Ready to sell your beloved home? You want to find a buyer who will appreciate it just as much as you have over the years. To make a lasting impression, you need to show potential buyers the true potential of your property. That's where home staging comes in.
What is home staging?
When buyers walk into your home, you want them to envision themselves living there. You want them to feel at home, not like they're in someone else's house. Too many personal items can be a distraction, but an empty space can feel cold and unwelcoming. Home staging is the solution.
Home staging involves temporarily furnishing, decorating, and sometimes renovating various rooms in your home to make it more appealing to buyers. While you can stage your home yourself, there are also professional staging companies that can handle the process for you. Your real estate agent might be able to recommend a trusted staging company if you decide to go that route.
Tips for successful home staging
If you're considering staging your home, here are some helpful tips:
Consult a professional stager: If you're on a tight budget, a consultation with a professional stager can provide valuable ideas and recommendations. You're under no obligation to hire them, but their expertise can make a huge difference in staging your home effectively.
Deep clean your home: Before bringing in staging items, make sure your home is spotlessly clean. Hire a professional cleaning service if needed, so your home is move-in ready and leaves a lasting impression on potential buyers.
Consider the scent: Often, homeowners become accustomed to the smell of their own home and may not realize if something smells unpleasant. Do a smell test and make sure your home smells inviting. Consider using scented candles or baking cookies to create a cozy atmosphere during showings.
Focus on key rooms: Staging an entire house can be expensive, so concentrate on showcasing a couple of key rooms, like the living room and kitchen. This allows prospective buyers to visualize themselves in those spaces and get a feel for what living in your home would be like.
Stage according to your audience: Consider the ideal living space for potential buyers and stage your home accordingly. The style and budget of the target demographic should influence your staging choices. Keep in mind the type of property you're selling – a cozy beach cottage requires a different aesthetic than a modern downtown condo.
Embrace minimalism: You don't need to fully furnish every room as if someone were living there. The goal is to create a sense of home and highlight the property's potential. Keep the number of items in each room to a minimum, and use light, simple colors to maximize space.
Why Staging Your Home is a Game-Changer for Selling
Stand Out in the Crowd: In today's competitive real estate market, it's easy for your listing to get lost in a sea of online options. But with professional staging, your home becomes a showstopper. Catch the attention of more buyers before they even step foot inside.
Create the Dream: Let buyers fall in love with your property by staging it to perfection. Professional color schemes, clever layouts, and unique decor pieces create an emotional connection and help buyers imagine themselves living in the space.
Unlock Hidden Potential: Empty rooms can be a challenge for buyers to envision. Staging solves that problem, showing buyers how to make the most of every nook and cranny. Plus, staged rooms appear larger, making them even more appealing.
Boost Your Bottom Line: If your house has been sitting on the market, consider staging before slashing the price. Staged homes tend to sell faster and can often fetch a higher price tag than expected.
Is staging worth it?
According to a recent survey, over 80% of real estate agents agreed that staging made it easier for buyers to envision themselves in the home. Additionally, 23% of agents reported increased offers for staged homes compared to unstaged ones.
Staging also speeds up the selling process, with staged homes spending 33% to 50% less time on the market. This means less waiting and fewer added expenses for you.
However, there are a few drawbacks to consider. Staging comes with upfront costs, including rental furniture. If your home stays on the market longer than anticipated, those costs can add up. You'll also need additional storage for your belongings, which means more fees and potential rent payments.
Staging can also be a time-consuming process, especially if you decide to do it yourself. While it may pay off in the end, there's always a bit of uncertainty. It's a calculated gamble.
Other alternatives to staging
If staging isn't your cup of tea, there are other options to enhance your chances of a successful sale:
Decluttering: Clean up and organize high-traffic areas of your home like the entryway, living room, and kitchen. Donate unwanted items and neatly store the rest.
Give your home a facelift: Freshen up the walls, baseboards, and details like backsplashes and cabinet hardware for a quick refresh.
Virtual staging: Skip the physical staging and opt for realistic, digitally enhanced photos of fully staged rooms. It's a cost-effective way to show off your home's potential.
Curb appeal: Spruce up your home's exterior by repainting the front door, trimming hedges, and adding some colorful flowers. A clean driveway and garage door go a long way.
There are countless ways to stage your home for a faster sale and a better price. Remember, the goal is to make visitors feel at home.