Here are some simple and inexpensive home staging tips that will ensure your home is competitive on the market and increase your chances of selling.
- Clean
Making sure that your house is clean and tidy is an easy and inexpensive way to create a good first impression during showings. Simple things such as washing the walls/doors, polishing the hardwood, wiping the counter and cleaning the mirrors can make a huge difference in the presentation of your home.
- Lighting
Buyers love light and airy rooms, so open up your window shades to let some light in. Light colored paint and lamps also increase the appearance of a well-lit space.
- Depersonalize
Remove as many personal items as you can and leave only the essentials. Replacing personal photos with artwork and tucking away toiletries or other personal items into cabinets or nice baskets allows buyers to picture themselves living in the space.
- Eliminate clutter
Pack up items that you don’t need such as books and photos, and move them to a nearby storage facility. Don’t forget the closets…by removing clothes you don’t need you make the closet look bigger and big closets sell! Arrange furniture so it does not block doorways, closets and access points. Remove furniture if necessary to allow buyers to see square footage.
- Bake something
Pleasant smells make your space feel more welcoming so have a loaf of bread, cookies or a pie baking during showings.
- Set a background tune
Set a radio to play light FM music during the showings—it contributes to a relaxed, homey feel.
- Details
Take care of small repairs and details by tightening any loose doors or cabinets and repainting or touching up the trim on floors, ceilings and windows. Also, paint exterior trims and nicks on the house, especially at the entrance.
- Paint neutral colors
When you are selling your home you want it to appeal to as many buyers as possible. One way to do this is to use neutral paint colors throughout the house.
- Improve curb appeal
First impressions are very important as often potential buyers will drive by your home first and if it does not have curb appeal they will not take the time to arrange a viewing. So take care of the curb appeal of your home by mowing the lawn, trimming shrubs and fixing peeling paint. You can also add greens or planters near the entrance. Click here for some additional curb appeal basics.
- Make it memorable
When staging your home you want potential buyers to remember it. You can make it memorable by doing a couple of things that other sellers may not think of such as hanging a seasonal wreath on the door, fresh cut flowers, a bowl of M&M’s or having a plate of cookies available during showings—be creative!
