Staging Your Home to Sell
If you are looking for a way to sell your home quickly, then staging it is the best option.
Research shows that staged homes sell up to 16% faster and for 8% more money than unstaged properties. That’s because buyers can see themselves living in an already-furnished space rather than imagining what they might do with empty rooms. And when buyers can picture themselves in a home, they become more confident about making the purchase decision. The problem is that many homeowners don’t take advantage of this opportunity because they are too busy or lack knowledge on how to get started staging their property.
This article will help by sharing some simple steps that anyone can follow to stage their home for sale.
In this article, I will discuss:
1. What is staging
2. The importance of staging your home to sell
3. How to stage your home for sale
4. Common mistakes sellers make with staging their homes that can hurt the sale price
5. Tips on how to get started with staging your home for sale
What is Staging?
Staging your home to sell refers to preparing or decorating a property for sale to make it look its best. Many benefits come with staging, such as an increased chance of getting top dollar, more offers on the table, and getting your offer accepted much faster than similar properties. Staging your home is also quickly becoming a requirement by real estate agents in many areas of the United States. They see the benefits firsthand with their properties, which is why staging can help you sell your home faster and for top dollar.
The Importance of Staging Your Home to Sell
One of the most important things that come with selling your home is the state in which you want to sell it. Staging your home can help put your house at the top of the pile when buyers are looking at homes to purchase by making it look fresh, clean, and new even though it might be an older property. Of course, many real estate agents out there say that you do not need to stage your home and whether or not you do is up to you. Still, if they were in the market to buy a house and found two homes that looked almost identical on paper or online, most agents would choose the staged one over the one that wasn’t. So why wouldn’t you want to put your home in the best position possible to sell as quickly as possible and for as much as possible?
How to Stage your Home For Sale
There are many different tricks of the trade when it comes to staging a home. For decades it’s something that has been done by those who work with homes professionally, such as real estate agents and interior decorators. Most of these tricks involve a little elbow grease and a lot of imagination.
Common mistakes that Sellers Make with Staging their Homes that can Hurt the Sale Price
The biggest mistake that people staging their homes make is thinking that they do not need to stage it at all. Another common mistake many people make is to make the renovations a focal point of their home, which can be turned into a negative if not done right.
Tips on How To Get Started With Staging Your Home For Sale
- Clear out as much clutter as possible from your home – Remember that buyers want to see as much as they can without having to search for it.
- Paint the walls of your home in neutral colors, or paint one wall in a bright color to create contrast and draw attention.
- Get rid of all personal items on surfaces – try to give the illusion that no one lives, thereby removing any sign of life or personality. This is not the place for family photos or personal objects.
- Declutter your countertops, and try to keep everything off of them, so they look larger and more spacious.
- Remove any family pets from the property – most buyers would rather see a home with no sign of small children or pets, so stick to this rule after considering your target audience.
- Make sure your home shines – deep clean all surfaces of your property to make it look as if no one lives there. Making the windows sparkle is a must if you are planning on having your home photographed for sale.
- Repainting or other renovations should be completed before staging unless the upgrades are part of the selling point and you want to show them off.
- Make sure the landscaping outside is in tip-top shape, remove any debris or trash so that everything looks new and fresh when they walk up to your front door.
- Give yourself a few days with no one at home before inviting buyers over – the best way to see if something needs to be switched up or removed is to watch their reactions when they tour the home.
- Keep furniture minimal – this is not the time for your cozy furniture arrangement. Keep it simple and let buyers imagine themselves living in the space if possible.
- All upgrades should be neutral – having any color other than white or off-white can make a buyer feel as if they are trapped in the 1980s, and that will not help you sell your home.
- If possible, hire professionals to help you stage your home – it can be hard to see past all of the clutter and personal items when trying to sell your property, so hiring someone with an eye for design is a great way to make sure it’s done right.
- Have a friend or family member take photos of your home – most real estate agents will have professional photographers take the pictures, but having more realistic images can give buyers something to relate to when looking at photo albums online.
- Keep track of everything – many apps and computer programs can make this process much easier, but it is essential to keep track of the changes you make or remove. This way, if an agent or buyer has any questions, you will have something in writing to back up your claims.
- If possible, try to give the appearance that someone with taste lives there – this is a great way to make the property appeal to those with a higher budget.
- Don’t be afraid to stage your home multiple times – remember that selling a home can take months, and you don’t want to leave any stone unturned when trying to attract potential buyers.
- Remember that almost half of all homes are sold by word of mouth – make sure to update all of your friends and family on what has changed or has been removed from the property.
- Finally, remember that staging does not come cheap- if you can’t afford it, be honest and tell realtors this information when they show your home. Some will work on a sliding scale, but you risk wasting your money if they think it is overpriced.
IN CONCLUSION
When you are ready to sell your home, think about staging it. It can make all the difference in how quickly and for what amount of money you might be able to get out from under your current property.
With a little effort on your part, we can help you stage your house so that buyers will want to move right in rather than walk away after seeing the first few rooms due to flaws or clutter.
Let us know when you’re interested in staging services and our team is happy to talk with you more!