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Transformative Staging Tips that Speed Up Home Sales

By
Real Estate Agent with Brown Realty, 210-789-4216, TREC #0492321

When you're looking to sell your home quickly, implementing effective staging tips that speed up home sales is key. It's about more than just making your space look attractive. It’s about strategically presenting your home to resonate with potential buyers. According to real estate statistics and the newest information, well-staged homes can sell up to 73% faster than non-staged ones. With the right approach, you can make a lasting impression that turns prospects into buyers.

Make An Effort To Understand Your Target Market

Before you start moving furniture around, knowing who is most likely to buy your home is crucial. This knowledge allows you to tailor your staging to highlight features most appealing to your audience. For instance, if your neighborhood attracts young families, consider setting up a bedroom as a children's room. Similarly, if you’re in a city area popular among young professionals, focus on creating a sleek, functional home office space.

First, you need to understand what potential buyers want

Declutter and Depersonalize

Now, let’s talk about making sure your home is buyer-ready. A cluttered home can make spaces feel smaller and less appealing. Start by removing personal items like family photos and eclectic keepsakes. This step isn’t just tidying up. It’s creating a blank canvas that buyers can imagine themselves in. Remember, the goal is to showcase the space, not your style or life.

Optimize Curb Appeal

Next, focus on the first thing buyers see: the exterior of your home. Simple changes like a fresh coat of paint on the front door, well-trimmed bushes, and a clean walkway can make a significant difference. Seasonal touches like hanging flower baskets in spring or a wreath in winter can also be inviting. These enhancements ensure your home makes a great first impression before a buyer even steps inside.

Modernize with Minimal Investment

Small updates have a big impact. Updating fixtures, hardware, and lighting can modernize a space without a price tag. A fresh coat of neutral paint can revitalize a room and make it more appealing to a broad audience. Focus on cost-effective changes that offer a high return on investment. The average return for their investment for people staging a home is 342%! Simple upgrades like these add to the visual appeal and can significantly increase perceived home value.

Highlight the Home's Best Features

To enhance the appeal of your home, strategically showcase its strongest points. Here's how:

● Natural Light: If your home enjoys plenty of natural light, arrange your showings during the day when sunlight is at its peak and open all curtains or blinds.

● Architectural Details: Highlight unique features like crown moldings, hardwood floors, or an original fireplace with minimal decor that complements but doesn't overwhelm.

The point of staging tips is that they speed up home sales by highlighting the best existing features

Use Technology to Your Advantage

In today’s market, virtual tools can greatly enhance your staging efforts. Use high-quality, professional photos in your listings to create a powerful first impression online. For an even greater impact, consider virtual staging to show the potential of unfurnished or outdated spaces. Many sellers use this tool to attract people from other states. Imagine a seller from Texas selling a home that is a dream come true for a couple from Florida. With around 1,350 miles separating them, they would have to make a long-distance trip only to see the house. And seeing as between 2020 and 2021, moving from Florida to Texas was popular, and around 20,000 people made the transition - these situations happen very often. 

 

If this is your case, too, once you find your dream home in Texas, the next step is to make the transition from Florida as smooth as possible. Hiring professional movers can be incredibly beneficial if you want a stress-free transfer to Texas. Movers can handle all the logistics, packing, and transportation, ensuring a smooth and efficient relocation process. By entrusting your move to experienced professionals, you can focus on settling into your new Texas home and starting the next exciting chapter of your life.

Create an Emotional Connection

Staging isn’t just about aesthetics; it’s all about feeling. You want potential buyers to walk in and see themselves living there. Achieve this by:

● Scent: Infuse the home with subtle, pleasant scents like vanilla or citrus to welcome visitors.

● Music: Playing soft background music during showings can enhance the ambiance.

● Decor: Use soft throw pillows, artwork, and plants to create a cozy, inviting environment.

Each element works together to build an emotional bond with the home, making it not just a building but a place they can imagine.

