Before you list your home, it’s important to do some staging. Staging is the process of making your home look as attractive as possible to potential buyers. By taking the time to stage your home, you can help it sell faster and for a higher price. Not sure where to start? Here are 10 tips for staging your home before listing.
1. Start with a fresh coat of paint.
A fresh coat of paint can do wonders for your home’s appearance. It will make everything look clean and new, and it’s a relatively inexpensive way to stage your home. When choosing a paint colour, opt for something neutral that will appeal to a wide range of people. Unless you're an experienced painter, it may be worthwhile investing in a professional service to do the job, however, this can be quite costly. Your REALTOR can let you know if you'll see a return on investment.
2. Get rid of any personal items.
When potential buyers are looking at your home, you want them to be able to imagine themselves living there. That’s hard to do if your family photos are everywhere or if there are toys in every room. Before you start showing your home, pack up any personal items and put them into storage. The same goes for any pet items, make sure toys and beds are put away before each showing.
3. Declutter each room.
In addition to removing personal items, you also want to declutter each room in your house. Get rid of anything that’s not absolutely necessary, and put anything that’s not being used on a regular basis into storage. This will make each room look more spacious and inviting.
4. Rearrange your furniture.
Once you’ve decluttered each room, take a look at the furniture arrangement and see if there’s anything you can change to make the space more appealing. Sometimes, rearranging the furniture can make a big difference in how a room looks and feels. You want to make your space feel as appealing as possible to potential buyers.
5. Deep clean every room.
Deep cleaning is essential before you start showing your house. Be sure to clean all surfaces, including windows, floors, and bathrooms. Don't forget about your baseboards, cabinets and walls! You'd be surprised how much dust and dirt can accumulate until you're up close and personal. If cleaning isn't your favourite task, you may want to hire a professional to ensure a thorough job, this way you'll just have to worry about maintaining the cleaning.
6. Let in some fresh air.
Open up all the windows in your house and let in some fresh air. This will help get rid of any musty odours and make the house feel more inviting. Fresh air is the best way to freshen your home. As nice as candles and other scented products may smell, they aren't always a good idea when trying to sell your home. Some buyers may feel like you're trying to cover something up if the scent is too strong. Alternatively, some may be allergic, putting them off viewing the rest of your home.
7. Stage each room with a purpose in mind.
When you’re staging each room, it’s important to keep the purpose of the room in mind. For example, if you have an extra bedroom that you use as an office, stage it as such. This will give potential buyers an idea of how they could use the space if they lived in the house. Try to avoid using rooms that should have a purpose as storage rooms.
8. Pay special attention to high-traffic areas.
Your kitchen, living room, and bathrooms are going to be some of the most-used rooms in your house, so it’s important that they look their best when potential buyers come over. Make sure these rooms are clean, uncluttered, and inviting. Try to put away any items that usually live on your counter, this will make the kitchen appear larger and more inviting.
9. Add some curb appeal.
When people drive by your house, you want them to be impressed by what they see. Take some time to tidy up your yard, cut the grass, add some flowers or plants, and make sure the outside of your house looks just as good as the inside. In the winter time ensure that your driveway and all walkways are free of snow and ice.
10. Get feedback from someone else.
Once you think you’ve finished staging your house, it can be helpful to get feedback from someone else who hasn’t seen it before. Ask your REALTOR or a friend or family member for their honest opinion about how well you’ve staged the house and what else they would suggest.
By following these 10 tips, you can stage your home so that it looks its best when potential buyers come over. If staging your home is a task you don't want to take on, your REALTOR can recommend local staging companies that can help you. A well-staged home can help you sell faster and for a higher price, so it’s definitely worth taking the time to do it right!
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