When it comes to selling your home, buyers must be able to picture themselves living there. The “HGTV look” oftentimes is the best way to help accomplish this. I will be the first to admit that the “HGTV look is not practical but it does sell homes.
83% of buyers agents said that staging a home made it easier for the buyer to visualize that property as a future home.
So how do you achieve the best condition and look? What things can you do to give you the highest return on your money? We’ve put together 6 essential tips to keep in mind. Scroll to the bottom for a free download of the 6 Essential Steps to Stage Your Home!
1. De-Personalize
Remove personal items such as family photos, pictures on the fridge, name
plaques/signs or any other item that uniquely identifies you and your family. The goal is to help buyers picture themselves living in this home and personal items can distract from that.
2. Maximize
Remove extra clutter from the home in order to best show off the space that you have. If your closet or storage spaces are packed, it can make those spaces appear too small. You may consider storing some of your items in the garage, attic or another location. Clear or hide extra clutter such as power cords, non-necessary furniture, extra miscellaneous knick knacks. Reduce the number of decorative items on mantels and bookshelves down to a minimum in order to make the space appear bigger and give your home a relaxing feel.
3. Sanitize
Buyers are attracted to clean homes that are well-maintained. Wipe down baseboards, scrub shower doors, and clear countertops. Focus especially on the bathrooms and kitchen. Not only will a clean home look great but it will also smell fresh too! Roughly 90% of people are unable to overlook dirt and grime in a home and therefore, cannot see its true potential.
4. Modernize
Homes that appear outdated may receive lower offers. While you may not be able to renovate a whole kitchen, small updates can go a long way. Replace gold or brass door handles and hardware with nickel, chrome, or brushed silver. Update old light fixtures with bright and modern ones. Consider replacing sink and bathroom faucets if needed or updating the shower curtains.
5. Neutralize
Use neutral colors throughout the home to appeal to the widest range of potential buyers. Add additional light to your home if there are any dark rooms. You can maximize any natural light by using mirrors. Consider re-painting bold-colored walls with neutral grays or whites and switching out heavily-patterned curtains or bedspreads with simple prints. Hang crisp white towels in the bathroom.
6. Strategize
The timing of staging is equally important. Make sure to stage the home prior to professional photos and listing of the home. A study looking at the effects of staging found that homes that were staged before listing sold at 79% faster than homes that were staged after being listed.
Conclusion
And that’s it! Still not convinced it will make a big difference?
Home that were staged before listing sold at 79% faster rate than homes that were staged after being listed (2011 RESA survey).
This is why Blackstone & Co. actually pays for a professional stage your home at no additional cost to you! Want to learn more? Reach out below and an agent will be in contact shortly!