How to Stage Your Home to Sell
Contrary to doom and gloom predictions, the real estate market is red hot. Motivated buyers are everywhere and are looking for their dream home. Nationwide, home prices are increasing. All of this adds up to make it the perfect time to sell your home. Your home selling goal is simple: sell it for as much as possible! A lot of things go into selling a home for more than your asking price. First thing to do is to find a trusted realtor with years of experience that can guide your home selling process. But once you have your trusted realtor, it is up to you to get your house ready for potential buyers. One of the most important things you can do to set yourself up for success is properly staging your home. The team here at Streamline Realty has some tips on how to stage your home to sell.
Is it Important to Stage Your Home?
Staging your home properly takes time, money and effort. However, dedicating the effort to staging your home is well worth it. The National Association of Realtors estimates that for every $100 you spend staging your home returns $400 on your closing price. According to professional stager, Betsy Wilbur, staged homes get 17% more than homes that are not staged. If you are going to sell your home, there is no reason you should not try to get more than your asking price. In that sense, staging your home is a no-brainer.
Tips for Staging Your Home to Sell
Buying a home is not just about buying a structure. It is an emotional investment. People are looking to buy a home that they can see themselves and their family living in for a long time to come. It is all about fulfilling dreams. Everything you do when it comes to staging your home is about showing potential buyers that your home is key to making their dreams a reality. Based on our years of experience, we want to give you some of the best tips for staging your home to sell.
Deep Clean Your Home
Clean homes sell quicker and get more than dirty homes. Buyers need to be able to imagine themselves living in your home. Nobody dreams of living in a dirty house. You need to deep clean every aspect of your home. Use steam cleaners and power washers to get into every crack and crevice. It is also important to get rid of any odors. This is especially true if you have any pets or a smoker has lived in the home. It might sound ridiculous, but you should rely on your realtor’s nose. When you live in a place, you get desensitized to the smell of it. Get an outside opinion to make sure your home smells nice and fresh. You want buyers to have a great impression of your home, even with their eyes closed.
Declutter Your Home
Decluttering is an important part of staging. Get rid of anything that is not essential to any room. Purge any excess furniture or items. Your goal is to open up as much space as possible. This helps make your home feel larger and allows buyers to imagine their own stuff being in your home. Not only does decluttering your home make it more attractive to buyers, but it also makes it easier to move. Take this time to sell or donate anything you do not want to take with you. If it is something you want in your new home, then take this time to pack it now. You will have to move eventually, so save yourself the hassle down the line.
Depersonalize Every Room
It is hard for buyers to imagine themselves living in your home if they see a bunch of personal items. Get rid of or pack anything that is specific to you and your family. Remove any family photos, knicknacks, and souvenirs. You also want to pack or hide anything for your pets or your kids. Not all buyers have pets or kids. Your goal is to get them to imagine themselves in your home. They might not ever imagine having kids or pets. Make your home a blank slate.
Define Every Room
Return every room to its original purpose. If you have converted a bedroom to a home office or a gym, make it a bedroom again. It is great that you were creative with the space you have and made it work for you. However, you want the buyer to get their own ideas about what they can do with the house.
Fine Tune Your Furniture
Not only do you want to reduce the amount of excess furniture in your home, but you also want to make sure it matches. A lot of us have a favorite chair or couch or that might not go with the rest of the furniture, but we could not live without. But, again, this is all about depersonalizing our home. It is important to have groups of furniture that fits the aesthetics of the overall design. If you have modern architecture, then you should have furniture to match. You do not have to rush out and buy all new furniture for a home you are about to sell. One option is to rent furniture.
Set the Mood with Lighting
Getting the lighting just right in your home makes a big difference. It will make it easier for your realtor when taking photos for marketing. It will also make it easier when potential buyers take photos during their walk through. Buyers will often take photos and send them to friends or family for advice. Show your home in the best light possible. Use natural lighting at every turn. Open up blinds and currents whenever you are showing your home. Fix, clean, and upgrade any of the existing light fixtures. This is one of the least expensive things you can do to stage your home.
Boost Your Curb Appeal
First impressions mean everything. The first thing buyers see is the outside of your home. Power wash any sidewalks, curbs, driveways, decks, and exteriors. Make sure your landscaping is presentable and attractive. Paint or stain your deck or patio, so that it pops when the buyer steps out of their car. Make sure you remove any old or broken patio furniture, as well.
Paint Your Home Inside and Out
A fresh coat of paint goes a long way. Keep your paint choices classic and neutral. You will want to get rid of wallpaper and custom paint schemes. Wallpaper and custom paint schemes are personal choices that reflect your personality. Everyone has different taste. You do not want to alienate buyers that have different preferences than you. Going with neutral colors helps create the feeling of a blank slate.
Bottomline
Taking the time to stage your home properly will help you sell your home quicker and for more than your asking price. It requires an investment of your time, energy, and finances, but it is well worth it. Like all things in the home selling process, staging is not something you should do on your own. Professional and experienced realtors know what buyers are looking for in your market. Trust their recommendations and take your personal attachment to your home out of the equation. Buying a home is an emotional process, but so is selling. Do not let your feelings toward a house you will no longer be living in get in the way of getting the best possible price.
If you are ready to sell your home and want a trusted realtor who can help you stage your home to sell, contact us! You can also check out the Streamline Realty seller’s guide that tells you what you need to sell your home for more than your asking price.