Sellers’ Go-To Guide for Staging Homes on the Market
First impressions can go a long way to influencing people and creating lasting perceptions. That’s true not only when you’re meeting someone for the first time but also when you’re selling—or buying—a home.
In fact, the latest data from the National Association of Realtors (NAR) reveals that nearly:
- Half of buyers’ agents believe that staging a home impacts buyers’ impressions of the home: More than 3 in 4 buyers’ agents say that home staging helps buyers imagine themselves living in a given home.
- 40% of sellers’ agents believe staging a home can help it sell faster: Plus, more than 1 in 5 of these agents think staging a home can increase the sale price somewhere between 6% and 10%.
How to Stage a Home: 8 of the Best Tips for Sellers
Whether you’re getting ready to list your home or your home is already on the market, here are some simple, cost-effective home staging tips that can help you present your home in its best light.
1. Clean everything.
Give your home a thorough, deep cleaning. This includes cleaning everything from flooring, counters, and appliances to cabinetry, baseboards, windows, and more. You want your home to be sparkling clean, so its most attractive features really stand out—and so prospective buyers don’t get distracted or turned off by dust, grime, and/or pet odors.
TIP: Hire professional house cleaners to make sure no spots are overlooked. Consider doing this both before you list your home and periodically while your home is on the market.
2. Eliminate clutter.
Clutter can make any space feel cramped, small, and uncomfortable. So, edit down the items in each room of your home, getting rid of anything that eats up space, interferes with the flow of a room, or isn’t crucial to the presentation.
TIP: Pack up the items that are cluttering your home and store them offsite, like at a relative’s home or in a storage unit. You don’t want these packed items to clutter closets or a garage, both of which buyers may also want to check out when they’re viewing your home.
3. Focus on the most important rooms.
Most buyers tend to focus on the places where they will be spending most of their time. In fact, rooms like kitchens, living rooms, and master bedrooms can make or break a deal for many buyers. So, put most of your staging efforts and budget towards these key areas.
TIP: Keep it gender neutral, especially in master bedrooms. If there are unique or awkward areas in the important rooms (or anywhere in your home, for that matter), show how you use those spaces through staging. It can help buyers build their own narrative around the space.
4. Depersonalize the space.
Make your home a blank canvas for buyers so they can easily see themselves in it. To do this, remove photos from walls, take notes off your fridge, and clear personal hygiene products from bathrooms. The more buyers can visualize themselves in your home, the more potential there is for them to build a personal connection with the property.
TIP: Don’t forget to remove anything that could be controversial as well, like religious or political décor, books, or other items.
5. Keep it light, bright, and open.
Dark, enclosed spaces can feel dirty and cramped even if they aren’t. Avoid giving this impression by opening up window dressings, choosing light-colored décor or accents, and/or adding more lighting, if necessary.
TIP: Fresh or nice artificial flowers and plants can do a lot to brighten spaces, as well as your chances of selling your home! So, consider adding some real or fake plant life to key rooms in your home for an extra boost of brightness.
6. Consider removing and/or rearranging furniture.
Even though buyers aren’t looking to purchase your furnishings, the look and placement of your furniture can still play a big role in what buyers think of your home. So, take a good hard look at your furniture.
If you have furnishings that are stained, tattered, or just plain unsightly, it’s usually best to move those offsite. Once you remove those pieces, see if the remaining furniture can be arranged in a better way to enhance the flow and/or functionality of a room.
TIP: Consider renting furniture. Nice, new rental furniture can really make a room pop while adding to the overall sense of brightness buyers feel when touring a home.
7. Don’t forget about curb appeal.
Staging the outside of your home can be just as important as staging the inside. That’s because:
- Prospective buyers will see the outside of your home first, meaning curb appeal can set the tone for buyers’ first impressions.
- Curb appeal can attract buyers who may not have considered your home otherwise.
TIP: Mow the grass, consider adding flowering plants, and nicely decorate the porch if you have one. You may also want to get a new welcome mat and make sure the address is clearly visible from the street.
8. Work with an experienced Realtor®.
Whether you’re just selling a home or you’re buying and selling at the same time, a Realtor® can assist you every step of the way. From staging and listing your home to closing the sale, the right Realtor® can help you avoid mistakes while saving you time, headaches, and more expenses in the process.
TIP: Work with the experienced Realtors® at New Home Gurus! Our team will provide you with expert guidance throughout the home selling process, and we’ll share our commission with you at closing.
We work closely with home buyers and sellers alike, providing support and advice to help successfully close deals while putting money back in their pockets.
Buyers & Sellers Who Work with New Home Gurus
Can Expect an Average of $4,500 to $12,000 After Closing
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