You only get one chance to impress potential buyers. Staging a home seems simple, but there is an entire industry dedicated to improving the presence of for-sale properties. However, as an agent, it is entirely possible to stage your listings beautifully with just a few simple steps.
In this guide, we will check out three home staging tips to help you wow your buyers and make the sale.
Accessorize!
If you are headed out for a night on the town you might wear a watch or piece of jewelry to elevate your profile, the same concept holds true with staging a home. Also, just like your personal style, you do not have to spend a fortune to look good. Small changes can deliver big results. A few strategically placed throw pillows and blankets can liven up a room fairly inexpensively.
You can also add other items like pieces of art, small light fixtures or candles, and other pieces that help you build a distinct look that matches the character of the property. For example, if you are selling a rustic cabin you can accentuate the sitting room with outdoor type items or wood furniture. You are only limited by your imagination but your end result should be a unified theme that maintains the home as the star of the show.
It is also essential that you make small home improvements to fixtures, walls, banisters etc. A fresh coat of paint put on the wall will help the room “pop” and will also cover up any off-putting stains or scratches on the walls. Polishing wood fixtures and dusting and cleaning light fixtures is also a fantastic way to get the home looking spiffy before you show it. You don’t have to do an entire remodel – try and think of things you would do before inviting guests to your home and do the same things before an open house.
Remove Clutter
No matter how beautiful the home, a mass of clutter can turn off even the most interested buyers. Before opening the home for an open house be sure to remove any extraneous objects-especially around high traffic areas like the home entrance or hallways. The term clutter does not only apply to things like boxes, clothing, and other detritus. For example, let’s say you have a room with 5 or 6 ornate vases. Maybe consider removing a few of them to not overwhelm visitors with too many objects.
Reducing the total number of objects can open up the room and make the immediate area, and the entire home will feel larger to a visitor. It is also important that you remove any personal effects or items that identify the home as yours. This includes family photos, awards, personal artwork etc. You want to get potential buyers to imagine themselves in the home- the best way to do this is to make the house as much of a blank canvas as possible.
Make Small Repairs
Like they say, the devil is in the details. Even if your furniture is perfectly arranged and you have made great use of the space, damaged areas of the home will turn off some buyers. Let’s be clear- you do not and should not engage in any type of serious repairs. There are two primary options you can use to get things repaired in time for a showing:
1. Lean on the seller to get the necessary repairs done.
Explain to the seller that the benefits they will reap from making repairs will be significant. This can be as simple as replacing a loose door or as complex as putting in a new set of windows. If there are problem areas of the home you need to frame repair expenses as a benefit to the seller. Explain to them that they will benefit from their home being on the market for less time and a possible increase in sale price due to higher curb value.
2. Make small touch-ups on your own.
For small repairs there are many things you can do with a little bit of time, effort, and YouTube repair videos. Fixes such as covering up cosmetic cracks, replacing electric plug faces, or touching up paint can be done quickly and cheaply. Again, do not engage in any big repairs but make small changes where you can to improve the overall look of the home.
Conclusion
There are many reasons to improve your staging process- not only will good staging help you with your current sale, you may impress other buyers and sellers and obtain their business while selling the initial home. The real estate business is all about word of mouth, so making a good impression is critical.
