Home Staging: Essential Tips to Increase Buyer Attraction
Home staging is a marketing strategy that draws attention to your home’s best assets and minimizes its challenges. Good staging draws on fundamentals of interior design with a sprinkle of psychology to create an emotional bond with the prospective buyer.
How Important is Home Staging?
According to the 2023 Profile of Home Staging, a report from the National Association of Realtors (NAR), 81% of buyers’ agents say staging makes it easier for buyers to visualize a property as their future home, which can help the home sell faster and at a higher price. The same research went on to point out that 23% percent of buyers are more willing to overlook property faults if viewing a staged home.
If home staging seems like an obvious choice, getting started is as simple as reaching out to your Adashun Jones agent. Your agent will be able to identifying key areas to focus on for your property. Once you have developed a list with your agent, you can make the determination to do it yourself (DIY), utilize Adashun Jones professional interior designer to assist you, or hire a professional home stager to do it all including furniture rentals and more. Which type of home staging strategy is right for you depends on your specific situation and your budget.
Top Ten Tips for Staging your Home to Sell
Regardless of what home staging option you choose; the following list outlines the top 10 tips Adashun Jones endorses to stage your home to sell.
1. Clean
A clean home signals to buyers that you have taken good care of the property and puts people at ease. Ideally that means clean everything from the ceiling fan blades to the cabinet under the kitchen sink and everything in-between. Straighten out closets and clean out your fridge. Shampooing carpet is a must, especially for those with kids and pets.
2. Declutter
When staging your home to sell, less is more. Put away the things you don’t use every day and get rid of things you no longer need. Open space is preferred to covering every flat surface with photos and knick-knacks. Consider replacing cluttered surfaces with a green plant or two to make your house feel fresh and inviting.
3. Depersonalize
You want buyers to see themselves in your home rather than reminding them that someone else lives there. Put away family photos and bathroom toiletries. Replace personal artwork and clean off the fridge.
4. Curb Appeal
First impressions do matter. Home staging includes making sure your lawn is in order and your hedges are pruned. Get rid of weeds and wash windows. Replace door mats and try to create intentional outdoor living space if possible.
5. Kitchen
Kitchens sell houses. Large renovations can be pricey, but there are many quick projects that freshen up your kitchen on a budget such as a fresh coat of paint on the walls, refacing existing cabinets and/or replacing hardware, clearing counter-tops of appliances and clutter, and installing newer appliance if needed.
6. Lighting
Well-lit homes are more welcoming. Before a showing, open curtains and pull up blinds. Turn on all lights, including closets, garages and basements before any scheduled showings.
Pro tip: Aim for a total of 100 watts for every 50 square feet.
7. Furniture
One of the main causes of clutter in homes is caused by too much furniture. Remove extra pieces so that your home feels open, spacious and easy to navigate.
Pro Tip: A good rule to follow when staging your home to sell is the 3-foot 5-foot rule. This rule states that when you are placing furniture in a room, you should leave at least 3 feet of space between the piece of furniture and the wall, and 5 feet of space between pieces of furniture.
8. Bathrooms
Time-worn, grimy bathrooms are a big turn-off for buyers. Replace caulk where needed, eliminate hard water stains and clean grout. New rugs, shower curtains and plush spa-like towels are cost-effective ways to make your bathroom instantly feel more spa-like and you can take them with you to your new house.
9. Colors and Odors
When staging a home to sell, it is important to appeal to the broadest base of buyers possible. If you have bold colors throughout your house, consider repainting with neutral tones. Odors can impact buyers in a major way so be sure to freshen the air with diffusers, oils, candles and plug-ins (but don’t overdo it!). Pay attention to pet smells, such as litter boxes and kennels, and remove as much evidence of furry family members as possible.
10. Office Space
More people are working from home than ever. Having an area that serves as workspace may be essential for your potential buyers. If you don’t have an entire room to dedicate to a home office, carve out space in a spare bedroom or finished basement or reallocate a spacious closet
From Home Staging to Home Sold
While there are many tips for preparing your home to sell fast for top dollar, the guidelines shared in this post are sure to have the maximum impact in attracting buyers. Work with your Adashun Jones’ agent to determine priorities and make a plan that works with your budget. The extra effort and investment in the short-term will maximize your profits at closing.
