It might seem like a no brainer that when you are selling your home you want it to look it’s absolute best. But this often means more than just giving it a much needed deep clean. You might also need to consider staging your home to attract potential buyers.
What is staging?
Staging is a method of decorating meant to highlight all the best things about your home and help potential buyers imagine themselves moving in with their things. Staging is more than just decorating. It’s really about making your home as inviting as possible to the most potential buyers.
You can do this a few ways. You might consider staging the home yourself. Your Realtor might also be able to offer some suggestions on how to go about maximizing space and making the house most appealing. Sellers often hire a professional home stager as well.
A professional stager is a designer who can turn your house into something with mass appeal. If the space is empty, a stager will bring furniture and décor in so buyers can imagine themselves living there. If you’re still living in the home, the stager will help you declutter, neutralize and decorate for the masses.
Is staging worth it?
The simple answer is yes. In fact, the National Association of Realtors’ 2017 Staging Stats report claimed that 49% of buyers’ agents believe that home staging has a positive effect on how a buyer views the home. Furthermore, 77% said staging makes it easier for buyers to visualize the property as their own. The impact to a final sales price can be as much as 5% more.
Staging tips to keep in mind
Whether you decide to hire a professional stager or go it alone, there are some things you want to consider. First off, you should plan to spend anywhere between $500 and $5,000 depending on how much staging you decide to do. This will either be what it costs to hire a professional or what it costs to bring in your own décor.
If you decide to hire a professional stager, consider asking for a referral from your real estate agent. They are often the best source to help you figure out what you need and who might be a perfect fit for you.
Also keep in mind that some professional stagers are willing to work on a consultant level. This means the stager would come in and tour your home and give you a report of suggestions for staging. Then, you would carry out the staging yourself. This can be a more cost effective option if you are interested in putting in the work to DIY.
If you are going to do your own staging, here are a few things to keep in mind.
- De-personalize the space by 1/3 by removing personal photos and other items.
- De-clutter to make your house look bigger and more desirable.
- Patch up the walls, floors and cabinets by removing blemishes and scratches, anything that might signal neglect.
- Choose neutral colors for any painting or decorating.
- Focus on your front entrance to make a good first impression.
- Consider rearranging or even removing furniture to make the space look as open as possible.
- Focus your attention on the most important rooms in the house, including the living or family room, master bedroom, and kitchen.
