When I do consultations with people getting ready to sell, there are some issues I see regularly. Here is some of my top ten home staging tips I give most people to help them sell fast and for more money.
Clean– Make it spotless! Particularly kitchen, bathrooms and master bedroom. No time? Hire a professional. A clean home looks well maintained.
Repair- Fix all those little things like leaky faucets, squeaky door, loose knobs, lights that do not work, etc. A home that looks well maintained on the surface will be less likely to have buyers wondering about the condition of all the things they can’t see such as your wiring, plumbing, etc. The first thing the buyer sees that is broken or not working properly breaks the magic that can get that buyer to fall in love with your home.
Declutter– Remove 50% of what is in your closets, bookshelves and cabinets. You are selling space, if it looks like you do not have enough of it, buyers will be worried they will not have enough either.
New bedding– A new bedding set can transform a bedroom. Definitely go for new bedding in the master bedroom. Even just new pillows (4 per bed plus throw pillows) can make a bed look fabulous, as pillows flatten out over time. Go for a fresh, modern style.
New towels and shower curtain– Fresh clean towels of various colors in a spotlessly clean bathroom that coordinate with a fresh, simple shower curtain will make your bathroom look great. They do not need to be expensive, just new and clean! Hide all personal items including soap when showing.
Let there be light! – Nothing screams dated in a house louder than outdated lighting fixtures. Lighting is easy to replace and simple, attractive and inexpensive lighting fixtures can be purchased at Home Depot or Lowes. Rooms should ideally have overhead lighting, several lamps and some task lighting. A room with only an overhead light looks unattractive and dark, and can appear smaller. Have several matching lamps with high wattage bulbs and have all lights in the house on for showings.
Check out these beautiful. modern lighting options that are neutral enough for staging or to update your outdated lighting. Some may contain affiliate links, meaning I get a small commission for sharing at no additional cost to you.
Paint neutral colors (beige, tan, grays)- Although colorful paint jobs can be great for living and for spicing things up in kid’s rooms, it can turn off buyers with different tastes and who worry their belongings will not match your paint job. Painting everything white will make your house boring and unmemorable. Add color in the décor rather than the paint. Paint is cheap and can make everything look new, fresh and clean.
Remove heavy curtains– Replace heavy curtains with sheers or no curtains (if there is a good view). Keep all curtains or shades open for showings. You want everything to look as bright, airy and spacious as possible. Sheers are inexpensive, let in light, soften the room and can downplay a poor view if needed.
Remove personal photos and items– Buyers get distracted by these items and feel like they are invading your territory. Make it easy for them to picture themselves living in the home. It is also good from a safety standpoint not to give them information about you or your family.
Improve curb appeal– Declutter the outside, make sure vegetation is trimmed, cleaned up etc. Make sure lights are always on outside and house number is visible. Something decorative near the door and a new welcome mat is a great touch.
Use these home staging tips to sell your house fast and for more!
Stage Your Home Today
You know it is a no-brainer to stage your home if you want to sell fast and for more. Yes, you can do it yourself. In all honesty, you will have better results if you get help from a pro. Think about it….you save some money not hiring a pro and then you loose $10, 000 or more on your first price reduction and on each thereafter because your staging didn’t work. Is is worth it?
All staging with a pro starts with a consultation which can be in person or online. Feel free to call if you have questions and would like to discuss what would be best for you.
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Any seller would be lucky to have you on their team and would be certain to get the best price. Staging makes the world of difference.
Thanks so much Judith!
Really appreciate seeing your Top 10 List on Staging Tips because I can see how this makes a huge difference to sellers preparing their homes. Of course, your professional expertise will catapult a listing to sell for more. It just makes sense hiring a pro!
Thank you so much Denise! Yes, it just makes sense to hire a pro. We all can not be experts in everything…why not let those that do it all the time help us:)
Spot on advice, Mary Ann! Fresh new towels and bedding are a must! And I totally agree, nothing dates a home faster than light fixtures!
Thanks Janet! A few new things can make all the difference. No one can get emotionally connected to your used “stuff”.
All great advice, people need to remember that the potential buyer needs to see their home objectively, your great advice is the first step in that process!
Thanks Amy! I agree that being objective is one of the hardest things to do for a home seller and a huge reason to have a home stager work their objective magic on your home.
All great tips!
Thank you Judith!
Once again, you have nailed it with this list. It really does baffle me when you see a home, for the first time, and it is filthy. That is one major turn-off for me, as an investor. When I see a dirty home, I also equate that with no pride of ownership which could lead to issues with other things in the home.
Fabulous tips!
Exactly! As soon as a buyer starts to see things like a dirty home or one that is not well maintained, they see the obvious flaws and wonder about all the things they can’t see behind the walls, etc. And, it breaks the magic or the emotional connection that usually occurs before a person will make an offer.