Once you’ve made the decision to place your house on the market, it’s likely you will need to do a few things to freshen up the look of your home and prepare it for the discerning eye of a potential buyer.
Successful staging is an important factor in the selling process and should not be overlooked as a way to bring in buyers and try to achieve top dollar.
Staged homes often sell faster and for more money than homes that haven’t been staged.
Here are a number of ways you can prepare your home for showings and open houses.
Prepare your home for buyers
When you’ve been living somewhere for a while, you can begin to overlook little things that need to be fixed such as peeling wallpaper in an entryway or scuff marks along the baseboards.
While small in nature, these things can imply neglect to a potential buyer so it’s important to address them prior to putting your house on the market.
De-clutter
It’s generally a good idea to pare back some of your belongings and move them elsewhere before you list your home.
Overstuffed closets make buyers think your home doesn’t have enough storage so clear out unwanted or unused items to help clear space.
Go through rooms that tend to be a magnet for clutter like basements and playrooms. Clean and organise them and remove any unnecessary items.
You will also want to remove personal items such as family photos and mementos as these can be distracting to buyers.
Maximise the selling points
You want to accentuate the selling points of your home so buyers take notice of these features during a showing. If you have large windows, make sure there aren’t heavy draperies covering them up.
If your kitchen has tons of counter space, make sure they aren’t filled with small appliances and clutter.
Stage rooms for their appropriate uses
You might be using your formal dining room as a home office or workout space but a room should be staged for its original purpose.
Move the desk or stationary bicycle out and set it up with a table and chairs to show buyers what a spacious and lovely formal dining space it can be.
Make sure you are maximising space and utilising rooms in the best possible way. It’s always helpful when a buyer can see how their furniture might fit in the space.
If the master bedroom can easily fit a king sized bed but you are currently using a double bed, stage it with a king sized bed to showcase the available space.
You don’t want to leave a potential buyer questioning whether your home has enough space; you want to show them that it does.
If you have a small home with a limited number of bedrooms, you may want to consider staging one of the bedrooms with bunk beds so buyers can see that the home will work for a larger family.
Go neutral
Everyone has different tastes and the goal in staging should be to appeal to the masses. To do this the furnishings and colour palette in a staged home should be neutral.
You will want to pare down the décor and remove any ornate furnishings or distracting art. Paint the entire interior of the home in a nice neutral like grey or white that isn’t overpowering.
Replace bold patterns and textiles with more toned down versions.
Create an inviting space
Although the goal is to appeal to the masses and incorporate neutral furniture and décor, you still want to create an inviting space that invokes a sense of warmth and cosiness.
Incorporate plush carpets and rugs, warm task lighting, throws and pillows, plants and other accents to help give your home an intimate and welcoming feeling.
These are just a few tips and ideas to get you started on the process of staging your home for sale.
By following the recommendations we’ve mentioned here, you are well on your way to making a great impression with buyers and selling your home for top dollar.
Author bio
Philip Piletic is a freelancer, writer and traveller who loves to share his experience with others by contributing to online communities and helping others achieve success. Credit to Hiresquare for assisting with this article.
