Selling your home can be an exciting yet daunting endeavour, and how you present your property to potential buyers can make all the difference. Home staging is a powerful tool in the real estate world, transforming houses into irresistible homes and helping them sell faster and at a higher price. However, like any art form, staging requires finesse and attention to detail. Whether you’re a homeowner preparing to put your property on the market or a real estate professional seeking to perfect your staging skills, this insightful guide will help you navigate the tricky terrain of home staging by highlighting the blunders to steer clear of.
How do I prepare for staging?
As we mentioned, home staging is a crucial step in making your property more attractive to potential buyers. Here’s our comprehensive step-by-step guide on how to prepare for home staging:
- Declutter and Depersonalize. Remove personal items such as family photos and personal memorabilia and declutter every room by getting rid of unnecessary items, including excess furniture, knick-knacks, and old magazines. You may want to consider renting a storage unit if you need to temporarily store items to create a more spacious and organized look.
- Clean Thoroughly. Give your home a deep clean, either yourself or with a professional company, including floors, windows, walls, and fixtures. Make sure you pay special attention to kitchens and bathrooms, as these areas are essential to buyers.
- Make Necessary Repairs. Fix any visible issues like leaky faucets, peeling paint, or loose cabinet handles. Also, address minor cosmetic issues, such as scuffed walls or damaged tiles.
- Try to Neutralize Color Schemes. Consider repainting rooms with neutral, light colours that appeal to a broad range of buyers. Try to avoid bold or personalized colours that might not resonate with everyone.
- Enhance Curb Appeal. Remember, first impressions count. Improve your home’s exterior by trimming landscaping, planting flowers, and ensuring a clean, well-maintained entrance!
Once your home is ready for staging, arrange your furniture to highlight each room’s purpose and maximize space. Help create a natural flow by removing unnecessary obstacles and ensuring easy movement between rooms. Make sure to let in as much natural light as possible and add ambient lighting with lamps or fixtures where necessary.
Should you hang pictures when staging a house?
When staging a house, it’s generally a good idea to hang pictures or artwork that enhance the overall ambiance and aesthetic of the space. However, it’s crucial to choose pieces carefully.
The style and aesthetic of the pictures or artwork you choose should align with the overall staging theme. For example, if you’re going for a contemporary look, select modern, abstract art. In a traditional setting, classic paintings or framed prints might be more suitable. You will also want to keep the size and placement of pictures in mind. Oversized or too many pieces can overwhelm a space. Art should complement the room, not dominate it.
Furthermore, you’ll want to remove any personal photos or any personal or controversial art or decor that might alienate potential buyers or distract them from the home’s features. This better enables potential buyers to envision themselves in the space. Also, it’s best to maintain a consistent style and colour scheme throughout the house. This creates a cohesive and inviting atmosphere for potential buyers.
Finally, if you’re unsure about whether to hang pictures or what kind of art to use, don’t hesitate to reach out to us at StyleBite Staging. Our team will provide you with expert guidance tailored to your specific property and target market.
What are some common staging mistakes?
Staging a home is an artful process. However, it’s not without its pitfalls. To maximize the impact of your staging efforts, it’s essential to steer clear of common mistakes that can detract from your home’s marketability. As such, the team at StyleBite Staging has put together the following list of staging mistakes to help you ensure you don’t make these mistakes yourself!
- Don’t overstage or overcrowd rooms with too much furniture or decor.
- Avoid leaving unfinished projects or visible maintenance issues.
- Steer clear of strong odours, including cooking smells or pet odours; use air fresheners or diffusers if necessary.
- Don’t forget about the lighting. Buyers are particularly drawn to properties with ample lighting that creates a sense of openness and brightness.
- Don’t neglect the outdoors; ensure the backyard and front yard are as inviting as the interior.
- Avoid the temptation to skip professional photography; high-quality images are vital for online listings.
- Avoid overly trendy or eccentric decor that may not appeal to a wide audience.
- Don’t forget the closets. Make sure they’re cleaned, decluttered and organized.
Should I set a table for staging?
Setting the table when home staging can be a thoughtful and effective touch, but it should be done with care and consideration. While a properly set table can help potential buyers envision their own dinner parties, it can also distract them by focusing too much on your belongings rather than the house. Ultimately, whether to set the table when staging a home largely depends on the homeowner or home stager’s discretion. Nevertheless, here at StyleBite Staging, we recommend refraining from setting the table ensure the potential buyer is focusing on what matters most: the home.
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