When potential buyers walk into your home, they are trying to imagine themselves living in the space. While they may have a list of requirements to check off when house-hunting, it often comes down to something intangible for the place they choose. Staging a home can create the right kind of environment to make buyers pick your house over another one, but only if it’s done correctly.
According to a survey conducted by The International Association of Home Staging Professionals and StageHomes.com, 95% of homes that were staged sold in less than 11 days and the price was 17% higher. Here are a few tips to help you make the right impression with your staging and get those kind of results.
Clear Clutter
The most important thing you can do is to remove clutter. This one project can be broken down into multiple tasks:
- Remove tons of personal items, such as photos and décor covering your fridge
- Clean off countertops, coffee tables and end tables and shelves
- Reduce the number of items in closets (ie: put all your summer stuff in bins for now)
- Move out excess furniture (rent a storage unit or ask a friend to keep it or even organize it neatly in garage or basement).
The result is a home that looks larger and brighter. It’s like a blank canvas, allowing the buyer to imagine more of their stuff in the space.
Freshen Up
Now that you have more room to work with, you may see more flaws in your home. That’s okay; you have the time to work on those. Apply a new coat of paint to rooms that need it and replace burned-out light bulbs. Don’t forget the outside by trimming tree branches or planting a few flowers along the walkway. Make sure the lawn is mowed and trimmed, and add mulch to any flower beds or around trees.
These little changes don’t cost a lot, and they make a place feel brand new. You can swap out kitchen or bathroom hardware or remove older window treatments for a low cost as well.
Invite People In
You want to make your home inviting and encourage buyers to stay a while. You can do this in several ways:
- Paint the living room a warm neutral tone
- Remove heavy draperies or open blinds to let natural light in
- Purchase a slip cover for worn furniture
- Arrange furniture for conversation
- Keep trinkets and decorations to a minimum but don’t present a sterile environment to buyers
Identify Rooms
Make sure all of your rooms have a well-defined purpose. If you have a spare bedroom with nothing in it, move furniture from another area and set it up in the space. You could find a twin bed and dresser for a guest room or a desk and chair for an office. While buyers like to envision the way they would use the space, it helps to give them a few ideas to work with.
Clean and Clean Some More
Make sure you clean until everything shines. Don’t forget areas people usually never see. Buyers will be looking everywhere, and you want to impress them. A home with no dust, clutter or junk lying around will impress even if it doesn’t have the latest style or trendiest paint color or flooring.
Staging a home properly can be a lot of work, but it’s usually worth it in the price you get for your home. The professionals at Indiana Residential can help with any of your home improvement and repair needs to help get your home up to date and looking it’s best before, during, and after listing it on the market. Contact us today!
