When you’re selling a home, presentation can make all the difference. A staged home doesn’t just look beautiful; it helps potential buyers visualize themselves living in the space. Today’s market demands a well-staged home to sell fast and for asking price or more. Whether you’re preparing your own residence for sale or advising clients, strategic home staging is a proven step for getting a home sold.
Realtors know that a successful sale is about more than just the paperwork, it’s about presentation, preparation and partnership. Here are a few expert-approved tips on home staging to guarantee a standout home in the market.
Start with a Plan
Before diving into decor decisions, gauge whether professional staging is right for you. Staging companies can bring a valuable experience, furniture and design insight to transform a space for a broader buyer appeal. With staging, the architectural aspects are highlighted along with flow from room to room and the intention of every room.
If you’re working with a tight budget, we recommend partial staging with some simple DIY changes. First, focus on the rooms and spaces that will generate the most impact. Planting flowers and adding potted plants in the entryway and around the front door makes a home more inviting. Add a fresh coat of paint or consider adding inexpensive accessories to living and family rooms. Update kitchen cabinet knobs and consider artwork or a new bedspread to the primary bedroom. Small touches or touch-ups can leave a lasting impression and move lookers to more serious buyers.
Clear Clutter and Depersonalize
One of the key goals of staging is helping buyers imagine their own life in the space. This can be challenging when personal items or excess clutter are stealing attention. Before listing the home, remove personal photos or collections that may distract the home from itself.
From countertops to closets, every surface should be decluttered. This will create a sense of openness and present a calm and inviting environment. It’s not about trying to make the home appear empty. It’s about creating more balance and breathing room. Keep decor minimal and consistent to help spaces feel cohesive and move-in ready.
Refresh with Neutral Colors
Color schemes throughout a home have a huge impact on how a home looks and feels. Consider fresh paint in neutral shades like beige, off-white or light gray to instantly brighten a room and give it a clean, modern look. Neutral tones are more appealing to buyers as they provide a backdrop for potential buyers to imagine personalizing the space. Neutral tones also photograph beautifully, which is especially important for online listings.
Good lighting is another in staging the home and creating a more inviting environment. Opening blinds to let in natural light, replacing dim bulbs or even using mirrors to reflect light around darker areas can really enhance the feel of the home.
Decorate to Delight
There are a few areas that are especially appealing to buyers. The rooms that drive emotional connection include the kitchen and living areas; they are the spaces where families gather. When staging, consider decorating areas that will make the biggest impression. Below are a few areas, along with some simple decorating tips to spruce up a home before you begin showing:
- Kitchen: Keep counters clear and some style with a bowl of fruit or a small plant to add a splash of color and make buyers feel at home..
- Bathrooms: Add fresh, solid color bath and hand towels, update lights or bathroom fixtures to bathrooms and powder rooms for an updated look.
- Living Areas: Arrange furniture to encourage natural flow and to invite conversation; remove bulky and excess furniture and accessories to make living areas more spacious.
- Curb Appeal: Refresh the exterior by power-washing walkways, adding a new doormat, trimming landscaping, and incorporating colorful flowers or potted plants near the entry.
Add Warm Lifestyle Features
A neutral color palette provides a canvas that anyone can decorate as their own, and it’s the details and accessories that make a house feel like a home. Greenery, cozy throw blankets, textured pillows and accent accessories add energy to each room. A modern table setting and candlesticks help buyers imagine themselves living in a home. Keep scents light and fresh; mild lavender linen sprays and natural aromas are best for welcoming people coming to tour.
Pay Attention to Details
Small updates go a long way. Deep cleaning, a fresh coat of paint, replacing worn hardware and fixing minor damage convey that the home is cared for. Before listing photos are taken or showings begin, do a final walkthrough to tidy spaces and polish surfaces. A well-kept, clean home communicates high value to potential buyers.
Hire a Professional Photographer
A beautifully-staged home should be photographed. Hire a professional photographer to capture the character of the home, showing it in the best light and highlighting its best features. If the home is empty, virtual staging can help buyers visualize its potential, just make sure the results reflect reality.
Presenting a warm, clean and inviting atmosphere will inspire buyers to imagine themselves living in the home. Thoughtful staging can turn a listing from “for sale” to “sold.” At Landmark Title, we understand the value of a smooth transaction. We work closely with Realtors and their clients when the offers come in and escrow opens. Then we walk the parties through each stage of the closing to ensure all requirements are met, and the title for the property is in place to safely and securely close. If you are buying or selling a home and need an experienced escrow and title company, contact us today.