Sustainability in Staging

Now, more than ever, buyers are interested in homes that are beautiful and environmentally conscious - making this one of the best staging tips that speed up home sales. Here are some simple ways to stage your home with sustainability in mind:

● Energy-efficient Features: Highlight any energy-efficient appliances or solar panels.

● Sustainable Materials: Use decor made from recycled or sustainable materials.

● Green Plants: Decorate with indoor plants to improve air quality and add a touch of nature.

What Should The Seller Do While Their Home Is Staged for Sale?

While your home is being staged for sale, it's crucial to consider your living arrangements and daily routines. One practical option is to temporarily relocate to a nearby rental or a friend's house, ensuring that your home remains pristine and ready for showings at any moment. That can be particularly effective if you have pets or small children that might disrupt the staging. Alternatively, if temporarily moving out isn't feasible, maintain a schedule where the house is available during peak viewing times, such as weekends or evenings.

Additionally, using storage units for personal belongings can declutter your space and keep your items safe. For those undergoing extensive staging, which might resemble a renovation project, finding the ideal living arrangement during home renovation is key. That might mean renting a furnished apartment or exploring flexible short-term lease options. Whatever you choose, keeping your lifestyle minimally disrupted while ensuring your home remains in showcase condition will help speed up the sale.

The seller needs to disrupt the staged home as little as possible

Use These Staging Tips That Speed Up Home Sales To Your Advantage

Employing strategic staging tips that speed up home sales can drastically reduce your home's time on the market. Remember, staging is not just about decorating; it’s about thoughtfully preparing your home to meet the needs and desires of prospective buyers and making your home a more secure and safe investment for the future.

Images via Shutterstock and Unsplash.com

Comments(16)

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Charles Stallions
Charles Stallions Real Estate Services - Pensacola, FL
850-476-4494 - Pensacola, Pace or Gulf Breeze, Fl.

That's so true, Jerry. It has to be and feel like home. We do not have many, if any, stagers here, but I try to educate the seller on the gist of it. 

Jul 01, 2024 02:05 PM
Jerry Newman

Staged homes tend to sell better those that are not. Biggest reason new home builders like to have model homes available to show potential buyers.

Jul 03, 2024 09:09 AM
Don Baker
Lane Realty - Eatonton, GA
Lake Sinclair Specialist

I would add, have a home inspection and make the repairs and then disclose.

Jul 01, 2024 02:12 PM
Jerry Newman

Yes, a home inspection by the sellers would be a great benefit to know the condition of the home. 

Jul 03, 2024 09:10 AM
Mike McCann Broker - Mach1 Realty
Mike McCann - Broker, Mach1 Realty Broker-Auctioneer Serving Nebraska - Kearney, NE
ALL Types of Property For Sale 308-627-3700

Hi Jerry Newman   I have literally had sellers walk through my home and I have pointed out to them why it is not ready to market, and what I would have to do if I was going to sell it.  And why their home is not ready,  I want them to see they are not alone.

We all live in our homes one way but we sell them a different way.  No one wants to see our clutter and small repair needs that we have.  They want it cleaned up, freshened up, and the oney-do list completed.

Thank you for sharing and if any of your clients are reading my comment...follow Jerry's advice...it really does help!

Jul 01, 2024 02:25 PM
Jerry Newman

Yes, @Mike McCann Nebraska Land Broker Clutter and needed, noticeable repairs can be a big turn off for selling a home. Homes should be a clean and nice looking like new construction model homes. 

Jul 03, 2024 09:14 AM
Kathy Streib
Cypress, TX
Retired Home Stager/Redesign

Hi Jerry- excellent tips!  You need to know the demographics of who will be buying your home. Tailor your staging towards them. 

Jul 01, 2024 02:44 PM
Jerry Newman

Hi Kathy, Knowing the demographics of who is buying would certainly be helpful to home sellers, since very age group has different tastes. 

Jul 03, 2024 09:15 AM
Joan Cox
House to Home, Inc. - Denver Real Estate - 720-231-6373 - Denver, CO
Denver Real Estate - Selling One Home at a Time

Jerry, great tips today for homeowners that are trying to decide whether they need to stage.

