10 Important Staging Tips When Selling Your Home
If you’re getting ready to list your home for sale one of the most valuable steps you can take is staging it. Thoughtful staging helps your home photograph better, show better, and stand out from competing listings, which can lead to stronger offers and a faster sale.
When staging is done right buyers can easily envision themselves living in the space instead of focusing on your belongings. This is a critical first step in getting them to consider making an offer. Taking the time to prepare your home will also set it apart from other listings in your area.
There is a flip side too. It is possible to make ugly home staging mistakes that turn buyers off the moment they walk through the door. Below are 10 important staging tips that will help you sell your house, followed by additional resources if you want even more ideas.
10 Important Home Staging Tips for Sellers
1. Declutter Every Space
Staging starts with space. Buyers want to feel confident your home will handle their belongings. If every inch is packed, they assume the home lacks storage. The first staging task should be decluttering and organizing your entire house inside and out.
Go through every single closet, cabinet, and drawer. Throw away or donate items you no longer need or use. Cabinets and drawers in the kitchen and bathrooms should be as empty as possible so they look generous rather than cramped. The same goes for bedroom closets. Take it one step further and hang your clothes by color, shoes by style, and purses by size.
If there are items you do not use regularly but want to keep, go ahead and pack those away. In some cases, you may need to rent a self-storage unit to store these belongings while your home is on the market.
In addition to cleaning out closets, cabinets, and drawers you will want to clear off countertops as well. Counter space is usually at the top of buyers’ “must-have” list, so do not take up valuable real estate with your coffee maker, air fryer, toaster, knife block, or paper towel holder. Hide these items or pack them away.
Lastly, while you may not consider your knick-knacks and family photos as clutter buyers might. Depersonalizing your home is a must and one of the many important staging tips all sellers need to follow. As you are decluttering and organizing your home remind yourself along the way that less is always more.
2. Edit Furniture and Create Easy Walkways
Another important home staging tip is to make sure all of your furniture is sized appropriately for the room. Large, bulky pieces or too many items can make those spaces feel smaller than they truly are.
Every room in your home should have multiple walking paths. In many cases, this means removing several pieces of furniture from each room. While this may not be practical or convenient for most sellers it is an important step in the home staging process.
Buyers will be walking through your home with their Realtor. If two or three people cannot comfortably fit into each room because the space is crowded with furniture they might rule your home out. Oftentimes it can be difficult for buyers to look past a seller’s belongings and see the true size of a room, so removing extra furniture and putting it in storage may be necessary.
3. Keep Paint, Furniture, and Window Treatments Neutral
One of the best home staging tips is to keep your home neutral. Paint color, window treatments, and even furniture should be as neutral as possible. You can always add character with artwork, area rugs, pillows, and blankets.
If you have dark walls, heavy drapery, and bulky furniture not only will your home look dark and cramped but dated too. In this case, repainting your entire home with one neutral color may be in order. Think along the lines of Sherwin Williams Snowbound, Alabaster, or Origami White. Paint is by far one of the most cost-effective ways to transform a home.
If you have heavy or outdated window treatments consider replacing those as well. Amazon has inexpensive linen drapes that are great dupes for drapery from Pottery Barn and Restoration Hardware. Do not forget to take your rods to the ceiling if you have 8–9 foot ceilings and extend your curtain rod past the window. Drapes should frame the window when open, not cover it.
If any of your upholstered furniture is worn, outdated, or too bold consider purchasing inexpensive slipcovers. While a light-colored slipcover may not be kid or pet-friendly keep in mind you will be able to wash them and they are only needed while your home is for sale.
4. Make Lighting a Priority
Every room in your home should be light and bright. Natural light is ideal, but if you do not have enough in every room you will want to add lighting. Lamps can travel with you when you move, and inexpensive light fixtures can be left behind as a selling feature.
Amazon has countless light fixtures that are sleek, modern, and extremely affordable (often less than $50). If your current fixtures are outdated consider replacing them and do not forget about your bathroom vanity lights.
Light bulbs matter too. Some can make your home look yellow and dingy while others will make it crisp, cool, and bright. Before listing, walk through your home with all lights on and see where you might need to upgrade bulbs or add more fixtures.
Before listing your home for sale make sure to follow these 10 home staging tips, which will help your home sell faster and for top dollar. #realestate #homeselling #stagingtipsHome Staging Tips Continued
5. Focus on Key Rooms First
If time and budget are limited, prioritize the rooms that matter most to buyers and that show up first in listing photos. Typically this includes the entry, main living area, kitchen, primary bedroom, and primary bathroom.
Stage these rooms first with neutral colors, good lighting, and minimal clutter. Make sure they have a clear focal point, whether that is a sofa arrangement, a beautifully made bed, or a clean kitchen island.
