Staging. It’s a word that’s enough to make sellers break out in cold sweats. Even the stoutest of sellers take pause knowing that the distance between “Sold” and “Unsold” could lie in the aesthetics of their home. But staging doesn’t have to be scary! While there are many ways to correctly stage a home before it hits the market, we’ll cover some basics with our 3 easy steps below. And remember, we’re always available to chat about your own home listing! Without further ado, here’s the list.
Home Staging Step 1: Time to de-clutter
Before you dive into Feng shui, take a look at the macro scope of your house. If you were viewing it for the first time, what trouble spots would draw your eye? For starters, it’s time to eliminate (or at least hide) clutter that serves as a distraction to your property’s true value. Toys should go in toys chests or closets, and coats should be folded up or hung out of view. Hide all pet bowls. Empty (and keep empty for viewings) the kitchen sink, and remove all laundry from sight. “Clutter” can also refer to distracting odors, too. Remove all offending odor sources and replace with scented items such as candles or air refresheners – or even a portable carbon scrubber for extreme cases – and get people’s nose onboard the purchase as well.
Home Staging Step 2: Don’t bust your budget
We’re all seen the home-improvement shows where a family takes a trip to a high-end furniture market to make their space look like something out of a magazine before an open house. Don’t do it! No matter the age of your current furniture, spreading out pieces and tackling the staging process realistically is just as good as making high-end purchases. You want to maximize your investment in a home, so why put down hundreds extra? Touch up, clean, or in some cases, re-finish your existing furniture to add to your property’s appeal.
Home Staging Step 3: Find your balance
Give people room to see themselves in your new space. Provide a flow to each room. Oftentimes it’s easy to push furniture to the edges of a room to “open things up,” but it’s a much better idea to pull chairs and a small table forward to create a quaint seating area in the room’s center. Don’t be afraid of trading furniture between rooms, either – there may be a tea set on one child’s bedroom that would look darling as a breakfast nook just off the kitchen. Let mirrors hang – they provide the illusion of more space – while tuck away family photos of your own. Although they hold sentimental value for you, they add an obstacle between potential family’s visit and them envisioning themselves living in a space of their own.
Want to know how the professionals stage a home? We have years of experience doing it the right way. Talk with us today!