According to the National Association of Realtors, staging a home prior to listing it can result in a faster and more profitable sale. In fact, the Real Estate Staging Association estimates that professionally staged properties spend 73 percent less time on the market, receive more foot traffic, and typically sell for more money.
The following are 10 tips you can use to get your home “show ready” prior to hitting the market. These easy and cost-effective ideas will help your house look its best—and help buyers visualize themselves living there. Even if you’re not currently in the market to sell, you can use these tactics to breathe new life into your existing home decor.
1. REMOVE CLUTTER
Decluttering is the act of removing excess “stuff” from your home to make it appear clean and spacious. Overflowing closets and cluttered countertops can make your house feel small and cramped. In contrast, sparsely-filled closets and clear countertops will make your home appear larger and assure buyers that there will be plenty of room to store their belongings.
Don’t neglect drawers, cupboards, and even your refrigerator in your decluttering efforts. Serious buyers will check out every nook and cranny of your home, so pack up anything you don’t use on a daily basis and store it off-site. The same goes for jewelry, sensitive documents, prescription medication, firearms, and other items of value. Store them in a locked safe or storage unit before opening your property to buyers.
Make sure any items that remain are clean, tidy, and well organized. The good news is when it comes time to move, a large portion of your packing will be done!
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2. DEEP CLEAN AND DEODORIZE
From carpets to bathrooms to appliances, having a clean home is a MUST. To achieve this, you may want to invest in professional cleaning services for your home, carpets, and upholsteries.
In addition to cleaning, it’s equally important to neutralize odors in your home that can be off-putting to buyers, especially pet smells and cigarette smoke. If the weather allows, open your windows and let in fresh air. Empty the trash frequently, and especially before a showing. Avoid cooking any strong-smelling food such as fish or heavy spices.
Try to keep your home in a clean, show-ready condition while it’s on the market. You never know when a potential buyer will want to drop by for a viewing.
3. DEPERSONALIZE
Your family photos and personal mementos are often your most treasured possessions. For many of us, they are what make a house a home. However, buyers will have a hard time envisioning themselves living in a place if it feels like YOUR home.
Pack up any items that are personal to you and your family, such as photos, books, children’s artwork, travel souvenirs, and religious items. Instead, keep your decor items minimal and generic to appeal to the largest number of buyers.
4. NEUTRALIZE YOUR COLOR PALETTE
Along those same lines, bold color choices may not appeal to all buyers. By incorporating a neutral color palette throughout your home, buyers can better visualize the addition of their own furniture and decor, which may contrast with your current color scheme.
But don’t limit yourself to white and beige. Incorporating earth tones and midtone neutrals—like mocha and “greige” (grey-beige)—can add a touch of modern sophistication to your decor. (Click Here more staging tips)
One of the quickest and most cost-effective ways to neutralize your home’s decor is with paint. And if your sofa is worn, stained, or has a bold pattern, consider purchasing a neutral-colored slipcover. Dated or overly busy window coverings should be taken down or replaced. Instead, bring in tasteful pops of color with throw pillows and accessories.
5. INCREASE YOUR CURB APPEAL
You only get one chance to make a first impression. According to a 2017 report by the National Association of Realtors, 44 percent of home buyers drove by a property after viewing it online but did NOT go inside for a walkthrough. That means if your curb appeal is lacking, buyers may never make it through the door.
Walk around your home and look for any neglected areas that might seem like “red flags” to buyers, such as missing roof shingles or rotted siding. Trim trees and shrubs if needed, add some colorful flowers to your front beds and/or flower boxes.
Make sure the exterior of your home is clean and inviting. Thoroughly wash windows and siding. Open shutters, curtains, and blinds.
Consider a fresh coat of paint on your front door, trim, and shutters. And small, cosmetic improvements like new house numbers, a colorful wreath, and a clean front doormat can have a big impact. (Click here for neutral color tips)
6. FRESHEN KITCHENS AND BATHS
Kitchens and bathrooms will show better and appear larger if all items are cleared from the countertops, except for one or two decorative pieces. If your cabinets are dingy or outdated, adding a fresh coat of paint and new hardware is an easy and inexpensive way to make them modern and bright. Purchase new bath mats and towels to complete the look.
Before each showing, make sure kitchens and baths are spotless and trash cans are empty and out of sight. To add a comforting aroma, try baking cookies, or in the fall, simmer some cinnamon sticks and cloves in a pot of water before you leave the house. In the spring, try a vase of fresh-cut lilacs.
7. SET THE TABLE
Buyers often imagine hosting family gatherings in their new home, and the dining room plays a large role in that vision. If your dining room chairs are stained or outdated, you may want to recover them or use slipcovers. In most cases, an imperfect table can be camouflaged with a neutral and stylish tablecloth.
Be sure the table is centered underneath the chandelier and on the area rug if you’re using one. If your dining room is small, remove all other furniture and leave only four chairs.[7]
Dress up the table using nice tableware and cloth napkins or a table runner and centerpiece. For a long table, try lining up a series of small vessels down the middle.
Click on the image for ideas
8. REARRANGE FURNITURE
Start in your living room and think about what you want to emphasize about the space. Use a symmetrical seating arrangement to create a cozy conversation area adjacent to the focal point.
If the room is small, consider removing some of the furniture to make it feel larger, especially oversized pieces. Pulling furniture away from the wall can make the room feel more spacious, and placing your largest furniture piece in the far-left corner (as opposed to near the entry) can create the illusion of a larger space.
For small bedrooms, remove all the furniture except the bed, bedside tables, and a dresser. If it’s a large room, add one or two chairs and a table to create a seating area.
Make sure each space in your home has a clearly defined purpose. For example, if you’ve been using an extra bedroom as a catch-all storage space, stage it as a guest room or office instead. Help buyers imagine how they could use the space themselves.
9. LIGHTEN UP
Lighting can have a drastic impact on the look and feel of a home. Make sure windows are clean, and open curtains and blinds to let in the maximum amount of daylight.
Each room should have three types of lighting: ambient (general or overhead), task (such as a reading lamp or under-cabinet light), and accent (such as a floor or table lamp). Aim for a goal of 100 total watts per 50 square feet. If your mounted light fixtures are dated, replacing them with something more modern is an easy and inexpensive upgrade that can have a big impact.
Strategically placed landscape lighting can add a dramatic effect to your home’s exterior. Welcome evening visitors with a lighted walkway, or use a spotlight to accentuate trees or other landscaping features.
10. HIGHLIGHT YOUR BACKYARD’S BEST FEATURES
While your home’s interior often takes center stage, don’t forget about staging your home’s outdoor areas to help buyers imagine how they could utilize the space.
Even a small patio can become a selling feature with the addition of a cafe table and chairs. Add a tray of plates and coffee cups to help buyers envision a peaceful breakfast on the back porch. Place chairs and wine glasses around an outdoor firepit or hang a hammock with a book in your favorite shady spot.[3] These small, simple additions can help buyers visualize the possibilities your backyard has to offer.
BEFORE YOU GET STARTED
If you’re in the market to sell your home or if you are thinking about putting your home on the market soon, this list provides a great starting point for your preparations.
As local market experts, we are intimately familiar with buyer preferences in your area. We’ll run a comparative market analysis to find out how your home compares to others currently on the market, as well as those that have recently sold.
Give us a call to schedule a free, no-commitment seller consultation. We’d be happy to share our insider knowledge of the buyer preferences in your neighborhood … so you’ll know where to focus your time, money, and energy to maximize your results.