When selling your home, first impressions matter. That’s why a bit of home staging can be a key element to creating an emotional connection with buyers. A home that shows evidence of a happy life makes a better impression on buyers and can help to maximize your selling potential. There’s a right way and a wrong way to go about staging, though. Read on for some tips on the dos and don’ts of home staging.
Home Staging Dos
DO:
- Declutter as much as possible. This is the most important step for staging and resale and can leave a lasting impression on buyers. Do what you can to get every closet, cupboard and bookshelf organized, neat and tidy. Small jobs like this often carry the most weight in terms of making your home look attractive to buyers.
- Add a fresh coat of paint. It’s the fastest way to freshen up a space and gets you the most bang for your buck. If you’re changing colours, opt for a crisp white (remember, kids and pets may make this impossible to keep looking clean, which is very important) or simple off-white shade rather than anything trendy. Trends can change quickly and you want to leave buyers feeling like they won’t have to change much after they move in.
- Maximize curb appeal. Your front yard and entryway are the first things people will notice and are responsible for the first impression your property will make on a buyer. Make sure they are tidy and inviting. Repaint the front door if necessary, clean up all debris from the lawn, tidy the flower beds, cut the grass and make sure all outdoor lights are working. Add a few pops of colour to the front step with one or two porch decorations or a planter of colourful flowers.
Home Staging Don’ts
DONT:
- Don’t remove all personal items. Buyers need to see that you are happy in this home and that they could be too. A few personal items/photos suggests that your home is full of pleasant memories and good times. You want potential buyers to be able to picture themselves living in your home and feeling content as well.
- Unless you’ve been neglecting things for a while, don’t renovate the whole house in order to sell. You can’t really be certain how much of your expenses you’ll recoup with the sale of your home and you can’t anticipate the tastes of your potential buyers. Some buyers would rather do the work themselves and some won’t be overly concerned with having everything in the home be brand new. Save yourself the added stress and expense and work with what you have rather than starting from scratch.
- Try to avoid temptation and don’t stage every room in the house. You want buyers to feel like someone happily lives in this house, not to feel like they’ve entered a sterile hotel room. Focus on smaller adjustments like decluttering, freshening things up with new bedding or couch cushions, furniture placement and keeping things neat and tidy. That way you’re sure to make a great impression!
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Local Staging Help
If you need help with downsizing, decluttering or organization, we know someone who can help you. Tracy at House ‘N Order provides a range of services to help with moving, estate clearing, downsizing and more. Contact House ‘N Order to see if her services fit your needs.
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Got a handle on which items should stay and which should go but not sure how to effectively display things? Simply Put Designs of Markdale can help. Keri uses the items you already have on hand (and a few key additions) to show your home in it’s best light and highlight key elements that are sure to appeal to potential buyers. Contact Simply Put Designs at 519-270-1472 to see what Keri can do for you.
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Thinking about selling but not sure where to begin? We can help. Contact Forest Hill – GREY COUNTY today. We can help you better understand the current real estate conditions and show you what your property is worth in today’s market.
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Mark Murakami, Managing Broker/Realtor® & Laura Murakami, Managing Partner/ Realtor®
Forest Hill Real Estate Inc. Brokerage – GREY COUNTY
21 Main St E, Markdale
Direct: 519-270-6702
Office Email: mark@greycountyhomes.com
