9 Home Staging Tips for Sellers
Of all the things you do to prepare to sell your home, staging is one of the most stressful. Suddenly, you see every room in a whole new light – or not enough lighting, depending on which room you’re in! There are so many ways you can get your home ready to be looked at by strangers so it’s important to enlist help in the selling process. Simplify your home staging with these 9 tips for creating the perfect sellable space!
1. Less is More
Every room in your home is going to be under review and it’s important to clear out clutter. You can approach this by decluttering each room to feel open and breathable. Here are some quick tips to get you started:
- Remove most items from tabletops, counters, and other surfaces. One well-placed, appropriately sized piece is perfect for a surface.
- Minimize the wall decor to just a couple of pieces. These pieces can be visually anchored to furniture, such as a showcase piece above the couch.
- Remove thick, dark rugs from the floor and replace them with lighter, thinner options. If you have carpet, do not put any rugs down.
- Replace those blackout curtains with lightly filtered curtains which will brighten up the room.
- Remove most items from closets. Leave only what highlights different features. For example, with built-ins, place a few items in each section to exemplify use.
- Employ only enough furniture in each room to tell the story and ensure it fits the space. One bed, one dresser, two nightstands, and one settee may be all you need to stage the master bedroom.
Decluttering will likely result in packing items away, but at least you’ll get a head start on it! Before storing it in the garage or basement, think about this: stacks of crates, furniture, and rugs can go a long way in making a perfectly usable room seem bereft. It might just be worth renting a temporary storage unit to hide it all away.
2. Pay Attention to Lighting
The quality of lighting in a room can have a significant impact on how it feels. Let in natural light when possible. Some areas of the home are more difficult, such as bathrooms, finished basements, and other interior rooms. Use floor and table lamps to provide light and that warm, fuzzy feeling.
3. Go Neutral
When choosing items to stage your home, try choosing neutral pieces. Every personal style is unique – yours is no different! Make sure each room feels welcoming to everyone.
4. It’s Nothing Personal
Your family pictures make a house feel like your home and buyers feel the same way. It’s difficult to picture yourself in a home that is filled with someone else’s memories, so try to tone down the personal mementos. Keeping a few frames won’t turn anyone away, though – especially if they’re in strategic positions like the playroom.
5. If It’s Seen, Keep it Clean
Maintaining the cleanliness, smell, and allergen levels in your home will test your patience when you’re selling your home. Just one more reason to follow the “less is more” approach when you’re constantly picking up, dusting, and wiping the walls before the next showing. A clean home is a sold home – your Malfer & Associates’ agent can discuss options with you.
6. Highlight Great Features
Do you have a gorgeous kitchen? A stunning outdoor living space? Amazing crown molding? Highlight your home’s unique selling points with the right layout to bring those features to life. For example, consider clearing the way to the outdoor living space, so it can have a big impact before potential buyers even make it outside.
7. Balance Curb Appeal and Maintenance
It’s true that you never get a second chance to make a first impression. But if that impression includes the thought, “How am I ever going to keep up with this?” then you might be unintentionally scaring away prospective buyers.
When updating the outside of your home, be sure to include low-maintenance plants and flowers. Touch up paint on shutters and clean the outside of your windows. Also, don’t overlook the small details, like a swept doormat.
8. Utilize Every Space
When looking at homes, buyers are considering how every square foot can be used. Have a small bedroom? Stage it as a nursery or office. Are there any small nooks or crannies that seem useless? Ask your agent how it can be transformed into usable space.
9. Match the Feel
This tip applies to both the décor in your home and the set up of your outdoor space. Match the looks of your place with appropriate decor. For example, if your home is a contemporary style but you have very modern furniture, this could throw buyers off when they walk through the door. The same can be said for your outdoor living space. Is your neighborhood close to a hip and funky part of town? A fireplace and a few Adirondack chairs feel more in place than a kiddie pool.
Home staging can be a very stressful process – but not if you work with Malfer & Associates. Our thorough approach to preparing your home for sale takes the weight right off your shoulders. We ask the right questions, determine the best process, make the needed improvements, advertise to the correct buyers, and put all the finishing touches in place so your listing is sold without a hitch. Additionally, our Compass Concierge program allows you to make any of these upgrades needed with no upfront costs. When it’s time for your home to go up for sale, contact Malfer & Associates for your very own in-home consultation!