Are you preparing for a residential move? Staging your home to sell is an art. When you create a look that entices potential buyers, it’s easier getting offers on your home. While working with a professional for staging your home is one option, there are plenty of ways to stage your home on your own.
Take a look at these tips for creating the looks that buyers want.
Get Rid of the Clutter
A clean home is a happy home. Potential buyers will love seeing your home when it is free of clutter.
Minimize or eliminate distractions that might take buyers’ focus away from the positive elements of the house. Remove as many personal items as possible. Get an early jump on packing by packing up things like family photos, large collections on display such as trophies, as well as unusual decor.
Potential buyers will be able to envision it as their own functional space when you eliminate your own personality from the home.
If you’re a pack-rat with overstuffed closets, clear those out as well. An overstuffed closet might be interpreted as a house without enough storage. The same idea applies to garages, basements, laundry rooms, and storage areas. Eliminate the excess so that your home looks big and inviting.
When potential buyers see that you keep your home free of mess, they’ll be impressed that the place has been well taken care of. Simply taking an hour or two to clear up all clutter in your home can be one of the biggest changes you can make to draw in potential buyers.
Do a Deep Cleaning and a Little Fixing
While decluttering, take the opportunity also to do a thorough cleaning. Scrub and polish each area of your home from top to bottom to make it shine.
Clean the tile in the bathrooms and kitchen. Make sure to eliminate all cobwebs and dust bunnies. Clean the baseboards and remove smudges from walls, doors, mirrors, and windows.
Now is the ideal time to fix those small items you’ve had on your “to-do” list but haven’t gotten to. Regrout or replace any chipped or broken tiles. Repair cracks and holes in the walls. Consider touching-up and painting any areas that are worn, like doors and high traffic areas.
A clean and well-maintained home shows potential buyers that you have taken excellent care of the property.
Let The Light In – Literally
The chances are that your potential buyers are looking for a home that’s light and bright, so you’ll want to do all you can to bring light into your home.
Open all curtains and blinds, and strategically place some mirrors around your home to reflect light into dark areas. Your realtor can help you with strategic placement. If it’s cloudy outside on the day of your showing or open house, strategically placed lamps can add a warm glow that makes the home feel more inviting.
Clear Out Non-Essential Furniture
While it may sound odd, removing some furniture from your house can make it more appealing to potential buyers. You don’t want the furniture to crowd your rooms. Instead, you want them to feel spacious. This might be challenging if you’re still living in your home. Renting a storage unit for a few of the non-essential pieces of furniture can help give your home an open and roomy feel.
Rearrange Furniture
When you’ve gotten rid of non-essential furniture, rearrange the rest of the furniture away from the walls. This creates an open and inviting space and allows your guests to imagine themselves relaxing with family. Think about the cozy furniture in a coffee shop — that’s the look you’re after when you stage your furniture.
Add Some Extras
Think about what would wow you if you walked into a nice hotel room. Welcoming folded towels in the bathrooms, fresh flowers on the kitchen table, and bowls of fresh fruit strategically placed around the home can go a long way to impress.
Freshly baked cookies and clean linens also add inviting smells to your home.
Staging it Right
Properly staging your home can make or break a sale. You must take the time necessary to make your home appealing. Be sure to chat with your realtor about any specific tips they have for boosting your home’s appeal.Need help planning your residential move? Contact us for more information.