Jul 01, 2024 06:59 PM
Jerry Newman

Yes, Joan. I always believed that staging goes a long way in helping to sell a property. 

Jul 03, 2024 09:16 AM
John Pusa
Glendale, CA

Hello Jerry Newman these are very good list of transformative staging tips that speed up home sales.

Jul 01, 2024 08:24 PM
Jerry Newman

Thanks, John. I just wanted to give my audience some better ideas for staging their homes. 

Jul 03, 2024 09:17 AM
Richard Weeks
Dallas, TX
REALTOR®, Broker
Great information, thanks for sharing.  I hope you have a great day.
Jul 02, 2024 02:43 AM
Jerry Newman

Thanks, Richard. Stay out of this Texas heat, as it almost hit 100 degrees yesterday in South Texas

Jul 03, 2024 09:20 AM
Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
Pasadena And Southern California 818.516.4393

Hello Jerry - first impressions matter.  As Mike McCann Nebraska Land Broker commented, how people live in their homes is quite different than how a property on the market for sale should be presented.  It becomes a product.  

Jul 02, 2024 02:57 AM
Jerry Newman

Yes, Michael Jacobs. Once your home goes on the market, it needs to give some great first impressions, as many are now looking online at those images, and staging shows better than empty rooms.

Jul 03, 2024 09:22 AM
Nina Hollander, Broker
Coldwell Banker Realty - Charlotte, NC
Your Greater Charlotte Real Estate Broker

Great post and tips, Jerry. The more things change, the more they stay the same, don't you think? These tips would have been just as valuable 5, 10 years ago.

Jul 02, 2024 03:17 AM
Jerry Newman

So True, Nina Hollander, Broker These tips are certainly ageless, and very beneficial to sellers. I trust many will take them into consideration. 

Jul 03, 2024 09:23 AM
Brian England
Ambrose Realty Management LLC - Gilbert, AZ
MBA, GRI, REALTOR® Real Estate in East Valley AZ

These are such great tips!  Staging will definitely help a home sell quicker, especially if it is priced right and shows well.

Jul 02, 2024 05:17 AM
Jerry Newman

Yes, Brian England Staging and Pricing Right will certainly help any home sell faster. Most buyers are not looking for a fixer upper, and first impressions go a long way too. 

Jul 03, 2024 09:25 AM
Roy Kelley
Retired - Gaithersburg, MD

This is excellent information to share with home sellers.

Have a productive summer.

Jul 02, 2024 08:39 AM
Jerry Newman
Brown Realty, 210-789-4216, - San Antonio, TX
Texas REALTOR, San Antonio Military Relocation

Thanks, Roy Kelley. I can't believe that summer is halfway gone as we are in July now. It has proven to be the most productive time for real estate sales. 

Jul 03, 2024 09:27 AM
Charles Stallions
Charles Stallions Real Estate Services - Pensacola, FL
850-476-4494 - Pensacola, Pace or Gulf Breeze, Fl.

Staging has not taken off here because we are a lower-sales market. The one stager here seems busy but not sure there would be room for another. 

Jul 07, 2024 02:45 PM
Jerry Newman
Brown Realty, 210-789-4216, - San Antonio, TX
Texas REALTOR, San Antonio Military Relocation

Hello, Charles Stallions. Having a lower sales market is a good reason for not seeing much staging going on. Perhaps, that one stager is getting all the business. Now, there are plenty of online stagging Apps too. 

Jul 08, 2024 10:13 AM
Debbie Laity
CinaJones Real Estate - Cedaredge, CO
Your Real Estate Resource for Delta County

I agree with you that staged homes sell faster. I see it in my market. You have a lot of great suggestions in this post. 

Aug 05, 2024 01:28 PM
Jerry Newman
Brown Realty, 210-789-4216, - San Antonio, TX
Texas REALTOR, San Antonio Military Relocation

Thanks, Debbie Laity. I have even used Virtual Staging to fill an empty room and it does wonders for those unfurnished listings. 

Aug 05, 2024 06:38 PM