Successfully selling a home includes receiving the max value for the property. To that it takes a sound strategy that includes staging. When it comes to attracting a buyer’s attention and making them fall in love with your home, staging is one of the best options available. Whether they’re viewing listing photos or attending an open house or private viewing, staging will maximize the appeal of your home allowing for potential buyers to envision themselves living in the space. According to a 2023 study completed by the National Association of Realtors, as many as 81% of buyer's agents say staging makes it easier for prospective buyers to visualize a property as their future home and 20% of both buyer’s and seller’s agents said “home staging increased the dollar value offered by between 1% to 5%.” What does this mean for you as a seller? Home staging can help your home sell more quickly, and for a higher sale price.
Like many aspects of real estate, home staging takes a fairly simple, common-sense concept and expands on it. When staging, you will set up and decorate each room in your home for the specific purposes of enhancing the best features of that space. Making each space feel spacious and clean is key, along with removing any personal details that may distract a potential buyer from viewing themselves in your space. While there are some easy basics to staging that most understand, like clearing out clutter and giving everything a deep cleaning, there are still a few staging “secrets” that the pros take advantage of - and could help your home stand out even more on today’s market!
- Less is More: When it comes to staging, start by focusing on the strengths and weaknesses of a room, and work around those considerations. Do not immediately start by filling a room with furniture or décor. Every room should have a consistent theme, but should retain a feeling of airiness. Space is king, so make sure your buyers know just how much usable space will be available to them. An oversized couch or chair can detract from that spaciousness causing a space feel cluttered and even claustrophobic.
- Don’t be a Minimalist: While you absolutely want to avoid clutter and making your rooms feel overstuffed, you also don’t want to make your home feel empty. Approach each room separately. A bedroom should feel like a bedroom, and a living room or game room should clearly show how the room can be utilized.
- Keep Surfaces Clear: Desks, coffee and end tables, and even countertops should all be kept as free of items as possible. This helps give the impression that there’s a large amount of useable space- especially important in utilitarian areas like kitchen counters, bathrooms, and laundry rooms.
- Tasteful Touch Up: When addressing any cosmetic shortcomings, avoiding daring colors. Neutral colors are more likely to appeal to a wider array of buyers, and have enough variety to help shape the atmosphere and overall color palate of a room. Available in greys and beiges, along with shades of champagne, pink, and blue, neutral colors don’t have to be boring!
- Flowers: If you want to add a beautiful, classy seasonal touch to your home, flowers are a great way to do it. Fresh flowers or attractive flower arrangements can have a dynamic impact on how inviting your home is. Remember though, less is more is still a good theme to guide you.
When you first saw your home, what made it appeal to you? Take your experience, having purchased and lived in this space, to help the next buyers see the positives of buying your home and making it their own! Home staging will help you focus their attention while providing a great first impression. Use your common sense and ask yourself a simple question, “What changes will make this room even more attractive?” Try to avoid changes that would personalize a space too much: remember, you’re moving out, so create a space that can speak to the next owner.