When you decide to list your property for sale, it’s time to go beyond a quick clean up to get it looking its best. Taking the time to learn how to stage a home will really benefit you in the long run. Staging the home right can really help things along during the process of selling.
From photography to wooing potential buyers, carefully considering how to stage a home provides a welcoming feel to all aspects of your marketing. People are visual, especially when researching to purchase a property. If your property looks messy in your listing photos, you miss a whole market of potential buyers as they ponder how bad the home will look in person if it looks that bad in photos.
While we don’t believe properties need to go all out when planning how to stage a home, some basic and affordable steps go along way. Removing clutter and keeping it neat and tidy send the message that you have diligently cared for the property. Below are some ideas to help make your property stand out from others in your market:
5 Essential Strategies for Planning How to Stage a Home
1. Clear clutter.
Whether it’s time to take photos or you have a showing scheduled, clearing the clutter will make your home stand out from other properties. Keeping your rooms minimally decorated will help potential buyers envision themselves living in the space. Some things to consider to get a more minimalist style for your home include:
Kitchen – Clear off counters and tables to help showcase the amount of space on the counters. A fruit/veggie bowl or a vase with flowers are a nice touch to add color and a homey feel to the room, but are not always necessary. Also, if your garbage has any potential to be stinky, take it out and be sure the can is clean and odor free.
Living Room – Clean up any side tables, shelving or entertainment stands. Organizing shelves and side tables show that you put in extra care to make the home neat and tidy.
Bedrooms – Make sure beds are made, side tables are clean, laundry is put away. If you have shelving or a closet, go through all spaces and do a quick clean/organize so it makes a tidier impression.
Bathrooms – Similar to the kitchen, clear or organize all counter tops, stow towels away or hang them neatly, and do a quick clean so it looks fresh.
2. Remove any dying or dead plants.
Any green thumb gardener can empathize with trying to revive your favorite plant. However, when it’s time to start planning how to stage a home, it may be time to get rid of your struggling greenery. If you have plants throughout your property, do a quick dead head of any dying flowers or leaves to make them look cleaner.
If plants need more than a trim to refresh, now is the time to remove them from the home. Dead plants aren’t very welcoming and don’t leave an impression of careful care. They can also house bugs or unappealing smells that could turn a potential buyer right around. Losing a showing may not be worth it.
3. Organize kids’ rooms.
While it will likely be a mess again shortly after, doing what you can for a last minute clean up of your kids’ spaces can make a huge difference. Potential buyers usually do their best to respect your space, but a room that looks like a complete disaster will distract them from other more positive home attributes. Also, if there are a bunch of toys on the floor, potential buyers may not be amused if they have to play The Floor Is Lava while trying to view the property.
4. Add a fresh coat of paint.
A fresh coat of paint throughout the home can really help spruce up your property. This may be one of the most impactful steps you can take when planning how to stage a home. By getting rid of old fingerprints, faded color and nail damage, the painting process is the perfect way to freshen up your walls and ceiling.
When prepping your paint job, be sure to grab a small container of mud for covering nail holes, or a larger one if you have bigger damage to fix before painting. This small extra touch could really help your property stand out from others. If you decide to change paint color, keep the color choice simple and clean. Choosing a more common or neutral wall color provides greater opportunity for the potential buyer to imagine their style easily fitting in the space.
5. Replace light bulbs.
Replace dead bulbs! This may sound silly if you have gotten used to dark zones or bulbs being out around your property. But really, now is the time to take on the hassle to replace them. If you don’t, potential buyers could question whether the lights are out due to electrical issues or just missing bulbs.
Questioning one thing can lead buyers to doubt other things about the property. Making sure everything is set will help potential buyers feel more comfortable. Replacing bulbs also adds additional light to the property, so if your home is dark or the showing is on a cloudy day, your property will feel more welcoming.
Most potential buyers understand you are still residing at the property, and expect it to look like you are living there. Even so, keeping everything cleaned up and organized gives evidence that you have cared for the property. This little extra effort on your part can lead to better showings and potentially a quicker sale.
Once you decide to sell, do a walk through of your property with fresh eyes. Try to see it from the perspective of a potential buyer and work on setting up your home so it looks attractive as possible. This is where the assistance of an experienced real estate agent may come in handy. At Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Adirondack Premier Properties, our agents know the local market and can guide you on how to best appeal to potential buyers. Contact our office at 518-523-3333 to get started today!