Staging Your Home to Sell It

For those of you who may not be familiar with home staging, it is defined as, “the activity or practice of styling and furnishing a property for sale in such a way as to enhance its attractiveness to potential buyers.”

Essentially, professionals are hired to come into a home that’s being sold to furnish and style it in the most attractive and appealing way.

A lot of sellers debate whether or not to skip over the home staging step when they sell their homes. It can be difficult for homeowners to think their style isn’t up to par, they aren’t in touch with the “latest trends”, or simply seeing their personal items replaced with other items can be difficult to handle. But, the numbers speak for themselves, and staging your home to sell is worth it. In fact, “In a recent Real Estate Staging Association Survey, professionally staged homes spent 72% less time on the market” – homestagingresource.com

So, why is it that staged homes sell so much faster than non-staged ones? What are the benefits that staging provides to a seller? If you’re interested in staging parts of your home, but not the whole property, what areas are most important? Here are some tips, tricks, and facts when it comes to staging your home:

Get Ahead on Packing

One of the many benefits of staging your home are the unexpected perks that come along with it. Here are just a few of those examples:

It increases your chances of moving out faster and the new buyers getting in quicker. Basically, it requires less moving time for the both of you.
There is less stress when it comes time to officially sell. There are no packing struggles, and there is no rush to box up all of your belongings – It’s already taken care of!
No clutter! Every item within your home has a place to call its home. There are no stacks of papers, tchotchkes, or miscellaneous items scattered throughout the property.

Your Home Can Sell Faster and for More Money

It gives you a leg up compared to non-stagers. Your home is designed better, the layout is appealing, and the decor balances everything out.
Buyers can see themselves in your home. Staging a home creates a neat but homey space, all while taking the personal touch away from the current owners. This allows potential buyers to better see themselves in a home that seems like it is already offering them a fresh start.
Staging a home “showcases your space.” Everything is laid out in a stunning way that will bring in the most natural light and maximize room space.
It creates a great first impression
All of these points listed above will go on to increase the perceived value of your home

Showcase Your Space

This was already mentioned above in the previous section, but its impact and importance is huge. Professional stagers will best showcase your space by:

Decluttering
Arranging furniture properly – in a way to make the home look bigger, brighter, inviting, and more
Depersonalizing – Many pictures, collection items, heavy curtains, décor, etc. will be removed and replaced with subtle accent pieces to pull a room together
Making the entrance to the home inviting by being open and bright, and perhaps adding “welcoming” touches such as a sign, mat, and/or plant
Every room will serve a purpose that the buyer can see (no awkward corners in a room or small third bedroom studies left unfurnished)

From here, professional photos can be taken and marketing the property will be a breeze. This will get more potential buyers through the door. Prospective buyers look at photos on the internet before they make any decision as to whether or not they should see a home in person – “Your first showing is online”

Overall Home Staging Tips for the DIY Seller

If you prefer not to hire a professional, or just need to save some money, here is a list of the most crucial home staging tips you should never skip out on doing:

Boost your curb appeal – Think flowers, mowing the lawn, cleaning up the yard, etc.
Declutter and clean – also depersonalize (i.e. all those family photos and albums) – by packing up anything that isn’t necessary
Rearrange your furniture. Open up the space to make it look bigger, inviting, and livable
Choose the right colors – Nothing too bright, shiny, or overpowering
Give extra rooms and spaces a more defined purpose, such as an added office, guest room, or play area for the kids
Stage the outdoor area too, whether it’s for entertaining guests or serving as a relaxing getaway right at home
Think seasonally. Take which season it is into consideration when decorating
Let the natural light in
Update a room and make it look refreshed quickly with a fresh coat of paint
Camouflage outdated features
Update lighting fixtures. This will give rooms more light and an overall better look
Use virtual staging for any rooms that you cannot afford to stage
Know your audience. Who is going to be coming through your front door?

Looking for even more tips on buying or selling a home? Reach out to our team for more information on how to sell your home for more, or buy your next one for less.