Home Staging Tips To Increase Your Property's Value
Of course, homeowners want future buyers to see how well they have taken care of the property, and buyers want to know the property is move-in ready. Therefore, the priority for the owners is to declutter and clean their homes before being staged.
Some quick ways to prepare your home include removing personal photographs and collectibles. Next you should focus on anything sitting around on the floor, counters, or furniture – that doesn’t serve a purpose or have a designated home. Decluttering will help potential buyers visualize themselves and their belongings in each room.
Then, begin to clean each room thoroughly. And remember to dust and clean floorboards, furniture, fronts and backs of doors, windows, ceiling fans, and light fixtures. A good deep cleaning removes excess dust and provides a clean slate for potential buyers to feel happy about purchasing the home and moving in.
The next big task is to carefully look at the walls, ceiling fans, blinds, curtains, and light fixtures. Take notes about any that need to be repaired or replaced. A fresh coat of paint can often brighten a space and transform it into the modern era.
It can even be good to rent a storage unit. Having a storage unit for a few months can help you to declutter the house by storing boxes of collectibles, out-of-season clothes, extra furniture, and other belongings until you are ready to move into your new home.
Now the staging can begin!
Make sure each room has a clear purpose. For example, smaller bedrooms can be transformed into a study or office. To prepare for this, remove all existing furniture, wall hanging, lighting, and decor that does not align with that purpose.
Kitchens
Consider painting cabinets that appear old or well used to help showcase your kitchen. A bit of paint in a highlighting color can transform a comfortable kitchen into an entertainer's dream.
After all the appliances are thoroughly clean, display kitchen-related items on the counters, like a KitchenAid mixer on the counter with a few decorative canisters nearby. Simple staging techniques like this are helpful and create an emotional reaction from potential buyers - like fond memories of baking delicious treats. A clean and well staged kitchen can help potential buyers feel welcome and happy as they walk through or spend time in the kitchen.
Entryways
Don’t you hate tripping over backpacks and shoes when you come through the door? To help keep your entryways clean and free of clutter, designate a space close by for these items to store them away from the entrance.
Depending on the size of the entryway, make sure there is plenty of room for people to quickly enter and leave the area without bumping into any furniture or climbing over them. For instance, chairs and other non-essential pieces of furniture should be moved to a different room or placed in storage. A small entry table with a bowl for keys is often perfect for homes ready for new homeowners!
Front Porch
Your front porch is the face of your home. Keeping this area clean excess furniture, toys, and other items will allow potential buyers to dream about how they could use the space.
If the space allows, consider displaying a few hanging plants or flower pots to continue the nature of the front yard to the front porch. Be sure to repair any broken handrails, posts, or steps. Removing any signs of disrepair or neglect improves first impressions about overall home maintenance.
Bedrooms
Bedrooms are the perfect place to create a sense of peace and relaxation. Using fresh, light colors and replacing burned-out lightbulbs helps create a restful feeling. This room also needs to be open and airy, with only the basics of furniture supporting the purpose. Any decorative belongings can be removed and placed in storage.
Purchasing new bed covers and linens is an excellent way to show off your home’s bedrooms and you will then also have something new to take to your new home. Remember to look at all window coverings, ceiling fans, and light fixtures. Everything should be in working condition.
Bathrooms
A quick and easy way to renew bathrooms is by removing everything from the counters, medicine cabinets, and around the tub or shower counters. A quick tip is to only have out what you use daily and then place everything else in boxes to be stored. Introduce a calming candle, fresh hand towels, and some pretty soaps.
A nice touch is to replace the showerhead with a sparkling new one, ready for the new homeowners. Remember to clean all tile and caulk on the bathroom walls and floors before anyone visits your home.
Living Rooms
Maintain clear and open walking spaces throughout the living room space to provide easy access. Increasing lighting and opening all available window coverings will help increase brightness and encourage potential buyers to envision themselves living in the room. Remember to cover any furniture showing excess wear, stains, or damage. Remove any floor coverings that are stained or tattered.
Hiring a professional carpet cleaning is imperative for any home with pets. Decreasing the odor of strong animal or cooking smells will improve the visiting experience of potential buyers. Don’t try to cover up strong smells. Try to remove them. It may seem silly, but avoid cooking foods with strong odors, such as broccoli or fish, before a showing. Walking into a home for the first time, a potential buyer is very sensitive to smells.
Dining Rooms
Allow your imagination to run wild when staging dining rooms. These spaces provide the perfect backdrop for showing what new homeowners can accomplish in this room. If you have a large and expansive space - use a large dining room table and set it up for a formal dinner or elegant party. Make it the stuff of dreams!
If you have extra corner space, think about including cute corner storage for a few select pieces that match the style of your home. Brighten up the room with open window coverings and extra lighting if necessary. Embrace this room's opportunity and create a space each guest will never want to leave.
Clean and Organize Garages
A messy garage can erase all of the great work you have done staging the inside of your home. I always recommend treating the garage just like we do inside. There are many ways to make the garage shine and I am happy to help you with ideas to declutter and stage your garage.
Organize Closets
Closets can be a gift and a curse. Lol! If used well, they can create feelings or organization and bliss with potential buyers. However, if used as a storage unit, they can create feelings of stress and disorder. I encourage you to remove everything you are not currently using and store it somewhere else – like your temporary storage unit.
Back Patio
Help your potential buyers imagine parties, romantic candlelit dinners, and relaxing afternoons on the back patio. Find the best qualities of this space and show off how the new homeowner can benefit from them. Set up comfy chairs with cushions for properties with beautiful views for guests to sit on and enjoy the space.
Back patios with space for BBQ grills and dining can be staged to help the potential buyer's imagination run wild. Hang up fun lighting, roll out the BBQ grill and hang clean grilling utensils. Create an environment or experience potential buyers can enjoy in this area.
Vacant Properties
View vacant properties as a blank slate of endless possibilities. Allow your imagination to carry you away. Think about what fun and exciting moments can occur in each room and create them. Bedrooms and bathrooms can be spaces of retreat and ultimate relaxation. Living rooms can be spaces for afternoons of watching football and laughing around a monopoly game. Dining rooms can show off party favors and beautiful dishes.
I hope that these tips are helpful for you as you ready your home for the market. Creating clean and welcoming spaces for potential homebuyers can help get you top dollar for your home. I have many trusted vendors that I can recommend to help you and have many other staging tips that I am happy to provide you during the process. Please reach out to me any time!
