If the word “staging” conjures up the idea that you’re putting on a show for prospective property buyers, you’re on the right track. In a well-staged home, you’re putting the home in the spotlight and inviting buyers to imagine themselves taking a starring role.
Furthermore, property staging goes beyond just tidying up your home. It involves strategic planning to make your property more appealing to a wide range of potential buyers. By creating an emotional connection and helping buyers envision themselves living in the space, you increase the likelihood of a successful sale.
Benefits of Staging Your Property
Staging your property offers numerous benefits, such as a faster sale, higher selling price, and increased buyer interest. When done right, it can even make your listing photos more captivating, drawing in more potential buyers to your property.
Research shows that staging the living room was found to be very important to 46% of buyers, followed by the master bedroom at 43%, and the kitchen at 35%.
Creating a Welcoming First Impression
Since the front door will be the first impression buyers get when they step out of the car, staging the front entrance is crucial. You don’t have to go overboard here either. A few potted plants, a chair, and a coffee table if there’s a porch, or maybe even sconce lighting, and you can easily make a front entrance much more inviting.
Declutter your home
Decluttering is the first job you should tackle when home staging. Clutter is distracting for buyers – their eyes will be drawn to your belongings and not the rooms. The rooms themselves will look smaller, untidy, and uninviting.
A clean home will feel well-cared for, which is important for most buyers – even renovators don’t want to buy somewhere that gives the impression of being neglected. Plus, a clean, aired home will feel fresh and welcoming – this will help buyers envisage themselves living in your home.
The Power of Depersonalization
One of the primary objectives of home staging is to help prospective buyers visualize the space as their own. The fastest way to accomplish this is to set as blank of a canvas as you can. You want the home to have style and charm, but it should be devoid of personal touches that suggest this home belongs to the seller, not the buyer.
Watch this YouTube short of how we staged this home for a little over two hours to rearrange and depersonalize to get it ready for photos and listing:
You can start by removing personal items like family photos and quirky decor from walls and side tables, and replace them with coffee table books, candles, or landscape images. Keep closets, basements, and attics as empty as possible to maximize the appearance of storage space. Transform underused areas of the house — the alcove under the stairs or the end of a hallway — into functional spots.
Furniture Arrangement and Spatial Flow
Arrange your furniture to showcase the flow of each room. Avoid clutter and overcrowding, as well as oversized furniture that might make spaces feel cramped. Proper furniture placement can make rooms feel larger and more functional.
If your house is vacant or the furniture is outdated, decide on buying or renting new pieces. Ensure furniture appears attractive and orderly, and add throw pillows for contrast and color. Arrange furniture for roomy, inviting spaces.
Accentuate top architectural features, like fireplaces, and organize rooms to match their intended purposes.
Lighting
Ample natural light can make a space feel cheerful and inviting. Maximize your home’s natural lighting by drawing back curtains and blinds and trimming bushes that obstruct windows to optimize light entry.
Add fixtures where necessary, and turn on all the lights for showings (including those in the closets). This makes your home appear brighter and more inviting, and it saves buyers from having to hunt for light switches.
Decorative Accents
Consider shopping at thrift stores or second-hand shops for any new decor or furnishings you might need. Strategically placed decorative items like mirrors, and artwork can add character to a space. A few potted plants can do wonders to make your home feel fresh and inviting. They also draw attention to the property’s unique features while maintaining a balanced look.
Kitchen and Bathroom Upgrades
Kitchens and bathrooms often heavily influence buyers. Consider making small changes such as updating hardware, and light fixtures, or adding a new backsplash for a modern touch.
Virtual Staging: A Modern Approach
In the digital age, virtual staging has gained popularity. It involves using software to add virtual furniture and decor to listing photos. This can help buyers visualize the potential of an empty space.
Amidst the pandemic, visuals like photos, videos, and virtual tours are increasingly vital for buyers’ agents.
Professional Stagers
If you’re looking for a more hands-off way to stage your home, you can opt for a professional stager. These are experts in the field and often have interior design or even real estate experience that can work in your favor. Though these pros do come at a fee, they typically do the work for you.
They will evaluate your home’s current condition, and make recommendations on how to improve its overall appeal and marketability. They put those suggestions into action by rearranging the furniture, bringing in new decor, or helping you declutter. Often, stagers have a large inventory of furniture, décor, and other items they can pull from to help your home look its best.
Watch this before and after video of this property after being professionally staged by our very own Certified Home Stager and Sales Associate Traci Ames:
Is Staging Worth It?
From a financial standpoint, staging your property can add measurable selling appeal to it. According to the National Association of Realtors® (NAR), a third of Realtors® say that staging raises buyer-offered value for comparable homes by 1-5 percent
The costs of home staging are generally broken down into two categories: expenses for buying or renting furniture and decor, and expenses for the labor involved in staging the home or making repairs like painting or refinishing floors.
While staging your property does involve some costs, the potential benefits, including a higher selling price and faster sales, often outweigh the expenses. Think of it as an investment in getting the best return on your property.
The likelihood that you’ll sell your house quickly and for a higher price may rise as a result of home staging. Home staging can be quite helpful if you’re on a strict schedule or want to increase your selling price. Making sure your house is distinctive, lovely, and stands out from the competition can also be advantageous if your market is very competitive for sellers.
Consider seeing a local real estate agent if you ever have any doubts about whether staging is in your best interests. They can offer assistance in evaluating your property and offer suggestions depending on the state of the market and the preferences of nearby purchasers.
As always, feel free to direct any questions you have to me or my team. You can contact us directly, by clicking here.