Let’s start with the basics: What is home staging? Well, it’s exactly what it sounds like! Home staging is the art of decorating a home with the intention of selling it quickly and for a higher price. The idea is to “set the stage” for prospective buyers to imagine their own lives and furnishings in the space. As a seller, staging gives you an opportunity to display your home’s strengths, downplay its weaknesses, and ultimately attract more buyers.
Home Staging Tips
Home staging can be as simple as rearranging the current furniture and packing up some family photos and knick-knacks or as elaborate as renting furniture, accessories, and artwork to spruce up the house. You can also hire home stagers (yes, it’s a job!) to help you get rid of clutter and depersonalize the home. It’s important to strike a balance: Too much “stuff” can cause potential buyers to be distracted, but too little can make the residence seem uninteresting and uninspiring.
How you choose to stage your home is an important conversation to have with your real estate agent, but if you’re feeling motivated to get your house ready to sell, here are five tips to get you started:
Update your curb appeal: It’s true what they say: First impressions matter! An easy way to impress potential home buyers from the start is with an attractive front yard and porch. The good news: Most of these updates require your time and energy with little money spent! Borrow or rent a pressure washer to clean the siding, roof, fascia, and gutters. Repaint the front door and shutters if they need a facelift. And, of course, make sure that the grass is cut and that you have some fresh flowers planted, either in the yard or in a few pots on the front porch.
Declutter, declutter, declutter: We’ve said it before, and we’ll say it again: Declutter! It feels like such a simple thing, but trust us when we tell you how effective it can be. By packing away a few coffee table books from the living room, some family photos from an entryway table, and extra throw pillows from the couch, you’ll begin to open up your space. To take things a step further, consider removing a few big pieces of furniture. Less furniture makes a house seem bigger, which is always a plus when you’re trying to sell. It also allows you to play with the layout: By “floating” your remaining pieces in the middle of a room, you make the space feel more user-friendly.
Highlight your storage: There’s a strong chance that buyers will be peeking inside your cabinets and closets, trying to figure out if their dishes and shoes will fit nicely behind these doors. To make your storage pop, get rid of those never-used or never-worn items and buy some matching baskets or canvas bins to keep your existing pieces neat and tidy.
Home Staging: How Small Changes Can Make a Big Impact
Focus on the kitchen: It’s no secret that kitchens sell houses. Even small updates have the power to make a big difference. Start by clearing out both your cabinets and counters — now is the time to pack up those small appliances and extra glasses you rarely use! For aesthetic updates, consider a peel-and-stick faux-tile backsplash, a fresh coat of paint on the cabinets (stick with a traditional white or a dark neutral), and new hardware.
Use lighting to your advantage: Ever notice how different a house can look on a dark and dreary day? Proof positive that lighting matters! Make your home appear warm and welcoming by increasing the wattage in your lamps and fixtures to a total of 100 watts per 50 square feet. Aim for three types of lighting per room: ambient (general or overhead), task (pendant or reading), and accent (table or wall).
As I always say to my clients, “I’m going to sell your house, so you are going to need to pack it up anyway!”
Let The Urban Dog Group help you with your real estate needs in Central Florida! Contact Christine Elias at caerealestate@gmail.com.