Home staging refers to preparing your home to sell so it appeals to the most potential buyers who will pay the highest possible price.
Staging is not the same as decorating. Decorating is about personal style, while staging makes your home appealing to a larger buying audience. Think of home improvement shows you have watched. If you are like me, you can imagine yourself living in some of the homes. Others have styles that simply turns you off.
At Al Williams Properties, we have years of experience showing homes and our fingers on the pulse of potential home buyers. With their feedback, we have some tried-and-true tips for home staging that will help your property sell.
- Clean
A clean home shows potential buyers that you’ve taken good care of the property. Ideally, you should clean every part of the house, from the floors to the ceilings—and everything in between.
If you don’t have new appliances in the kitchen, make sure the existing ones are spotless. Likewise, make sure your bathrooms sparkle, from the corners of the tub to the sink drain, to places you don’t think anyone can see. Your goal should be to make everything look (and smell) new.
- Declutter
Clutter distracts buyers from your home’s features and makes the home appear cramped.
Box up and store the things you don’t need daily like knickknacks, games, personal papers, out-of-season clothes, and the like. This is a great way to get rid of things you no longer use or need.
Don’t overlook cabinets, pantries, closets, and other storage areas, including the garage. The more empty storage space you have, the better.
- Depersonalize
Buyers need to be able to envision themselves in your home, and that is hard for them to do if all they see are your personal items.
Remove family photos, your kids’ artwork, framed diplomas, and personal collections. Pack these items up to take to your new home and replace them with generic artwork. Keep clothes hidden away as much as possible, and make sure the bathroom counters are empty.
- Focus on Fresh
No matter the season, a few potted plants can make your home feel fresh and inviting. If you have a lot of plants, space them out strategically so they don’t overwhelm anyone. Don’t keep any plants that don’t look healthy.
Get rid of odors. Inexpensive tricks for ridding a home of odors and giving it an inviting aroma include baking cinnamon-coated apples or cookies in the oven or burning vanilla-scented candles. Avoid air fresheners because they can trigger allergic reactions to sensitive people.
And don’t forget to take out the trash!
- Wallpaper and Paint
Wallpaper, unless it is very neutral, can be off-putting to potential buyers. Best to tear it down and paint the walls with a neutral color.
Potential buyers will likely feel the same way about custom paint colors. That turquoise bathroom you love, may just have to go. People’s tastes in colors are very specific and highly personal. Don’t replace it with white paint, though. It’s better to paint with warm, neutral colors.
- Flooring
Replacing flooring can be expensive but might be necessary. If you have dirty, stained carpet, it’s got to go! Dreary, worn vinyl in kitchens and bathrooms won’t do much to “wow” potential buyers either.
The living room, dining room, kitchen and bathrooms should be your main focus. In kitchens and bathrooms, go with ceramic tile or stone if you can afford it. If not, use high-quality vinyl tiles or luxury vinyl plank (LVP) that mimic more expensive materials.
- Furniture
To make rooms look larger, pare down the furniture and remove items that are too big for the space. Don’t overdo it, however. Furniture that is too small for the space or a room that doesn’t have enough furniture can be just as uninviting.
You want to arrange furniture in a way that makes each room feel spacious, inviting, and easy to navigate.
- Exterior
The exterior and the entryway of your home will be the first thing house hunters see, and you want to make a stellar first impression. The curb appeal can mean the difference between someone booking a showing or just driving on by. Hint: a fresh coat of paint on the front door can do wonders for curb appeal.
Move lawn equipment and trash cans where they can’t be seen from the road. Be sure lawn, hedges, trees, and other plants are neatly pruned, and be sure to get rid of any weeds and add mulch to landscape beds. Make sure the driveway and sidewalks are cleared and clean.
Don’t neglect the backyard. Make outdoor living spaces look inviting. Ditch any weather-worn furniture, remove toys, and coil up hoses. Make sure decks and patios are clean.
When we show your property, we want you to be proud to invite potential buyers into your home. While you may not be able to accomplish all these staging strategies, the team at Al Williams Properties will help you decide which are most important. Just give us a call!