There are many things to be done to get your house ready for sale beyond simple cleaning. Home staging is about helping potential buyers envision themselves living in your home. You may think that bigger picture items like painting and repairs are all that matter, but arranging furniture, designing bedrooms, and even prepping the yard can affect how buyers perceive the space. To help buyers imagine themselves living in the place they just visited, home staging experts have tried and true strategies for creating a clean palette with customizable designs. Below, home staging experts Nikki Watson, founder of The Design Quad, and Shari Kasanova, owner of Staged Above, share seven design tips homeowners should try before putting up the “for sale” sign.
1. Remove Personal Items
It may feel strange, but experts say removing personal items from your home is the first step. Family photos, wedding pictures, and kids’ art can be tough to let go of, but doing so can be rewarding. People touring the home need to envision themselves there, with their own memories, not those of the previous owners. As Kasanova says, “People are curious and will look at who lives there instead of the home.” In her consultations with clients in the Frederick, Maryland area, she offers advice on the best way to keep people’s focus on the home, not your personal belongings. “Hide all prescriptions so people don’t see your name,” she notes. But don’t try to mask odors. “Accessories just make people wonder if you’re hiding something,” she says.
2. Refresh the Paint
Kasanova says, “Paint is money in a can.” Giving your interior walls a fresh coat of paint is an easy step homeowners can take to make their home more appealing. In most cases, professional paint jobs are significantly better than DIY paint jobs, especially regarding the detail around moldings, outlets, and corners. Buyers can be picky, so if you’re going to paint, do it right. Be aware of current trends before you invest in a new paint job. “We’re not seeing gray anymore,” Kasanova says. So if you want a neutral color, choose warmer modern hues, like soft white. If you’re pressed for time and money and can’t repaint the whole house, focus on the rooms that will benefit most from a fresh coat of paint. The living room, kitchen, and master bedroom are the most important. Or focus on rooms where the paint is old, chipped, or dirty. Even a finished basement can benefit from some care if you want to sell it as additional living space.
3. Improve Room Flow
Watson says, “My first tip is to remove any furniture in the room that obstructs the traffic flow.” “Furniture that is too large for the room or anything facing the door should be better positioned or removed from the room. We want buyers to be able to move freely in the room and see the flooring. We are selling properties, not furniture.” Watson says it’s important to give the room a purpose and leave it to the buyers to envision their own furniture in the space. Strategically placing furniture around the walls of the room will open up the living space and help them imagine how it will feel with their own furniture. A home staging expert can help you determine whether it’s best to store your furniture and rent more simplistic and elegant pieces just for the showing process before selling.
4.
Add White Towels
Distinctive items and plain colored decor are an affordable addition and really impress potential buyers. Watson says, “White towels in the bathroom are essential! Kitchens and bathrooms sell homes, and the more luxurious the bathrooms feel, the more appealing the home is to potential buyers.” Rolled towels can be placed in baskets or laid out on surfaces or even across the sink to make the bathroom look luxurious. Towels don’t need to have designer patterns; they just need to be clean and soft. This small touch gives a sense of luxury, and luxury sells.
5. Use Warm Lights
Lighting is crucial for buyers. Whether it’s natural light from the windows or lighting from bulbs, buyers will ask about how much light the home gets. Answer the question before it’s asked by focusing on lighting right away. Casanova says, “Avoid bulbs that give daylight. They emit a cool vibe, making rooms look sterile.” Instead, Casanova recommends using warm white bulbs consistently throughout the home. The color and brightness of the light should be the same throughout the home, unless you are adding specific lighting for the basement, attic, or outdoor spaces.
6. Reduce Furniture to 60% of Total Capacity
If you are living in the home while it’s on the market, it can be tricky. Storing items in closets, cabinets, and storage can be difficult, as buyers are likely to check those areas. In addition to swapping all open baskets for ones with lids and all storage boxes for those with drawers, Watson adds a golden rule. “All closets, including coat closets, should be filled 60 percent and emptied 40 percent so that buyers can see there’s room for their stuff,” she says. And since sellers living in the home may need to leave in an instant, Watson suggests having a “go bag.” This bag should include toys and snacks for on-the-go kids. She also suggests having a designated spot to store toys or clothes that might be on the floor before showings. Casanova recommends reducing children’s toys to a few boxes that you can rotate, so you don’t have too many at any one time.
7. Don’t Forget Curb Appeal
Last but not least, curb appeal. Ensuring that the exterior of the home is as attractive and inviting as the interior is crucial when trying to attract buyers. The exterior of the home is always the first impression for a potential buyer, so don’t underestimate the value of simple garden maintenance, like weeding, mowing the lawn, and washing windows. For a quick and cost-effective way to enhance the look of the home, Casanova says to refresh gardens with black mulch and paint the front door. Simple as that! If you need to update any fencing or ornamental trees, now is the time. These small details add up in the eyes of potential buyers, who are considering how proud they’ll be to host relatives and friends for their first housewarming party and lifelong gatherings.
In the end, getting a home ready for sale should be a comprehensive process that includes cleaning, staging, and minor improvements. By using these tips from home staging experts, you can make your home look more appealing to potential buyers and increase the chances of selling it quickly and at a good price.
Source: https://www.realsimple.com/how-to-prep-your-home-for-sale-7568058
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