Staging a home for sale is big business and one that often comes with a hefty price tag. However, it is possible to learn how to stage a home yourself whether you are selling through a real estate agent or selling the home yourself. Properly done, home staging can reduce the amount of time needed to sell a home.
Personalization does not work
When someone is hunting for a home, they want to be able to picture their family living in the home. When staging, remove items that prevent this type of visualization including children’s photos, family photos and family heirlooms. Generally speaking, it is better to have only a few pieces of generic artwork hanging on walls and tables should be clear of photographs. Coffee table books or books placed on end tables are also safe choices.
Use color to your advantage
Keep in mind that colors matter to a potential home buyer. If you have an unusual color scheme in any room, consider changing the color to a neutral beige, off white or similar neutral color. Not only will lighter colors appear to make rooms appear larger, they also allow a potential owner to visualize the colors they would prefer to see the rooms.
Do not overlook outdoors
Curb appeal matters when someone is house hunting. Try to clean up children’s toys, bikes and gardening tools and put them where they are less noticeable. Check the outside of your home for signs of flaking paint, unruly growth of bushes and plants, etc. Make sure that the outside of your home is well presented so that potential buyers can see their own family using the yard.
Basements, attics and garages
While it may be tempting to store any excess furnishings and packed boxes in the basement, attic or garage of your home, it may be a better idea to place them in storage when you are staging your home. Keep in mind, the more open the space, the easier it is for a potential buyer to see themselves using the space. Since most home buyers will search for closet space, attic and garage space, the cleaner these areas are, the more they become a potential selling point.
Some homeowner’s decide that before they put their home on the market that they will visit other homes. This can be beneficial since it will allow them to see how other people have staged a home. A well staged home is free of clutter, allows potential sellers to visualize themselves and their families in the home and can help the home sell faster. Whether a home is professionally staged or you elect to stage your home yourself, in the long run, it will pay off with a quicker home sale.
