The Importance of Home Staging and How to Do It

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What is home staging and do you need a professional to help you with it?

Staging your home to sell serves several purposes which can, with some work on your part, be accomplished without the help of a professional. It is essential, however, that you understand what goal you are trying to meet. Take a good look around your home and ask yourself this guiding question:

What needs to be done to make this a home that potential buyers can see themselves making their own?

Let's take a look at what the answer to this essential question involves.

1. Tidy and clean. This is challenging because, if you are like me, tidying frequently means putting everything in a closet. Unfortunately, buyers check closets. This means that you may need to put some things in boxes and store them off the property. Clean means really clean. It should look clean, feel clean (no crumbs left on the granite countertops, even if you can't see them), and smell clean. It might be worth the money to hire a cleaning service once you have done the tidying.

   
   

2. Space is your friend. You want to keep enough furniture to make your home look comfortable, but a crowded room will feel smaller than it is. Walk through each room and take out what is not needed. Take a look at the bedroom in the photo below:

   

   The room has a great vibe, but, even after tidying up, there are probably a few pieces that could be removed to open up the space (the table at the foot of the bed, maybe).

   
   

   3. Style is great, but . . . everyone's is different and the farther from neutral your decorating choices land, the harder it is for buyers to picture themselves living in your home. If buyers feels uncomfortable, your home may take longer to sell. If you can manage it, paint walls a neutral color (a fresh coat is a good idea, anyway). You are not being untrue to yourself; you are turning this building where you have expressed yourself into a space where other people can express themselves. Remove the political, religious, cause-related books and artwork. This is not the time or place to make a stand. Repeat to yourself, "This is not my home anymore. This is not my home anymore."

   
   

   

   This beautifully styled bedroom would look roomier without the curtain around the bed.

   4. Don't forget the outside. We walk past our front entrances every day and may not see things as they appear to others. Try to stand back, give the place a careful once over and then walk slowly to the door, scanning the area around you and noticing what you see as your view changes. Are the trashcans stored neatly? are there weeds that need to be pulled? Does the walkway need to be trimmed? The cost of a few bags of fresh mulch and some potted plants for the stoop is small compared to potentially increased offers or a quicker sale.

   
   

Let's practice with a couple of photos.

PHOTO 1. What could be done to increase the marketability of the rooms below? Scroll to the bottom of the post to read my thoughts.

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   PHOTO 2

Conclusion

Staging your home is an investment that can pay off significantly when it comes to selling. By creating a clean, welcoming atmosphere with space to move easily, and helping buyers to picture themselves making a home there, you increase the likelihood of strong offers and a quick sale. The effort you put into staging can make a world of difference in your home-selling journey.

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PHOTO 1: This is a beautiful room, but with just a few changes, its owner could create a neater, more polished look:

• Remove all but 2 of the throw pillows.

• Move the TV and the table it is on to another room or out of the house. Leaving it in front of the shelves, the message is sent that there is no room in this common area for a television.

• Remove all the objects from the windowsills and all but the flowers from the coffee table top. Any other clutter should be removed.

• Look through the books on the shelves and make sure there are none that someone with differing views from yourself would be uncomfortable with.

PHOTO 2: This is what a kitchen should be like - a warm gathering place - unless you are trying to sell the home it is in. Kitchens matter to buyers; make sure they are clutter-free.

• Remove the papers on the side of the refrigerator.

• Clear all dishes and small appliances off the counters.

• Put the dish soap where it can't be seen.

• You can leave the bananas, but add a few more and put them in a bowl or basket.

• While you're at it, take a look out the window. Do everything you can to make this view appealing.