DIY staging tips to implement before selling
Across the United States, a lack of housing inventory has created a huge seller’s market — that is, prices are on the rise and buyers may face bidding wars. That means if you are looking to sell, now is a great time! Before you can start marketing your home to potential buyers, you need to get it ready for the stage: putting it in its best light so that buyers can picture themselves living in your home. You can hire a professional stager, but there are also some DIY tips that you can move on yourself to help your home look its best for its time in the spotlight.
Declutter and clean
Professional home stagers and realtors agree that one of the first DIY staging tips to implement is to declutter it and clean your home. Your best bet may be to hire a professional cleaning service for an initial deep-clean. When it comes to clutter, while you may be used to your “stuff,” the person who will buy your home is unlikely to appreciate its homey appeal. If you aren’t ready to part with certain items, you can pack them up and store them. But the key here is to streamline your living room to essentials to make it fresh, clean, and open.
Wow them!
You want buyers to feel emotionally connected to your home, and that’s all about displaying an open and inviting space, plus adding what stagers call a “wow factor” — a single item or a few key pieces that draw people in. This means accents like art, a sculpture, or a bold rug. But not too bold, you want your home to appeal to anyone. Even placing a few pillows in varied textures on a couch can count as a “wow factor.”
Go green
You want your home to be like a breath of fresh air for potential buyers. Fresh flowers, plants, or a bowl of lemons or other fruit can be added in the kitchen or living areas. Be sure windows are clean, and uncovered, or curtains are freshly pressed to make the room bright and inviting, and also let the green from outside shine inside. And speaking of the outside, don’t forget to consider your curb appeal. Some tips for improving curb appeal before selling include adding planter boxes with bright flowers outside your front door, or adding a succulent garden to cover up worn or patchy grass spots.
The more light, the better
Along with adding green, lighting can make all the difference in helping potential buyers feel at ease in your home. Side and floor lamps can instantly add some glow, or even try changing the brightness of light bulbs for the lamps you already have. Lampshades can be cleaned or replaced with modern shapes for an updated look.
Staging doesn’t have to cost a fortune, it can even make your time in your home more pleasant while you are still living in it. If you keep it simple and focus on making your home a clean, welcoming, and bright space you’ll have buyers lined up before you know it, so you can move your family into your next dream home.