It is no surprise that the real estate market is booming these days. Did you know that hiring a professionally-staged home spends 73% less time on the market? Yes, it is that important.
The National Association of Realtors shared that hiring a professional home stage revealed 81% of homebuyers admitting the service helped them sell their home faster—and for more money. Homebuyers stated it makes it easier for potential home buyers to visualize living in the specific home.
Here is everything you need to know about how to stage your home:
What is Home Staging?
Home staging refers to creating a great visual form of merchandising that utilizes the basics of interior design to make the space look more attractive. It is considered a form of art and creates illusions to entice and engage potential buyers to be more interested in purchasing the property.
It stems far beyond a simple clean and rearranging furniture. It utilizes interior design elements to make the home appear larger and better than it actually is, thus increasing interest and stimulating multiple offers. Multiple offers may equal a bidding war and a higher selling price!
Remove All Clutter
One of the most important parts of staging a home is to remove all of the clutter! Clutter can be quite distracting and actually turn potential home buyers away. The entire mission of staging is to help the buyer visualize moving right in and where they would put their own things.
Purge anything that does not create a clean, open environment. Remove all knick-knacks and any personal items from the home. Do not place them in storage spaces or closets either—buyers will be looking there as well. You want the home to appear roomy and spacious.
Go for Light and Bright
Lighting is a vital component of home staging. Open all blinds and curtains to reveal the natural sunlit areas. Any old, outdated lighting, consider removing or replacing it to create more appeal.
Don’t forget to dust existing light fixtures and bulbs as well. Buyers want to walk into a home and feel its light, bright, and airy warmth upon their first step.
Rent Furniture
If the sellers’ furniture is dingy or not visually pleasing, you have the option to rent furniture for the duration of the sale. A great tip is to remove at least half of the sellers’ furniture—if in good condition—and make the home appear bigger.
Another rule of thumb: Do not feature big, clunky furniture. Aim for streamlined, smaller furniture. Pop-up furniture is another great option, typically made of cardboard or corrugated plastic. The sellers will quickly scan over the first impression of the furniture to get a visual idea of placement.
Pay Attention to HOW You Arrange Furniture
Now that your furniture situation is figured out, it is time to pay attention to how you arrange your furniture. First and foremost, never put furniture against the wall. The tips of the pros state to “float” the furniture away from the walls to create more depth. It gives the impression of a larger room.
Next, anchor the select space with a beautiful area rug, regardless of whether the room is carpeted. This gives a central visual point that creates an intimate, inviting space for your home buyers. Position the chairs and remaining furniture around the area rug to allow your buyers to see it is a great room to entertain family and friends.
Prioritize Important Rooms First
In terms of renting furniture and staging, prioritize the most important rooms first. This can include the living room, master bedroom, and kitchen. The NAR found that the living room is the most important room in the house. Therefore, start there!
The master bedroom fell next in line, where the owner of the home will more than likely sleep. Ensure the furniture and décor are welcoming and tasteful to really stimulate the home buyers’ appetite to purchase.
Don’t Forget Curb Appeal
Many people tend to overlook curb appeal. The first thing your potential home buyers are going to see is the outside of the home aka curb appeal. It is imperative to prepare the front of the home in addition to the inside.
Start here:
Clean the windows
Power-wash all walkways and front sidewalk
Mow the law
Trim the hedges
Plant flowers/buy planters for front door
Include outdoor furniture if applicable
Place a WELCOME mat at the front door
Ensure buyers can read the house number
Little Details Matter
Another great tip is to add little extras to the home staging. For example, fresh flowers in a vase on the dining room table or front foyer console breathe fresh life into the air.
Add decorative and nicely-folded towels to the bathroom to create a welcoming feel for your potential buyers. A fresh bowl of fruit or nuts on the kitchen island and angling the kitchen stools all facing the same direction give a look of glamour and a touch of elegance and sophistication.
Bottom Line
If you are in the market to sell your home, it is VITAL to have your home professionally staged. You can even see an exponential increase in your home sale price, well over the asking price. At Polaris Realty, we pride ourselves on our innovative home staging. We have even sold one of our listings for $1 million OVER the asking price due to our professional home staging!
Home staging creates a warm and welcoming atmosphere that allows your buyers to “see” themselves in your home. Consider staging another step of preparing your home for sale. Your main mission is to provide buyers with the easiest way to see themselves existing in your space.
