One of the most important steps in preparing a house for sale, home staging is the process of arranging and accessorizing a house to appeal to buyers and increase the chances of a quick and quality sale. More than 90% of real estate agents believe staging your house will help it sell. It can not be denied that home staging is important. Below are detailed the top eight ways to make the most of your staging and impress potential buyers.
Staging the front entrance
As everyone knows, first impressions are the most important. For this reason, you should always stage the entranceway, as it is the first thing potential buyers will see upon entering your house. Since it is a small area, the staging should be simple. If there is room, you can add a chair and a small table. If not, good lighting and a couple of potted plants can make it more welcoming. When using plants, it is always a good idea to use live ones, as fake plants make the property seem like a hotel, and live ones freshen the air in addition to looking good.
Staging the kitchen
66% of realtors believe kitchen staging is an important part of preparing the property for sale. Considered by many to be the heart of a home, the kitchen should look spacious, clean, and functional, but it should not look lived in. Put all food, small appliances, and general clutter away, leaving the table, island, and counters free. The only thing allowed in the kitchen before a showing is a bowl of fruit.
In addition, the kitchen should look modern. A simple way to accomplish this is to give the walls a fresh coat of paint. Similarly, spray painting the cabinets and replacing the handles can be a huge lift. Old cabinets can make the whole kitchen look outdated or cheap, and these small upgrades can make a surprising amount of difference.
Staging the living room
A staged living room can make a big difference to the rest of the house. The first step in this room is to make sure the lighting is superb, and natural light is a must-have. Light makes any room look bigger, so you should make sure the windows are sparkling clean and the curtains open.
Large furniture can make the room appear smaller, so it can be a good idea to buy or rent furnishings that fit the room and provide a balanced feel. In many houses, the living room has an open concept into the dining room and kitchen, which can open the door for some creative layouts. When staging, appearance trumps functionality, so make sure it looks fantastic.
Staging the bedrooms
The bedrooms should look simple and clean; they do not require more than the essentials. A bed, bedside tables with lamps, and possibly a dresser are the only things required. Use quality bedding of neutral colors with decorative pillows, and make sure the bed is made. Again, natural lighting will brighten up the room.
Defining a space
When buyers walk into a house, they want to be able to visualize themselves and their families living there. This can be surprisingly difficult if the room is used for multiple purposes, so sellers are advised to make sure each space has a single purpose. The guest room should not double as a storage space, and the living room should not be the home of the exercise equipment. When you are deciding on what each room could be, keep in mind bedrooms are the rooms that add the most value to the building, so if the space can be staged as a bedroom, it probably should. However, in recent times, home offices have become more popular, so staging a room as one could be a good idea.
Light-reflecting colors
One of the simplest and most cost-effective methods of making a house look much better is a fresh coat of paint. Choosing the right color, however, can be tricky. You want to appeal to the most people possible, so bold or unusual colors should be avoided. In a similar vein, dark colors can make a room feel dark or cramped. This is why most designers stick to neutral, pastel, or natural colors for the walls. These colors reflect the light in the room, giving the space the illusion of being bigger and brighter than it is, which can have a significant positive effect on potential buyers. The way painting a room can improve the space should never be underestimated.
Clean and declutter
The best thing you can do before a showing is to make sure your house is as clean as it can be. Clean properties feel luxurious and well-cared for, while dirty houses feel neglected and cheap. Bad odors can be huge turn-offs for buyers as well. A clean home with a fresh smell will make the house warm and inviting. Some ways to make sure the house smells nice are air fresheners, scented candles, or baked goods.
Decluttering, on the other hand, is the removal of all personal items, such as family pictures, children’s drawings, religious or political items, and trophies. As buyers want to imagine themselves in the home, evidence you lived there can be distracting. Lots of clutter can also make the room feel untidy and small.
Accessorizing
Surfaces should be clutter-free and clean, but that doesn’t mean they should be barren. It is a good idea to place decorative items, such as a book, candle, or decorative knick-knack, on the coffee table. Artwork is welcome on the walls as long as its color and style fit with the rest of the room’s design. You can also add pops of color with throw pillows or blankets on the couch. They can add interest without being overwhelming, as long as the patterns are not too busy. Big pillows also create volume, and live plants freshen the room while also adding color. Accessorizing is an essential step.
If you are planning on selling your Scottsdale real estate, Roger Banning is an excellent, professional real estate agent who can assist you with the process. He is in the top 1% of Arizona’s realtors, and his experience in marketing, networking, and negotiating leads to the success of his client’s goals. Passionate about helping people navigate the opportunity-filled market, he will sell your home for the largest possible amount in the least possible amount of time. Contact Roger for his expert advice in selling your home.
