Most people assume staging a home costs money. However, the reality is elbow grease may be all you need – and that’s FREE!
Understanding the definition of home staging, what it’s for and how to do it is something every home seller should learn in order to up your odds of selling your home for more money and quicker!
That’s the goal, right?
What is the Definition of Home Staging?
According to Wikipedia,
Staging a home is the preparation of a private residence for sale in the real estate marketplace. The goal of staging is to make a home appealing to the highest number of potential buyers, thereby selling a property more swiftly and for more money. Staging techniques focus on improving a property’s appeal by insuring it is a welcoming, attractive product that any buyer can see themselves living in and, thus, desire to purchase.
The next part of the Wikipedia definition, I do NOT agree with. They say it “requires a monetary investment.”
That is simply NOT TRUE! You do not have to hiring a staging company to come in. A good Realtor is all you need!
Realtors are in the housing market everyday. They have buyers, stay up to date on market trends and know what buyers are looking for in a home.
Their knowledge can help you when it comes to home staging.
Why is Staging a Home Important – What’s it For?
When you are selling your home, you always want to grab a potential buyer’s attention from the get-go. Studies show we only have 7 seconds to do this.
Photographs are the first thing a buyer sees but professional photography can only do so much. If the home is not staged and ready, they won’t help (and might even hurt your chances!) Professional photography won’t make your house look good, if it doesn’t look good in reality.
And, if the photos don’t look good, buyers will move on to looking at the next home.
If your home gets an in-person showing, you still only have 7 seconds to make a good impression and peak a buyer’s interest to continue with the tour.
Look at it this way… you dress nicely for a job interview, you wash and clean your car when you want to sell it, and product manufacturers spend millions to make their products look the best so they will sell.
When selling your home, your home is now the product. Making it look its best can only help with getting the highest price the market will bear and doing it as quickly as possible!
How Do I Stage My Home Without a Professional?
Your best chance is by hiring a knowledgeable Realtor. One who knows what’s going on in the local market and what buyers expect.
They will walk through your home with you and give you suggestions that will help your home look its best for photos and in-person showings during the selling process.
Remember, it might be uncomfortable because we don’t live in our homes they same way we sell our homes.
However, being a bit uncomfortable for the short term in order to get the best price is definitively worth it, right?
Now, let’s dig a little deeper into staging a home to sell…
Start Packing – Now!
You’re moving anyway, right? Why not get a jump start on the process by packing away things you don’t really need and that make the rooms feel cluttered? Consider getting some boxes and packing things like:
- Out of season clothes, this will make your closets look more roomy!
- Toys the children rarely play with. Don’t forget to the outside toys too!
- If you have lots of dishes, serving items or glassware, pack those so your cabinets also look roomy.
- Pack collections, memorabilia, valuable items and family pictures. This will help neutralize your home so a buyer can envision themselves living there. (Instead of being distracted by your “stuff.”)
- Move out any extra furniture that makes rooms seem overcrowded. This will help with the flow of the home.
You will be sooooo glad you started this process early once you accept an offer. It will make the rest of the packing easier!
Clean, Clean and Clean!
Do a good cleaning on your home. And, in addition, clean things we don’t always clean on a regular basis but items that buyers DO notice. Things like:
- Light fixtures and their globes
- Baseboards
- Light switch plates (yes, these almost always have dirty finger prints!)
- Cobwebs around the ceilings
- Blinds and curtains – this gives fresh new life to window treatments
- Windows & doors with windows! Inside and out. Letting the natural light in is much easier and beneficial if the windows have been cleaned.
Repairs and Updates
If there are small repairs or updates needed that you’ve been putting off, go ahead and get these done. Buyers are going to notice them!
- Neutralize bold paint colors with new paint
- Don’t forget to paint ceilings if you have water spots from repaired roof leaks. These are RED flags to buyers and their agents.
- Get the chimney swept
- Fix loose toilets, door knobs, cabinet handles, etc…
- Repair windows that won’t open properly (this is a safety hazard an inspector will call out)
- New Light fixtures can replace dated ones and give your home a quick and inexpensive update. Check Amazon!
- If you don’t have cabinet pulls/knobs in the kitchen or bathroom, these are like jewelry to dress them up. If you do have them, consider replacing them with an updated style. This is a cheap and easy update!
Bottom Line…
Staging your home just takes looking at it through the eyes of a buyer. Making it look bigger, roomier, clean and crisp doesn’t have to cost a lot of money (like bringing in a professional stager.)
It just means that you get valuable advice from the right Realtor, roll up your sleeves and get it done. I’m happy to help!
I even created a flipbook with tons of tips and tricks for preparing your home for sale. Drop your email address below and I’ll email you the link!
