Home Staging Do’s and Don’ts

BY DANA FIORI

It’s no secret home staging is a huge component of selling a house. A properly staged home helps buyers picture themselves in it, inspires them, and can help make the house look more attractive.

Other than pricing the home properly, home staging may be the second most important factor for creating buyer urgency,” says Denise Petti, a Realtor® from Ship Bottom who specializes in staging for her clients. “A tastefully staged room allows buyers to picture themselves in the space, offers an immediate sense of warmth and comfort, and provides creative inspiration for making a home truly their own.

DO

Neutralize the Space

Even though bright colors are currently a popular trend, they’re not for everyone. When staging a room, especially a central place like the kitchen or living space, use calm colors such as white, gray, or beige. It’s easier for potential buyers to imagine a bright color they wish to bring into a room than trying to imagine what the room would look like without the bright color.

I took a listing that had been on the market for three years without being sold,” says Mary Curato, Realtor® with Weichert Realtors®. “Using staging...I was able to sell the home in three months.

De-Personalize and De-Clutter

Remove photos, trinkets—anything that may have significance to the seller. Buyers will have a harder time seeing themselves in a home full of family photos of the current owner. Instead, try replacing photos with artwork and decorative items. Remove clutter from the countertops, corners of the room, and closets. During a tour or an open house, potential buyers will go in closets and look at every corner of the home, so be sure that no mess could turn them off.

Stage Every Room

Even though it may not seem necessary to stage rooms like bathrooms or the basement, it could make a big difference.

Every room tells a story, even the bathroom. No buyer wants to see a vanity covered in a seller’s personal effects such as hairbrushes, shaving cream, toothpaste, and dental floss,” says Petti. One of the most satisfyingly staged rooms is the laundry room. Nothing says home sweet home quite like the smell of fresh fabric softener.

Often, the kitchen and living areas are thought to be the most important rooms to be staged, but every room has a purpose and deserves to be tidied and looking its best for potential buyers.

Trust the Professionals

When you think of staging a home as a chore, it often becomes one, and it’s not as well done. Enjoy the process and let it spark your creativity. Collaborate with the seller and help them envision what would look best or attract buyers. If you feel like you’re in a creative rut, head over to Pinterest, look up some inspiration, or call in the help of a professional stager. Professional stagers are highly skilled with an eye for design. They are aware of the latest trends, what buyers are looking for in a home, and can take a blank canvas and turn it into an oasis. Staging experts are a fantastic addition to the team for you and the seller. There is no need to make this process stressful. Be there for your clients and help them see their home in a new light, the way a buyer will.

Let in the Light

It’s no surprise that a bright and clean home is more appealing than dark and dingy one. Open all the blinds and curtains and let in as much natural light as possible. Natural light increases serotonin, but it also gives the room a warmer, more comfortable feeling. If a room lacks windows, you can add mirrors to give the illusion of more light and brightness.

DON’T

Leave a Room Empty

When it comes to staging, less is not always better, especially in the case of furniture.

It is fairly common for a seller to make the mistake of believing that empty rooms are better than furnished rooms, assuming that the former approach creates a more spacious and blank canvas, says Petti.

Petti says when a room is left as a blank canvas, buyers could feel overwhelmed and challenged by the space imagining how it is best utilized. If the room is already staged with furniture, it gives buyers ideas and inspiration for their designs.

Forget Curb Appeal

Essentially one of the most important aspects of showing a home is the curb appeal. It’s the first impression buyers receive of the home. A simple way to amplify curb appeal is to add flowers and plants, a new welcome mat outside the door, and clean up any sticks, debris, or weeds. A freshly mowed lawn and attractive outdoor appearance will draw potential buyers in and leave them wanting more.

Spend Too Much on Renovations

Although it may be tempting to knock down a wall to create an open floor plan or update the kitchen, it’s unnecessary. As mentioned in the Presale Renovations with the Best ROI article on page 8, remodeling projects usually have a poor return on investment. Potential buyers can envision the changes they want to make for themselves and making the change for them could hurt you in the long run. It is possible to make an outdated kitchen look appealing with a few minor, inexpensive touches, like a fresh coat of paint and a vase of flowers on the table. As long as the room is tidy and presentable, buyers can make future design plans for themselves.

Skimp on Photography

Before potential buyers know a home exists and inquire to see it in person, nine times out of 10, they look to the Internet for listings. Photos of staged homes are just as or more critical than when buyers look at the home in person.

Great staging equals great photography,” says Petti, “which often is the impetus for a healthy bidding contest that leads to the highest and best offer scenario, sometimes within mere days of going live.

Take time to ensure the listing photos are clear, show the room in its entirety, and there is lots of light.

Be Afraid to Ask for Help

If home staging isn’t you or your client’s forte, many fantastic professional stagers can provide their expertise and a helping hand. It’s okay to be overwhelmed by the idea of staging and unsure where to start or what to do; not everyone has an eye for design. Although professional stagers are an extra cost for the seller, it will be well worth the expense.