The Art Of Staging Your Home For Sale

So, you’ve decided to sell your home. It is spotless and in good repair.  Now what?  Once you put your home on the market it becomes a stage.  It will be putting on a silent performance for buyers and you need to prepare it for this.   The better the performance, the quicker the home will sell.    Why go to all the trouble and expense of staging?  Experience has shown that not only will the cost of staging pay for itself with a quicker sale or a higher sales price but also your home will stand out from the competition.   After the buyer has left your home, you want them to remember it and become emotionally attached.  This emotional attachment is like a hook; it helps to catch your buyer.

 Homeowners who understand the staging concept and who have a good eye for décor may be able to stage their home without hiring a professional. Sellers can ask their real estate agent to walk through the house with them to tell them specifically what needed to be done. In most cases, though, sellers will benefit by hiring a design expert to help them create a desirable ambiance.

Here are a few staging basics:

A potential buyer’s first step into your home should be memorable.  The air should be fresh, the home well lit and the sound of soft music should greet them.

Make you home appeal to the broadest spectrum of buyers. Keep colors of walls and carpeting neutral and consistent from room to room.  The goal is to neutralize the home and to develop a visual flow.

Less is more.  Too much furniture in a room can make it appear cramped and small. Remove pieces to create an open, inviting look. Unless you're selling a very large home, the bigger a home appears, the better.

Pay attention to how your furniture is arranged. Furniture placement should encourage a good flow within and between rooms.

 Removing clutter does wonders to create an inviting décor. It's usually a good idea to box up family photos. Personal photos can distract buyers from the home buying endeavor. You want buyers to concentrate on your home, not on your stuff.

Remember, staging does not stop at the front and back doors.  Front yards and back yards need attention too.  The front of your house will be the buyer’s first impression of your home.   The back yard and patio can be considered extensions of the home.   Create an inviting atmosphere on the patio and in the back yard to draw the eye beyond the four walls of homes interior.

Staging is the catalyst that when combined with cleanliness and good repair will create a strong emotional draw from your home.   Ask your Realtor for referrals for a staging professional.