When it comes time to sell your home, you don’t want to overlook the importance of staging your home. From tackling repairs to rethinking your furniture, staging helps highlight your home’s attractive features and often helps to sell your home faster. In fact, according to the National Association of Realtors, seventy-seven percent of buyer’s agents said staging a home made it easier for a buyer to visualize the property as a future home. Here are 15 tips to keep in mind when you’re staging your home.
1. Clean, Clean, and then Clean Some More
It might not be the most glamorous job, but heavy-duty cleaning is one of the most crucial parts of staging your home. Keep in mind that potential buyers will be looking into every nook and cranny of your home, so you want to ensure that your home is sparkling clean. After all, you don’t want anything to deter potential buyers from being drawn to your home. Consider hiring a professional cleaner to get the job done or, if you’re feeling ambitious, you can tackle the steps for cleaning yourself.
2. Organize
Organizing is another vital step in the staging process. This step can often be time-consuming, which is why you’ll want to be sure you give yourself sufficient time to tackle this project. Decluttering and organizing your home increases the chances of a sale, so don’t underestimate the importance of this step. Start with one room at a time: tidy drawers and closets, pack up or donate extra clothes, and purge what you don’t need or use. Here are some more tips to help whip your home into shape, from reorganizing bookcases to eliminating junk drawers to hanging extra pots and pans.
3. Depersonalize Your Space
Potential homebuyers must be able to visualize themselves in your home—and that means depersonalizing your space. Depersonalizing involves eliminating your personal tastes and preferences while also striving to make the space warm and friendly. Remove any family photos that might be hanging on the wall, art, memorabilia, or anything else that could potentially distract people viewing your home. This step can understandably be a bit difficult, but it significantly helps homebuyers to imagine their home as their own. Here are some tips to keep in mind when it comes to depersonalizing your home.
4. Add a Fresh Start
While you certainly want to ensure that your home is sparkling clean, organized, and depersonalized, you don’t want your home to feel standoffish or unwelcoming. Adding a fresh touch is a great way to enhance the staging process and add a homey feel! Consider adding some fresh flowers, a bowl of fruit on the dining room table, or some hanging plants. This step, although seemingly small, will help bring your home to life.
5. Make Your Bathroom Sparkle
You’ll want to ensure that you are thoroughly cleaning every corner of your home, but pay special attention to the bathroom. Give your bathroom a top to bottom cleaning, including washing the walls, scrubbing the toilet, and other important steps. After you’ve accomplished that, consider splurging on new towels, removing the bath mat, and perhaps adding a bit of greenery. Don’t forget to remove the hygiene products that clutter up the counter! Incorporating these tips will help give your bathroom a spa-like ambiance.
6. Incorporate a Pop of Color
Classy, sophisticated, and inviting are a few words to keep in mind when you’re preparing to stage your home. However, don’t be afraid to give your home some personality by adding a pop of color! Consider incorporating some decorative throw pillows, hanging plants, or adding an elegant rug to elevate your space’s aesthetic.
7. Eliminate Signs of Pets
There’s no doubt that furry friends are a part of the family, but it’s best to downplay them when it comes to staging. A home that shows signs of pets can deter those who do not share your affinity towards pets—or those who are allergic. Start by vacuuming the carpets, cleaning any stains or damages, airing out the house, and hiding pet items from sight. And—of course—you certainly don’t want to leave any of your pets in your home while it’s being shown. Read more tips and tricks to get your home as pet neutral as possible.
8. Show Off the Lighting
If your home has spacious windows or ample natural lighting, don’t be afraid to show this off during staging! This is a great way—and an easy way—to make your home warm and welcoming. If your home doesn’t quite have as much natural lighting, you can still make your home cozy by incorporating light fixtures. You’ll want to aim for a total of 100 watts for every 50 square feet. Shoot to have three different types of lighting: ambient (general), task (pendant, reading), and accent (table and wall).
9. Don't Forget Counters
It’s a good idea to keep your kitchen as clean and simple as possible—which means clearing the counters. Additionally, ensure that any unnecessary items on your counters are tucked away out of sight. The more kitchen counter space you can show off, the better! This is especially crucial if you’re limited on countertop space. All you need is a couple of decorative items—such as a mixer or block—to give your counters a homey touch.
10. Get Your Repairs Done
It’s as good a time as any to get those lingering repairs done. This is another important step when it comes to preparing your home for staging. Complete a thorough walkthrough of both the inside and outside of your home and make a note of any tiny nicks, scratches, holes, or anything else that signals neglect. Tackling these repairs will showcase homebuyers who maintain and care about the property.
11. Boost Curb Appeal
First impressions matter when it comes to staging. Keep in mind that the exterior of your home is the first impression that potential homebuyers will have. As such, you want to make sure that it is tidy and put together. Study the outside of your home and try to look at it from an outsider’s perspective. What would you notice if you were to come to view your home? Is it a dirty driveway, seasonal decorations, dead flowers, or shrubbery? If the answer is yes, then you know where to get started! Follow these tips to boost your home’s curb appeal.
12. Rearrange Your Furniture
When it comes to staging, not all rooms are created equal. According to the National Association of Realtors, staging for the living room is the most important, followed by the master bedroom and then the kitchen. It’s smart to keep this in mind when you’re prepping your home to be on the market. Think carefully about the color and size of the furniture in each room and act accordingly. You want as much open, walkable space as possible, which means it’s a good idea to eliminate oversized, damaged, or mismatched pieces. Rearrange each room to feel as spacious as possible and show off the full potential of your home. This is an easy (and free!) way to make the most of the staging process.
13. Add Some Plant Friends
Incorporating plants throughout your home is a great way to make the space buyer-friendly. Plants invite warmth, add a bit of color, and even improve the air quality in your home. To top it off, plants boost moods and increase wellness, according to studies by NASA. Ferns, bamboo, and spider plants are especially great at helping to improve indoor air.
14. Make Sure Your Home Has a Nice Aroma
At this point, your home should be dazzlingly clean. While that is exactly what you want, you definitely don’t want your home to smell like cleaning products or chemicals. How your home smells can affect a prospective buyer’s view of your home, which is why it is essential to ensure your home smells nice. Start by tackling the basics: taking out the trash, opening a window to invite in the fresh air, and cleaning the toilet. If there are any lingering smells after, baking soda is a simple trick to eliminate those smells. You can easily sprinkle baking soda on the carpet and let it sit for 10 to 15 minutes before vacuuming. After that, consider baking fresh cookies, lighting a candle, or diffusing essential oils to get your home smelling its best. Follow these additional tips to get your home smelling its best.
15. Pay Attention to Small Details
Preparing your home for staging is undoubtedly a time-consuming process. When potential home buyers come to view your home, be ready for them to notice all the small details—including things that you might miss. While cleaning the bathrooms and eliminating clutter is crucial, it’s easy to overlook some details. Small details go a long way in the staging process. Some touches include fresh tea towels, thoroughly scrubbing the windows, or perhaps a fresh bouquet of flowers. These details will help liven up your listing.
If you are looking to explore homes for sale in the Bay Area, contact Michele Oravec today. As one of the most sought-after real estate agents in the area, Michele serves a wide range of neighborhoods. From San Mateo to Atherton homes for sale, Michele is eager to help you find your dream property.