6. Make Repairs and Tackle Deferred Maintenance
Making repairs and addressing any deferred maintenance is a must before listing your home for sale. If you decide against addressing repairs it can cost you more money in the long run and scare away potential buyers.
In my experience, homebuyers will never pay top dollar for a home that clearly has deferred maintenance and visible repairs that need to be made. In fact, it may prevent them from submitting an offer on your home. A majority of buyers are looking for a well-maintained home that is move-in ready, not a home that has been neglected and could turn into a money pit.
Homes in need of repair tend to attract investors who are looking for a deep discount. If they decide to make an offer on your home do not expect it to be anywhere close to market value. Investors are all about the numbers, there is very little emotion involved when purchasing real estate.
7. Boost Curb Appeal and Outdoor Living
The exterior of your home is the first impression, so make it count. Just as you decluttered and improved the inside of your home you should do the same on the outside.
Sometimes a fresh coat of paint on the front door and new lighting are a must. Other times a simple pressure washing and fresh mulch will do the job. For additional inspiration for your curb appeal check out this helpful article and these 9 budget-friendly curb appeal ideas for selling a home.
If your home has a private patio or balcony do not forget to stage those areas too. Outdoor living is a huge selling point, especially in warmer climates, and it can add additional “living space” in the eyes of buyers even though it is outside. Sometimes a small bistro set and a few potted plants are all you need.
8. Pay Attention to Smells and Small Details
Buyers remember how a home looks, but they also remember how it smells. Strong pet odors, cooking smells, or musty rooms can overpower even the best staging. Address the source of any odor instead of trying to cover it up with strong air fresheners.
At the same time, do not overlook little details. Replace worn doormats, straighten blinds, polish hardware, and make sure light switches and outlet covers are clean. These finishing touches help your staging feel complete.
9. Deep Clean Like a Pro
Last but not least one of the most important staging tips is deep cleaning your home. Sometimes this task should be left to the professionals especially if you’re short on time and energy.
Deep cleaning is not just wiping down all surfaces, that is only the start. It means a thorough cleaning of all appliances behind, under, inside, and out. From the range to the refrigerator make sure these items shine and look as close to new as possible. In addition to kitchen appliances you will want to make sure your cabinets and floors sparkle as well.
Bathrooms are often judged on their cleanliness. This area needs to be scrubbed and disinfected from top to bottom. Regrouting tile may be in order if the grout is missing or does not come clean. If you do not have a glass shower enclosure consider purchasing a crisp neutral shower curtain.
Floors throughout your entire home need to be addressed. If you have carpet it should be steam cleaned and if you have hard floors use a microfiber mop and appropriate cleaning products. Do not forget about windows and mirrors, a wet microfiber cloth followed by a dry cloth is sure to leave the surface streak-free.
10. Get a Second Opinion Before You List
Once you have worked through your staging checklist, ask for fresh eyes. Sometimes you live with things so long that you no longer notice them, but buyers will. This is where an experienced listing agent can help.
A quick walk-through with a Realtor can confirm what you have done well and point out a few final tweaks that will make a big difference in photos and in person. You can also review this complimentary home staging guide for additional ideas that work hand-in-hand with these tips.
Final Thoughts
Following these 10 important home staging tips is a must when you are preparing to sell. The minute a buyer pulls up to your home they are deciding whether they want to keep looking or get back in their vehicle, so your home needs to look its best both inside and out.
While it may cost money to prepare your home for sale it is usually worth every penny, so do not skip these staging tips. Not only can your home sell faster, it may sell for more as well.
If you are uncertain whether you need to do some or all of these staging tips contact a top Realtor in your area. As a Wellington Florida listing agent I provide all of my clients with a home staging checklist that contains staging tips specific to their home. This way they know exactly what needs to be done before listing and they do not waste money doing things that are not necessary.
Additional Home Selling Resources
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Before listing your home for sale make sure to follow these 10 home staging tips, which will help your home sell faster and for top dollar. #realestate #homeselling #stagingtipsAbout the Author
Top Wellington Realtor, Michelle Gibson, wrote: “10 Important Staging Tips When Selling Your Home”
Michelle has been specializing in residential real estate since 2001 throughout Wellington Florida and the surrounding area. Whether you’re looking to buy, sell or rent she will guide you through the entire real estate transaction. If you’re ready to put Michelle’s knowledge and expertise to work for you call or e-mail her today.
Areas of service include Wellington, Lake Worth, Royal Palm Beach, Boynton Beach, West Palm Beach, Loxahatchee, Greenacres, and more.
Michelle Gibson of the Hansen Real Estate Group Inc. who has specialized in Wellington, Florida, real estate since 2001. She combines community knowledge with effective marketing, technology, and social media to help buyers, sellers, and renters throughout Wellington.