According to the National Association of Realtors, upwards of 82% of all real estate agents in the U.S. said that home staging helped buyers visualize living in their new property. More than 25% of buyers agreed that a beautifully staged home made them willing to overlook faults in the property. Those data points tell us a lot about the importance of home staging in today’s real estate market.
Even if you’re located in a popular seller’s market and buyer demand for luxury homes is through the roof, it’s important to put as much effort into staging your home as possible. But that doesn’t mean you need to overwork yourself. Below, we’ve outlined seven of the key DIY home staging tips to follow to make your home ready to show.
Judging a book by its cover
As much as we, Realtors and sellers alike, would like our potential buyers not to ‘judge a book by its cover’ when viewing properties, the fact remains that they will. Or at least, most will. The interior and exterior of the house need to make a striking impression on buyers right away. After all, you only get one chance to leave a first impression.
Make sure that the first things your visitors see are spick and span. The sidewalks, driveway, and entryway should all be cleaned on the day of your open house. Consider applying a fresh coat of paint to your fence and front door, and make sure the front lawn is mown and the greenery is trimmed to perfection.
Spruce spaces with purpose
When your visitors enter the home, it’s important that they get a feel for the function of each room individually. After that, they can start to imagine what the flow is like between rooms. To accomplish this, try to parcel out your time effectively and spend the most time decorating rooms that buyers will flock to first.
The kitchen, living room, and main bedroom are likely to draw their attention above all, so head there first. Try to emphasize cleanliness and efficiency in the kitchen by cleaning off countertops to show how much space there is to work in the room. The living room should allow buyers to imagine socializing there, so be sure the sitting area is properly spaced, windows open, and tabletops cleared. The bedroom needs to emphasize calm and relaxation.
Do repairs and touch-ups where necessary
It’s more than likely that you’ll already have completed the major repairs to the home weeks before you start showing the house and staging it. Nevertheless, don’t pass up the opportunity to make some last-minute repairs and touch-ups on the days before the showing if the need arises.
No need to get into a panic if you catch sight of chipped paint, a rusty door handle, or a squeaky cabinet. Take your time and do a slow walk-through of the house (preferably with friends or family present who’ll have fresh eyes to catch anything that needs attention). If you notice a lightbulb needs changing or a window has streaks, take the time to make the fix.
De-personalize your space
‘De-personalizing’ a home is much more simple than the term may seem to be. All it really means is removing as much evidence of the previous homeowner living in the house as possible. This is one of the least-known DIY home staging tips, but it’s important nevertheless.
When prospective buyers enter a property for sale, they generally don’t want to be reminded of the life of the previous tenant. In fact, they’d rather spend the time touring the house imagining what life will be like for them and their family. So, to accomplish this, get rid of all family photos, personal artworks, or mementos that have been decorating your home for years. Swap them out with a modern accent piece, art books, house plants, or scented candles.
Get new furniture or home accessories
It’s usually the case that the buyer of your house won’t inherit the furniture on view during the home tour. Nevertheless, you want to make a good impression on visitors. An old-fashioned or slightly damaged living room sofa isn’t going to do you any favors unless it’s part of the appeal of the luxury home or it has a story to tell. The same goes for worn carpets, kitchen accessories, and light fixtures. If you’re in doubt about whether or not a piece of furniture is going to attract undue attention from buyers, it’s probably time to swap it out for something new.
Decrease the clutter
If your home is full to the brim with curios, books, accessories, and furniture, potential buyers may have trouble visualizing how they would fill the house with their own goods, valuables, and family mementos. Not to mention they could struggle to navigate or get around your rooms.
Of course, you don’t want to completely vacate the high-traffic areas of the house, leaving them cold and clinical. You should strike a happy medium instead, removing all the clutter that catches the eye, like paper, clothing, and art objects. Leave the large accent pieces like decorative mirrors, floral arrangements, and an accent piece or two.
Clean, clean, clean!
Finally, take the time on the day before the showing to do a final cleaning. You won’t do any harm wiping down countertops, windows, and chairs one last time. Try to target areas of the house that can collect dust, like light fixtures, the corners of wood flooring, and raised architectural features like crown molding or textured wainscotting. You may not get many buyers who praise the cleanliness of the house, but you’re certain to see the fruits of your labor when the offers start rolling in.
Reach out to a local real estate agent today!
There you have it: an insider’s guide to DIY home staging tips that will make you an expert in no time. If you have any questions or comments to share about staging your home, or you’d like to learn more about real estate in Knoxville and the surrounding area, don’t hesitate to get in touch today! Contact Alexis Guindi for more information.
