When it comes to selling a home, there are two rules: price it well and make it look amazing. Today’s buyers are flooded with options. To make sure you present the most appealing option to potential buyers, you will have to embrace the importance of home staging.
Staging and professional photos can lead to less time on the market for a higher sales price. According to the National Association of Realtors’ 2019 Profile of Home Staging report, 83% of buyers’ agents say that staging a home decreases the time it spends on the market, and 44% say that it increases the home’s value.
As we move through the spring selling season, here are eight home staging tips that can quickly enhance the beauty of a listing and move it off the market fast and at top dollar.
Enhance curb appeal
If they are not liking what they see from their car, buyers are more likely to be put off by a home before even setting foot in it. Create a great first impression by power-washing siding, walkways, and windows, and repainting or staining the deck. A fresh coat of paint on your front door, a welcoming doormat, and a potted plant on the porch help create an inviting feeling.
De-clutter
Buyers continue to be drawn to airy aesthetics, so sellers should take a moment to de-clutter the home from any unnecessary furniture. Clear floors and surfaces to create the feeling of more space and tidy up closets leaving 20% to 30% of open room and adequate storage. Storage is a top priority for buyers, and allowing them to visualize their options within the space will get a strong thumbs up.
Depersonalize
This seems to be a tough pill to swallow for many sellers. After all, they've spent years creating an environment that is perfect for them, but it doesn't mean it's perfect for everyone else. Buyers must be able to visualized themselves in the space and that's hard to do when the space is filled with family photographs, collectibles, toys, countertop appliances and so on. The home itself should infuse a feeling of novelty and possibility into the buyer. They should be able to imagine their future in the space, without getting pulled into someone else’s present.