6 Do’s and Don’ts for staging your home
When selling your home, presentation is everything. Potential homebuyers want to feel like your home is one they could see themselves living in. That’s what makes staging so important.
What is home staging? It’s the deliberate process of decorating to highlight your home’s best features. When done correctly, staging works. In a study conducted by the National Association of Realtors, 49% of buyers’ agents said home staging affects how a buyer views the home. Additionally, 39% of sellers’ agents believe home staging greatly decreases the total amount of time a home spends on the open market.
Below are some do’s and don’ts that will help you get your home sold fast.
What you should do when staging a house
- Boost curb appeal
- Focus your staging on rooms that matter
- Rearrange furniture
DO boost your curb appeal
First impressions are everything. You want potential buyers to be impressed the second they pull up to your home. Start by making sure your home is clean and presentable. Power wash siding, front windows and walkways. Plant some eye-catching flowers and make sure to mow and water your lawn. If you have a front porch, tidy up that space too and remove any seasonal decorations that could date your home.
DO focus your staging on rooms that matter
Staging is much more important in certain rooms. Focus your efforts on the living room, master bedroom and kitchen. When staged properly, these rooms can have the most influence on prospective buyers. Don’t worry too much about guest bedrooms or bathrooms. Just make sure they’re squeaky clean like the rest of your home!
DO rearrange your furniture
Another goal of staging is to create as much open space as possible. It makes it easier for visitors to walk around the space and creates a better vision of what the room could be. Any oversized or damaged pieces of furniture are better off being taken out of the room. If it doesn’t match or fit with the room, then remove it. Configuring your furniture is a cost-effective solution for staging if you’d prefer not to rent furniture for staging.
What should you not do when staging a house?
- Don't leave any clutter
- Don't leave personal items around the house
- Don't leave your space dark and dingy
DON’T leave any clutter
Nobody likes a cluttered space. When staging your home, keep it simple. Anything you don’t need daily should be packed away and placed in storage. Cutting the clutter will make every room look bigger, which will be more appealing to a buyer.
DON’T leave personal items around the house
Remember, the objective of staging is to make the person feel like they could see themselves in the house. That means de-personalizing the house to be as neutral as possible. Remove any personal photos around the house or any framed photos on the walls. Clear your kitchen and bathroom counters of any personal items and keep any lingering clothes out of sight. It might make your house awkward to live in, but it will make people seeing the house more comfortable.
DON’T leave your space dark and dingy
The easiest way to lose a potential homebuyer is to walk them into a dark room. Bring as much light as possible into every room and let it shine bright! Keep the blinds open on all windows and turn on all the lights when you’re showing it, including lamps and closet lights. Proper lighting makes your home feel more welcoming.
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