You’re ready to sell your home, which means it’s time to prepare it for potential buyers to tour. But where do you begin? Preparing a home for the market involves a lot more than simply tidying up, but it certainly does not require you to remodel your kitchen. Here is a list of some important factors to consider when staging your home, and several things to avoid:
The Do’s of Staging a Home
Curb Appeal
The outside of your home is the first thing that potential buyers see, which means that it’s being judged before anyone passes through the front door. Plant flowers, mow the lawn, pull weeds, paint the shutters, clean windows, and make other small repairs to make the front of your home look just as beautiful as the inside.
Clean & Declutter
Cleaning is an obvious suggestion; however, this doesn’t mean vacuuming around the furniture. Dust, vacuum every room, make beds, clean counters, take out the garbage/recycling, and most importantly make sure each room is free of superfluous items that are distracting. Mail, laundry, shoes, or anything that is typically left sitting out should be hidden.
Keep Your Home Neutral
While removing personal items may seem petty, potential buyers need to picture themselves living in your home. Put away family photos and any other aspects of your home that may stand out as an eclectic personal style choice. This includes loud paint colors, as well as larger pieces of furniture. When it comes to staging a home for sale, less is more.
The Don’ts of Staging a Home
Major Renovations
Making huge changes to your home could end up costing you more money in the end; if you decide to remodel your kitchen in a way that doesn’t appeal to your buyers, the house could take longer to sell or be sold for less than what it’s worth. If small repairs are necessary such as replacing the floors, painting, or changing outdated fixtures, those are far more important than dropping major dollars on a huge renovation.
The House Will Not Sell Itself
Don’t assume that your house doesn’t need to be spruced up as much as possible to sell. The real estate market is a game, and you should focus on making your home the most desirable one buyers will tour. In addition to cleaning and making small repairs, make your home welcoming to the potential new occupants.
Don’t Do It Alone
Ask for help! If you’re clueless on how to stage a home, you’re definitely not alone. Avoid spending top dollar on new furniture or making repairs you don’t need to make by hiring a professional to come in and find a way to use the space you have the most effectively. Hiring a professional will save you more money in the end and put your home at the top of the list for buyers.
If you would like more information on staging a home for sale or are interested in hiring a professional stager, contact your RE/MAX Results agent today!