Staging allows prospective buyers to better visualize a property as a potential home while making it appear more move-in ready. Here are some tips for staging your house to sell fast.
What Is Staging?
Staging means preparing a home for a potential buyer by taking steps to present the property in the best possible light. It’s important to remember that home staging is not the same as decorating, which is more about personal style. With staging, you want to take a more neutral approach, so your property will seem appealing to the largest potential pool of buyers.
According to a recent report from the National Association of Realtors (NAR), an astounding 82% of buyers’ agents said staging allowed buyers to better visualize the property as a future home. It also improves a home’s listing photos, while making it look more appealing on printed flyers, social media and other visual marketing mediums.
With all this in mind, it’s clear that staging can help a home sell faster. But what are the best ways to stage a home so it will appeal to the widest possible pool of buyers? Here are the best ways to set the stage for home buyers.
Depersonalize
Because taste is subjective, you should avoid putting any sort of personal stamp on your staging design scheme. You might love that vivid throw pillow or rustic painting, but prospective buyers may not agree with your opinion. And while collectibles and family photos may be treasured keepsakes, they will make it hard for buyers to picture themselves living in the home.
When any buyer enters a staged property, they should only see clean lines and a relatively neutral environment. Take steps to depersonalize your house before you schedule a showing.
Define Rooms
Be sure that every room has a defined purpose, so buyers will be able to see how they can maximize the property’s square footage. Even if the buyer has no intention of using the room for the same purpose, they will see that every inch of the house is usable space. This includes breakfast nooks, window seats, alcoves, corners and other areas.
That said, if you’re short on time and money, it’s good to focus on the rooms that will have the greatest influence on a buyer’s decision. This includes the living area, master bedroom and kitchen. While children’s bedrooms, guestrooms and bathrooms are also important, they should take a backseat to these other important areas.
Get Professional Help
Unfortunately, most sellers tend to have difficulty restraining their impulses to do much more staging than they should. They fill their houses with air fresheners and artificial scents. They clutter every room with too many chairs, pillows and decorations. They attempt to overcompensate for smaller floor plans by adding more furniture to make the property look lived in. All of this tends to turn off buyers, who respond better to spacious, less-cluttered settings.
It takes expertise and experience to strip away excess clutter while still retaining a warm, inviting atmosphere. This is why it’s best to work with a reputable local real estate agent who knows how to professionally stage a home to appeal to the widest array of prospective buyers, so your home will sell as fast as possible, and at the best possible price.
