During an open house or showing, hopeful homebuyers will be opening doors and checking every nook and cranny to see whether your property could be their next home. To improve your chances of creating an emotional bond with potential homebuyers and building excitement around your property, you will need to create a certain ambiance. Here is how to get started with 11 home staging tips from a Realtor.
5 Curb Appeal Staging Tips
Before having professional photos taken and listing your home, give your yard and facade some love.
The front of your home will grace your listing and it is the first thing potential buyers will see when they drive by or stop in for an open house. Follow these staging tips to amplify the visual appeal of the exterior of your home.
1. Pull Weeds & Trim Back Plants
Do not let weeds obscure your beautiful landscaping. Spend time cleaning up your landscaping. Trim shrubbery and trees so they do not look overgrown.
If the weather is right, consider planting some flowers to add a spot of color.
2. Pressure Wash the Exterior
Pressure washing siding, decking, and sidewalks can remove dirt and mildew that have built up over the years and reveal gleaming surfaces underneath. Pressure washing can make an older home appear newer and also show that you have taken good care of your home.
3. Clean the Gutters
Gutters are essential for maintaining the health of your roof and foundation. To keep water running away from your home, they should be cleaned regularly. If you have not done this in a while, it is a good idea to take care of this before listing the home.
4. Inspect the Roof
Roofs are always a concern for homebuyers. No one wants to buy a house and have to replace the roof a year later. Before listing, have someone inspect your roof to see if it is in need of repair or if it has come to the end of its life. If you don’t want to replace the roof despite its age, you can price your home to account for this.
5. Seal the Driveway
A driveway can take up a lot of space in front of a home. One filled with cracks or dips can ruin the curb appeal of a property. If possible, seal your driveway or fill any cracks.
Staging Tips for Inside
1. Deep Clean Your Home
Open houses and showings invariably lead to potential buyers trying to find anything wrong with a home. If there’s a spot of mildew in the shower, they will find it. Rather than getting down on your hands and knees to scrub the floors like Cinderella, consider hiring a professional cleaning service to dust and disinfect your home. Some may also offer rug cleaning services. If not, you should also consider hiring a carpet cleaner.
2. Consider Furniture Layout
How your furniture is laid out can impact how large a space feels. And too much furniture can overcrowd a room, making it feel smaller. Situate your furniture into “conversation groups” so visitors can imagine themselves enjoying the room. If you have a particular view, make sure it is clear by positioning some seating near the window. Leave space for foot traffic so it is clear how the rooms connect and how they can be used.
3. Safely Tuck Away Personal Photos
Photos of your loved ones may create a homey feel for you, but they take potential homebuyers out of the “fantasy” of owning your home. Store your photos safely until you can put them up in your new home.
4. Declutter
The items that make us feel at home could detract others from the beauty of your home. Pare back knick-knacks, curate over-stuffed bookshelves, and pack away trinkets. Not only will this create a more open feel, but it also means there is less to clean and dust between showings.
When decluttering, do not just shove things in the closets. Move them into storage or your new home. Potential buyers will want to look into your closets, and they will not be able to see much if they are packed with all of the things you have decluttered.
5. Repaint Bright Walls
While a cobalt blue accent wall may be in line with your aesthetic, it likely will not be for everyone. Consider repainting bright walls with a neutral color. Bright accent colors are great for pillows and chairs, but if they take up a lot of space — like draperies — consider replacing the piece with a neutral-colored item.
6. Take Care of Maintenance Items
Is there a kitchen drawer that sticks, a door that creaks, or a bulb that is out? Before inviting potential buyers into your home, address small maintenance issues that could potentially be off putting.
While most buyers are not going to check on when your HVAC was last maintenanced, some will. Have someone take a look at any systems that have not received attention in a while. This will help uncover any issues so you can address them before
The Goal of Home Staging
Staging a home is about building a connection. You want potential home buyers to be able to visualize themselves in your home. Often, that means making it feel less like someone else’s home. At the end of the staging process, your home should still feel warm and inviting, but it should also appear to be a blank canvas where potential buyers can paint their vision. Striking that balance is hard, and there will be difficulties.
Often, there are too many competing questions when it comes to prepping a home for sale. Should you invest in painting? Is now the time to finally tear up the carpet? Do the kitchen cabinets need a refresh? Thankfully, your Realtor can help you through the home staging process so you can create the best first impression. To get professional advice, speak to a Tampa Realtor at the city’s #1 agency.