Staging is defined by the Real Estate Staging Association (RESA) as preparing a residential or commercial property to be sold in the real estate market and involves making a property appeal to a larger market of potential buyers for the highest price. Compared to decorating, home staging should not reflect a homeowner’s personal style or preference, but should instead showcase your home’s best assets to impress buyers, make it appeal to a larger market, and sell quickly with the best possible price.
The pandemic has proven the importance of having well-staged homes since photos, videos, and virtual tours of homes have helped consumers plan in-person tours before making their purchases. In a 2020 survey by RESA, 85% of staged homes sold for 5-23% over their listed price and sold faster than unstaged homes only spending an average of 23 days for sale on the market. Home staging helps potential buyers see the full potential of a property and makes it easier for them to visualize the property as their future home. To ensure that a financial transaction this big turns out well not only for you as a seller, but for the potential buyer of your home, here are some ways to raise the value of your property by home staging.
Instead of purchasing new pieces of furniture and appliances, make sure that everything is clean and in order. Putting away seasonal items and decorations, as well as rarely used items, and disposing of things that aren’t needed around the house can help make a home appear brand new.
A way to make your home appeal to a larger market is by clearing out your personal items. Put away items like picture frames, monogrammed throw pillows, and towels, clothes you may have laying around, or diplomas hanging on walls. The goal is not to show who currently lives in your home, but to make anyone who views your home feel like they can settle in it and make it their own.
Depending on your budget or your preference, staging doesn’t need to cover the entire home. You can opt for large-scale staging or small-scale staging where only select rooms of a home are prioritized for staging. Defining key rooms or areas like the living room, kitchen, master bedroom, dining area, and bathroom can help buyers picture themselves living in a home better.
Not everyone may share the same paint color or wallpaper choices as you do. Stripping away old wallpaper and paint jobs and replacing these with warm neutral colors can appeal to more buyers and make it easier for them to visualize how they would like to decorate a space in the future. You can also remove old carpets and replace these with ceramic tiles or hardwood floors which are not only low-maintenance but may also appeal to potential buyers with allergies. Keep lights on when staging your home and maximize natural light by keeping curtains and blinds open. A brighter space is not only more appealing but also helps make a space appear more spacious.
A home in need of repairs may be harder to sell than one in need of little to no repairs. Before staging your home, avoid complaints by addressing any repairs from checking for molds and damp spots, looking for cracks in walls and other foundation problems, and replacing light fixtures. You can also inform potential buyers about these repairs, but taking care of these repairs can help get the house sold faster and for a better price.
Staging the exterior of your home is as important as staging the interior since first impressions matter, and this is the first thing buyers will see as they visit. Pull out weeds and dried plants, prune shrubs and bushes, and mow your lawn. Power wash the exterior of your home to give your home a fresher look if repainting is too costly and make sure to clean up windows, and other items you may have outside the house as well.
Adding a few decorations and finishing touches can appeal to potential buyers when opening your home for showing. You can have clean linens in rooms, light subtle scented candles in the bathroom and bedroom, have a few key pieces of decoration that aren’t necessarily new but are sustainably sourced, and have a good lifecycle to make sure these last.
Highlighting your home’s best features doesn’t need to cost much. Make sure that your home is staged to appeal to a large market, but also consider staging your home to make it appear practical and liveable for buyers.
