space feel cold.
7. Neutralize
Something as simple as a paint job or carpeting can be a deterrent for potential buyers. Taupes and grays are ideal for creating a neutral color palette. Tans, whites & creams are also popular.
8. Walls and Ceilings
Cracks in the walls or ceiling are red flags to buyers as they may indicate foundation problems. If your home does have foundation problems, you will need to either fix them or alert potential buyers to them.
9. Finishing Touches
Add any last-minute touches that will make the home seem warm and inviting. This could include fresh flowers, letting fresh air into the house for at least ten minutes beforehand or putting new, plush, nicely folded towels in the bathrooms.
Staging your home when selling will allow prospective buyers to see themselves living in the property. Sell your home quickly with Navarre Real Estate Source. Contact us today!