Now that you’ve decided to sell your home, let’s look at the best staging tips we’ve found over the years that work for our clients. Starting with the exterior, we’ll work our way inside.
Buyers will subconsciously be assessing every detail of your home from the moment they drive up. Is the yard well maintained along with the bushes and flowerbeds? Does the trim and siding look clean and bright? An attractive exterior will tell a buyer that you care about your home and you have taken great care of it, inside and out!
Create an exterior worthy of a magazine cover.
Start by mowing the lawn, weed-eat the perimeter, edge around the walkways and driveway, and blow off the grass clippings. Let the buyers know you take pride in home ownership.
A two-toned trim can be a show stopper.
Your home can stand out as a top performer with a quick splash of fresh paint. If your trim or siding needs an update, a professional painter can give the exterior the boost it needs to turn heads.
Stop traffic and welcome in the buyers.
Freshly painted trim around the front door will make it an attractive focal point from the street. Put out a warm “Welcome” mat and arrange outdoor furniture and flower pots to maximize space on the patio.
Plant blooming flowers and greenery.
Yellow flowers evoke a buying emotion and blooming flowers add a burst of color and a warm invitation to potential buyers. Weed the flowerbeds and add fresh mulch where needed to add value and beauty to the front yard.
Clean and wash the windows.
Glistening windows draw the eye to your home and will allow more natural light to the house to brighten the home and the mood.
Put on the finishing touches.
Move trash cans around to the backyard, pick up anything that looks out of place (roll up that old water hose, put away toys left in the yard) and take a look at your home from the street. If you are happy with what you see, you’re done!
The most important piece of advice we can give you that will have the greatest impact on selling your home at the highest price and as quickly as possible is to make sure every surface in the home has a cleaned, dusted, and polished look.
You may want to hire a professional for the tougher jobs such as a deep clean in the bathrooms, wiping down baseboards, or repainting trim and walls where needed.
Buyers know that your home is lived in, but this is the most worthwhile step you can take to sell your home.
Show off the gourmet kitchen.
Clear off countertop clutter and keep the dishes clean and in the cabinets, not in the sink. Stainless steel appliances are in, but don’t spend the extra money if you don’t have them. Instead, purchase stick on stainless coverings and cut to size for a modern look at a fraction of the cost!
Put the toys away.
Pick up any children’s toys off of the floor and put them away.
Increase natural light.
Bring in the sunlight! Make sure your window blinds are open to increase natural light throughout the home, keep the windows clean, and open window coverings before showings.
Reduce the counter clutter.
You should have no more than 30% of any surface occupied with “stuff.” Move items on countertops, night stands, dressers, and any other tables away from you to the far edge closest to the wall. This will increase countertop space and have a “show” look that buyers love.
Re-arrange furniture for more space.
Some homes need a little more space in the rooms, and this can easily be achieved by repositioning the furniture. In some instances, we have recommended that sellers take one piece of furniture out of each room to make the room look larger and allow buyers to imagine where their own furniture would fit in the room.
Outdoor kitchens and patios are a big hit.
Relaxing after a long day of work is a high priority for some buyers, and a calm evening on the patio can be the perfect escape. If you have a backyard patio or outdoor kitchen, organize furniture and flower pots to show off the space.
Paint the home in neutral colors.
Lighter colors will open up a room and make it look larger and bright. A neutral paint allows buyers to envision their own color palette in the home.
Put away pictures.
Keeping one or two family pictures on a home office desk or up on the wall is fine, but we want buyers to focus on the features of the home that they love. Some photos can distract buyers and shift their attention away from the home.
Do a sniff test.
Our sellers love their pets, and we do too! Keeping a home free and clear of pet odors can be a challenge for even the most caring owners. Steam cleaning or replacing carpet is a good idea if the home needs to be freshened up. Choose a neutral colored carpet and paint the walls to match.
Keep it cool – or warm!
In the summer or winter months, a buyers impression can come from more than just looks. A home kept cool during the hot months or warm during the winter is a welcome addition to any well-staged home! Comfortable buyers are happy buyers – and because your house feels like home, they’ll be more inclined to stay awhile and find reasons to love it!