Home staging is the process of arranging furniture to make a house more appealing to potential homebuyers. Staging has become the go-to strategy to increase a home’s selling price while decreasing the time it sits on the market. Staging a home creates a welcoming space while helping buyers picture themselves living there.
Here are some of our top home staging tips that can help your home sell faster and for more.
Declutter, depersonalize, and deep clean.
Clutter causes two major issues: it distracts the buyer and makes your home appear smaller. Space sells so make sure you highlight your home’s size by paring down to the basics. Use this as an opportunity to get rid of anything you no longer need. Consider renting a storage unit to hold extra furniture and items you don’t need in the interim.
The next step after decluttering is depersonalizing your home. Buyers need to be able to see themselves in your home. The best way to do this is removing family photos, keepsakes, or other décor pieces that will make buyers think of you instead of the home. This entire process can be emotionally overwhelming but remember it’s only temporary. You’ll be able to fill your new home with all of your stuff.
Make your home sparkling clean. This shows buyers you’ve taken care of the home. Hiring professional cleaners is a good idea if you need help or don’t have time or the ability to put in all the elbow grease.
Stage where it matters
You don’t have to stage your entire house. It’s better to focus on the rooms that buyers find most important: the kitchen, living room, and master bedroom. You can spend more time and effort perfecting those rooms and less on the rest of the home.
Remove signs of pets
Pets are family but not everyone may be a fan. Thoroughly clean the areas your pets spend the most time and remove toys, food dishes, and other pet items.
Amp up the lighting
Lighting is essential to home staging. The right light can make a home feel warm and welcoming. Encourage this feeling by opening the curtains and blinds to fill your home with as much natural light as possible. Clean existing light fixtures so they look their best and replace any outdated or broken fixtures.
Rearrange your furniture
Get the most out of your home’s layout by rearranging your furniture. Be sure to create as much open and walkable space as possible so buyers aren’t tripping over furniture. Resist the urge to push everything against the wall – this creates an awkward space in the middle of the room. Instead, create conversation spaces by floating couches and chairs toward each other to create cozier spaces.
Add finishing touches
Now that your home is perfectly staged, add a few small touches the bring everything together. You can refer to Pinterest or how new home builders stage their model homes for inspiration. With a few thoughtfully placed items like some fresh flowers in vases, a bowl of fresh fruit on the kitchen counter, a throw blanket placed on the bed, your home will feel homier.
Boost curb appeal
First impressions matter so don’t overlook the power of curb appeal. Buyers begin judging your home from the moment they pull up to the curb. Take some time to improve your home’s look by power washing dirt and grime from the sidewalk and exterior siding. Update the landscaping by cleaning up the edging around flowerbeds and walkways, plant blooming flowers or shrubs, and make sure everything is neatly pruned.
With some work, you can get buyers to fall in love with your home. There’s a lot to gain from staging your home to sell. Thankfully you can effectively stage your home without spending a lot of money.
Once you’ve sold your home, we can help you find your new one. SummerHill Homes has gained a reputation for building communities of distinction. Our luxury homes are in premier locations throughout the Bay Area. Visit us at SummerHillHomes.com to learn more about our communities and schedule an appointment.