Even though homes are going quickly in this seller’s market, one thing hasn’t changed: Staging your home can help you get top dollar! With less inventory, staging might not be as critical as it is in a more balanced market. But, if you want to maximize the profit of your home and sell it quickly, staging could be your best friend. Staging provides the opportunity for a potential buyer to envision their life in the home. A staged and move-in ready home is more likely to receive competitively priced offers. Fortunately, there are plenty of ways to give your home a makeover without hiring a professional stager or breaking your bank.
Declutter Your Space
Decluttering can be daunting but when it comes down to staging, it’s the very first step. It’s nearly impossible to begin staging a home if there are miscellaneous items laying around. Since we’re in our houses often we have a tendency to gather things in a way that makes practical sense to us. However, it might be off-putting for someone to walk in and try to imagine their own life in the room.
To lower the odds of getting overwhelmed by the task at hand, start in one room and then continue working room by room. If you come across items that are just taking up space, try organizing them into these categories: trash, donate, and sell. Nowadays it’s easy to get a return on your investment by selling used items on Facebook Marketplace, Offer Up, Let Go, or Poshmark.
Depersonalize the Decor
Let’s face it, buyers need to be able to picture themselves in the house they’re viewing. That wall of family photos may mean the world to you, but it could hinder the potential buyers from imagining their family in the home. As a general rule of thumb, plan on temporarily storing away family photos, and personal items until after the showings.
Minimal Home Kitchen Staging
Do a Deep Clean
You may be tempted to hire a professional cleaner, but you can save some big bucks by rolling up your sleeves and doing the job yourself. In addition to checking off your basic cleaning tasks, consider the not-so-common household chores like cleaning the baseboards, walls, ceiling fans, and windows. To really set the mood, try displaying white bath and hand towels in the bathrooms for a luxurious spa-like feel.
Apply Fresh Paint
Applying a fresh coat of paint is one of the least expensive ways to give your home a facelift. This may sound far-fetched, but paint color can actually deter home buyers. Everyone’s style is different and some homeowners love a bold wall color, but potential buyers might look at it and see too much painting in their future. Painting your rooms a neutral-toned color can increase your home value by a surprising $5,000. If you’re looking to attract more home buyers and more money, head over to your local paint store and start looking at color palettes.
Craftsman Home with Charming Curb Appeal
Boost Your Curb Appeal
Curb appeal is a term we hear often, but how important is it? The answer is, very. There are dozens of cheap and eye-catching exterior improvements you can make to vamp up your curb appeal. To start, clear away dead shrubs and branches, spray down your sidewalks, manicure your lawn, and consider tending your garden beds or adding potted plants. One of the more obvious projects is to paint your front door. A freshly painted front door can bring your porch to life and make your home stand out on the block. Since we’re talking about doors, why not throw on a new door handle? You can explore affordable options at your local hardware store. For more tips on boosting your curb appeal, read our blog here.
Add Finishing Touches
Small accent decor items like pillows, a throw blanket, or added foliage can make a huge difference in the eyes of others. You don’t have to spend a fortune to make your home feel like it was staged professionally. When in doubt, stick with the motto “less is more”. Remember that the goal of staging is to highlight the best features of your home. For more staging advice, click here.
