If you have ever visited a display house, you will understand how important it is to see a potential home already set up with furniture. One that is already decorated with as many fancy things as possible. You probably walked in, and the first room you entered simply took your breath away. Now, you may not be able to do that in your home when you are ready to put it up on the market, but there are some things you can do to improve the eye appeal to the people looking through it.
There is an art on how to stage your home for a quick sale. A skill that not many people understand, which is why it will give you a considerable advantage over the other sellers in the area. People walking through all the houses will remember yours. Maybe not because of the size or the look, but by the eye appeal you are about to set up. With that in mind, let’s jump right in.
Table of Contents
READ ALSO
1.Remove The Clutter – You can find clutter in any home you visit, even the ones thoroughly cleaned daily. It is just a fact of human nature. What you need to do is to take a step back and see your home from the eyes of a stranger. Anything that appears out of place probably is, so pack it up and remove it from sight.
2.Clean Everything Inside– Even though it may not be spring, it is time to thoroughly clean. This includes every aspect of the home, not just the basic dust, sweep, and vacuum. You will want to wash down the walls, windows, ceiling fans, and furniture. Take the time to shampoo the carpets and if you have wood floors, get them cleaned and treated.
3.Clean Everything Outside – Spray the outside of the house down with some water from the hose. Clean the windows and gutters. If you have a deck or patio, remove all the clutter and spray them down. If you have a sidewalk or patio with green grass and plants growing through the cracks, spray them with a chemical that will kill them quickly, then pull them out.
4.Landscaping – Get your landscaping looking great. Mow and trim the lawn, clean out the weeds in the flower beds, fix the bark or rock you have in place, and fix any fencing. If you sell during the warmer months of the year, plant some already blooming flowers. We also recommend checking for Japanese knotweed and seeking expert advice on Japanese knotweed removal if you suspect you may have the plant on your property. It can delay sales if left untreated.
5.Paint And Repairs – You do not want to go overboard here but if you can visibly see any damage or peeling paint, get it fixed or replaced. You need to remember that the first impression that potential buyers have will be one of the most important aspects of staging your home.
6.Design And Layout – Your home design will be the second most crucial aspect of the process. You need to make the best use of your furniture and decorations to show the visitors what is possible with your home. Most people have a hard time picturing things in their minds, but if you have the place set up, it allows them to get a visual feel for the home. From there, it is easy for them to picture their belongings in place of yours.
7.Personal Items – You may like to show off pictures of your family and that awesome beer can collection you have had since college, but you need to pack it all up and store it for now. Personal items can be very distracting to a buyer because they will begin to focus on you and your life and may even ask questions about it if you are around. You want them to focus on the house that may be theirs, not the things in your home.
8.Lighting – It is a great idea to have dim lighting in your house to conserve power while you live there. For now, you will want to brighten up every room with high-power light bulbs. You are not concerned about saving energy at the moment. You want the lights to be bright enough to show every corner of the room so the families walking through can see the entire house in all its glory. Another energy saving and aesthetic improvement is to tint windows in the home.
9.Use What You Have – One of the biggest tricks you want to maximize is to use what you have. If you have a modern home with smart technology, show it off with smart gadgets and gizmos. On the other hand, avoid using modern furniture and decorating schemes if you have an old home designed out of wood. If you own old, keep it old. You do not want things to clash because the first thing a buyer will do when entering your home will be cringe. Not great for sales.
The bottom line is that you want to step out of your shoes for a few hours and look through the eyes of prospective buyers. If you see something wrong or out of place, you can bet they will also. Fix it before they have a chance to see it.
You do not want to get the home ready for staging at the last minute. Plan ahead, make the changes that you need to complete, and then post the house onto the market. Even if you do not get any bites right away, keep it the way you have it set up, keep it clean, and be ready for a viewing at all times.
