When you’re ready to sell, it’s time to focus on what potential buyers are looking for in a home. It’s time to help them fall in love with your home and show them what makes your home special so they make a confident decision.
A critical part of this process is staging.
What Is Staging?
The definition of home staging is simple. It’s the process of preparing your home for potential buyers. Your “setting the stage” for a sale. Staging is particularly important in the kitchen, family room, and primary bedroom but can help every space in your home.
Staging can create an emotional connection between your home and buyers. It can show buyers that your home is right for them and worthy of their investment. In fact, 81 percent of buyers’ agents have said staging makes it easier for buyers to visualize a property as their future home.
On the other hand, a home that appears cluttered and worn can cause buyers to question the quality of the home. They might wonder if the house has more serious problems that aren’t so obvious.
How to Stage a Home to Sell
Depending on the home, staging could involve some combination of redecorating, rearranging, updating, and painting. Just keep in mind that small changes can make a huge difference!
The most important step in staging is decluttering. It’s not always easy, but it usually doesn’t cost a dime. Just remove personal or unnecessary items that hide or distract from your home’s best qualities.
If you’re moving, you’ll have to pack up or toss that stuff anyway. At the same time, you’ll make each space seem bigger and more open, which creates more possibilities in the minds of buyers. After decluttering, you can add small pops of color to draw eyes to specific focal points.
Don’t forget the outside of your home when staging. Trimmed trees and shrubs, a fresh cut lawn, and a few potted plants can give your home curb appeal and grab buyers’ attention from the moment they arrive.
My Staging Process
I’ll walk through your home with you and offer suggestions for staging your home. I’ll also bring in a professional stager if necessary for more recommendations on everything from paint color and accents to rearranging furniture.
Keep in mind that there is no cost to the homeowner for my staging services. This is part of the strategy for getting top dollar for your home as quickly as possible.
Look at staging this way. Suppose you have two homes for sale in similar neighborhoods with the same number of bedrooms and bathrooms and basically the same amount of living space.
One house has overgrown plants and weeds. Kids’ toys are all over the place. Boxes are stacked in a corner. Heavy curtains cover the windows. The paint is a checkerboard of various dark colors.
The other house is professionally landscaped. Walls, floors, and counters are free of clutter. The home is filled with natural light, which highlights fresh paint that makes the house feel new.
Which home would seem more appealing?
If you’re thinking about selling and would like to discuss how to stage your home for sale...
Call Nicole at 919-451-0593 or contact me and I’ll be happy to answer your questions!
