“I can see myself living here...building my life here.” This is what runs through someone's head once they’ve found the perfect home. As a seller, it’s important to make the first impression of your home a lasting one. Think about this: would you show up to a first date or a job interview not looking your best? The same concept applies to your house, so prep it to the nines! 95% of staged homes sell within the first 11 days. Plus, a staged home sells for 17% more money on average, according to Forbes.
The House Match team recently interviewed a local professional stager, Courtney Petrin from Savannah’s Home & Design, for top five staging tips that sellers can easily implement themselves. These five simple tasks will help potential buyers visualize their future life in your home, while assuring you have a smooth and efficient selling process.
1. Declutter and Deep Clean
Decluttering and deep cleaning presents your home in the best possible scenario. Put away décor that may be perceived as “distracting” (unusual artwork, themed rooms, etc). Opt for simplicity! This makes it easier for a prospective buyer to imagine the home with their items instead of yours. Decluttering also makes the house feel more spacious and open. After you’ve decluttered, it’s time to deep clean. Poorly maintained homes are likely to turn away serious buyers. Remember, buyers want to have comfort in knowing their future home has been well-taken care of.
2. Focus on Just Three Rooms
When staging a home, it is important to emphasize the main living area, master bedroom, and kitchen. Courtney shared that these particular rooms hold the most value when it comes to prospective buyers. By focusing the majority of your staging efforts on these three rooms, you won’t waste time on staging other rooms that have less impact.
3. Physically Staging Vs. Virtually Staging
Since some buyers are leaning towards looking at homes online, you have the option to virtually stage, too. Physical staging is a great tool if you’re confident you’ll be having in-person showings or open houses. However, the virtual option is fantastic if you’re concerned about too much traffic in your home or are catering to out-of-state buyers (perhaps people seeking a vacation condo). Methods for virtual staging include apps, a professional virtual stager, or your realtor may have personalized options. For instance, House Match realtors have access to a pro-photographer that works closely with interior designers. From the moment photos are taken to editing and publishing, photos are executed in tip-top shape.
4. Maximize Space
Who doesn’t love more space? There are a few ways to go about this strategy by working with the space you already have (no remodel necessary!). Your choices: declutter (see tip 1), replace the blinds with something that lets in more natural sunlight, rearrange pieces of furniture to open up the room, or use sheer/white curtains to make it feel more light and airy.
5. Don’t Forget the Outside!
Overgrown landscaping, a broken fence, chipped exterior paint, and visible dirt on the driveaway. If this is what the buyer sees upon arrival, the first impression will be, “this home needs a power wash.” But by making a few cost-effective adjustments and sprucing up the outside, buyers will be drawn to step through the front door. Pro tip: Add an accent plant to the entryway!
Once you’ve tackled these five staging tasks, your home is guaranteed to feel more organized, functional, and cozy! If you have additional staging questions or need any other real estate help, send us a private message on Facebook or Instagram. You can also give us a call at 941-250-0144.
