Home staging is a way to neutralize a home to help potential buyers visualize themselves there, creating a more emotional experience. According to The 2021 Profile of Home Staging by the National Association of Realtors, “eighty-two percent of buyer’s agents said staging a home made it easier for a buyer to visualize the property as a future home.” Good home staging can potentially bring in higher offers and shorten the closing time.
Ready to tackle home staging but don’t know where to begin? According to The 2021 Profile of Home Staging by the National Association of Realtors, the most important areas to buyers include the living room (46%), master bedroom (43%), and kitchen (35%).
How to Do It:
Declutter and Clean
Pick up any items you typically leave out and find out-of-sight storage for items when possible. After decluttering, you want to clean your house more than you would on a normal day. Get nit-picky about windows, walls, crown molding, and appliances. If you’re a pet owner, try to rid the house of any pet hairs to accommodate potential buyers with allergies. After cleaning, neutralize your home’s odor. Whether you’re eliminating the smell of cat litter or cutting down on how frequently your family eats seafood, this will add to the feeling of cleanliness. For more house cleaning tips, check out our blog post: Clean Your Home Effectively and Efficiently.
Depersonalize
Prospective buyers should be able to see themselves in the home being shown. Therefore, taking down personalized items is critical. Stash away family photos, children’s art, and signs with the family name or initials. Leave home decor out as long as it doesn’t take away from the work you’ve done to neutralize your home.
Neutralize & Freshen Up
The point of neutralizing is to allow buyers to visualize themselves in a home. If you’re a houseplant owner, take the time to freshen up your plants. Get rid of any dying parts and give your plants good sunlight and water. The walls are another important point to address. Patch up any holes, tear down wallpaper, and make sure all the walls and ceiling have light, neutral-colored paint.
Define Rooms
Each room should have a specific and clear purpose. To do this, rearrange furniture to create purpose in each space as well as removing furniture when necessary. Each space should feel open and simple. Choose carpets that fit well in space but also define their specific area.
Create an Open Feel
No matter the square footage, space is something all home buyers look for. To make your space feel larger and more open, push the furniture slightly away from the wall. Lighting is also a great way to open up a room. Welcome in natural light whenever possible and when introducing artificial lighting, try to stick with white LEDs. Here’s a great article on styles and types of LED lighting for more details.
Boost Curb Appeal
The first thing any potential buyer will see is your home’s exterior and everything surrounding it. First impressions are important! Having clearly marked house numbers, a clean and cleared driveway, and a welcoming porch can boost curb appeal. Go a step further by pressure washing your home’s exterior, installing a nice mailbox, or adding cheerful plants in your garden or elsewhere.
For more helpful tips on making sure your home’s exterior looks fantastic, check out our blog post on curb appeal.