8 Home Staging Tips for a Fast Sale

Eight Great Staging Tips for a Fast Sale

Proper staging takes time, effort, and money, but it can save you time and money in the long run. Here are 8 home staging tips for a fast sale:

1. Clean

You can’t allow people to see your home in shambles! Take time to deep clean the entire house so that it looks its best. You’ll need to do a lot more than sweep, mop, dust, and wipe down all the surfaces. Deep cleaning involves moving all furniture and appliances to clean underneath and behind them. You’ll also need to clean the hard-to-reach places. You’ll even want to clean your plumbing fixtures and hardware thoroughly (try using a mixture of vinegar and baking soda to help with this).

After you clean, do your best to keep up appearances as you continue to live in the home. While many buyers will understand the “lived-in” look, they don’t necessarily want to picture their new home that way.

2. Declutter and Depersonalize

You love your family heirlooms and vacation pictures. Guests may like them, too. However, you don’t want to leave too many reminders of your family in the house, as you want potential buyers to picture their own family inside of the house. Remove all personal artifacts, including pictures, heirlooms, report cards, hobby-related items, and toys. Furthermore, remove all clutter. Clutter only makes the space look smaller, and an appealing home is a larger home.

To accomplish this goal, you may need to rent a storage space for all your personal artifacts. While they may not like it, encourage your children to put most of their toys and games into storage, too. They can keep a few of their favorite toys to play with until you finally sell.

3. Paint

A fresh coat of paint can brighten up a home. Stick with neutral colors that appeal to many home buyers, such as off-white and beige, instead of opting for a bolder approach. Paint can make your walls look rejuvenated. They can also make your old cabinets look brand new.

You may also want to paint the exterior of your home. A new exterior paint job can make the siding look newer and more attractive. The new paint may even contribute to waterproofing and efficiency efforts.

4. Lighting

A well-lit home can draw the eye, so you need to ensure that you have adequate lighting throughout your house. Lighting can come from natural light through windows and skylights. Natural light tends to make your home look its best, so utilize your windows when possible.

Even in rooms with a lot of natural lighting, you’ll need to include artificial lighting options for the nighttime. Most lighting will come from natural lights, but you can also use lamps throughout your home. In the kitchen, bathroom, and bedroom, you may want to consider controllable lighting with a dimmer switch. The small luxury of gentle lighting that won’t startle you in the middle of the night can appeal to a buyer.

Mirrors can also contribute to improved lighting. Include mirrors in smaller, dark spaces to give the illusion of light and depth. Try also to use efficient lightbulbs to keep your utility bills down while you light up your home.

Men and women alike spend time and effort building a wardrobe that represents their personal style and presents them in their preferred way. People will want plenty of space for their clothes and accessories, so you should expect people to examine the closet space.

Remove any clutter that makes the closet appear smaller. You should also include organizers that show buyers how they can make the most of the space, especially if your closets are smaller. If you have walk-in closets, be sure to emphasize that in your marketing as many people consider ample closet space a necessity.

5. Open Closets

Men and women alike spend time and effort building a wardrobe that represents their personal style and presents them in their preferred way. People will want plenty of space for their clothes and accessories, so you should expect people to examine the closet space.

Remove any clutter that makes the closet appear smaller. You should also include organizers that show buyers how they can make the most of the space, especially if your closets are smaller. If you have walk-in closets, be sure to emphasize that in your marketing as many people consider ample closet space a necessity.

6. Furniture

You need to use furniture that appeals to anyone. For that reason, you’ll want to replace unique pieces with something a little more palatable. You should also make bedding gender-neutral throughout the house, even in the kid’s rooms. You may unintentionally take a buyer out of the sale if the children don’t like the rooms, or they can’t picture their new baby boy in a girl’s room. Most people also find that symmetrical furniture works better in the living room.

7. Fix Cracks and Leaks

Generally, staging doesn’t refer to repairs. However, some cracks and leaks create aesthetic problems. Not only do these cracks and leaks look bad and indicate a damaged home, but fixing them can also increase your home’s efficiency, lowering utility bills. You need to fix the different cracks and leaks you find throughout your home using sealant and paint, even if you’re still up to code.

8. Landscaping

The outside of the house plays a large role in the property’s curb appeal, or how the home looks from the outside. Cut the grass, plant flowers, and keep both the front yard and back yard looking their best for the buyers.

In Conclusion

Staging can drastically impact the value of your home. However, staging requires a lot of time and effort. If you want to sell your home quickly, you may benefit from taking the time to properly stage the home. Talk to professionals to ensure you stage your home properly.

For more assistance regarding staging your property, contact The Blazer Team of Cummings & Co. Realtors. Professionals can stage your home for you, putting you in the best position possible when it’s time to sell. Contact us today, since the sooner you get started, the sooner you’ll be able to move on to the next stage of your life.