Tips on How To Stage Your Home To Sell

By Lauren Curtis

A recent survey from the Association of Home Staging Professionals found that staging your home before you sell can increase the sale price by up to 20%. Staging is the process of rearranging and reorganizing your home allowing potential buyers to better imagine themselves living in the space. While there are many companies that offer professional staging services, it will cost you. So if you are planning on self-staging, here are a few quick tips to remember.

Freshen The Space With Plants

House plants can help to make any space feel open and inviting. Place potted plants throughout the house to add strategic pops of freshness and color. This also gives you an opportunity to add some cohesive color with each pot, tying the feel of the house together.

Similarly, if you already have any house plants that are wilting or discolored, remove them, as dying plants can have the opposite effect.

Depersonalize

A potential buyer should be able to picture themselves living in your current home. If there are too many personal items in sight, this can make it hard for the buyers to do so. Keep walls and countertops free of personal knick-knacks or family photos, and try to make the space feel as neutral as possible. Instead of family photos, try hanging up some simple wall art, or mirrors. If you can, clear out your closets so the buyer doesn’t automatically associate the space with clutter or your belongings. It may seem silly but it really does have an effect on many buyers.

Focus On Quick Aesthetic Fixes

Quick aesthetic fixes can include filling or spackling small holes, touching up chipped or stained paint, repairing cracks in walls or ceilings, and a simple deep clean of the house. These small projects can make all the difference. The less work the potential buyers feel like they will have to put into the house, the better. This includes the exterior of the house as well.

Showcase Natural Lighting

Not only does natural light within a space increase warmth and happiness, but it has a practical purpose as well. A home with natural lighting from windows or skylights can help homeowners save money on their electricity bill, reducing the need for lights during he day, and also providing natural warmth from the sun. Therefore, you’re going to want to play-up any natural lighting as much as possible. If you can, show the house during the day at peak hours for sunshine, make sure your windows are all clean, and keep your blinds completely open during showings. This will also allow the house to feel bright and clean. If you don’t have much natural light in your house, consider putting in some new bright interior lighting to give a similar effect.

Curb Appeal

If you have ever skipped through any show on HGTV, you have heard these two words before. Curb appeal can genuinely make or break a sale. For many buyers, the exterior of the house matters just as much, and often more, than the interior. Quick, cheap fixes to the exterior of your house can make a huge impact on curb appeal. Make sure your hedges/bushes and grass are neatly trimmed. If you have cement, tile, or brick, give it a good power washing to rid the entry way of any dirt or debris. If you don’t have much of a front yard or entry way, adding a few hanging or potted plants near your front door and/or flower boxes under the front windows can really brighten up the area. You can also power wash your house’s entire exterior to help the paint look fresh and clean. Another way to neutralize your house is by removing any flags, banners, signs, or personalized decorations from the exterior. Lastly, a fresh coat of paint just on your front door can do wonders for the look of your house.

Finishing Touches

This may seem obvious, but the small details matter when staging your home. A few things not to forget on the days leading up to a showing: Make all the beds, put out fresh towels, make sure there are no dishes in the sink, dust countertops, vacuum floors and rugs, clean out fridges and showers, declutter areas like garages and hall closets, light some fresh-scented candles beforehand, and organize any storage space including attics, sheds, and closets.