What Steps Can You Take to Stage Your Home for a Quick Sale?

 

Gray sofa, lots of plants all over the room. Image by Unsplash

 

Getting your home ready to sell on the market is crucial for attracting buyers and securing a quick sale. Potential purchasers will make a first impression about your property within minutes of walking through the front door.

So, how do you create just the right atmosphere and impression to entice buyers and sell fast? Here are some of the key staging steps you can take to sell your home quickly.

 

What Is Home Staging?

Home staging aims to assist prospective buyers in picturing themselves living in the area. It is a deliberate method of presenting a property for sale.

Recent real estate industry data suggests that a significant majority of buyer's agents find staged homes more appealing to their clients. The living area, primary bedroom, and kitchen are typically considered the most crucial spaces to stage.

A professional in the luxury real estate market describes home staging as a subtle form of visual marketing that incorporates principles of interior design. The goal is to enhance the property's appeal without making the staging efforts overtly noticeable. This is similar to wearing an outfit that complements your appearance without drawing attention to itself.

According to a home organization expert based in Texas, effective staging accomplishes several objectives. It allows potential buyers to imagine themselves living in the home and highlights the property's merits while reducing its flaws. It also transforms unusual areas into functional spaces.

Investopedia says staging creates a specific ambiance, often called "emotional staging" by industry professionals, and significantly improves the home's appearance in photographs.

 

Step-by-Step Home Staging Tips

Enhancing External Appeal

When selling a home, curb appeal plays a crucial role from the very start. Beyond impressive listing photos, you want the exterior and entrance to enthusiastically invite potential buyers as they first approach. Take time to spruce up the outside areas.

Better Homes & Gardens says coordinated landscaping with fresh plants and a gleaming new coat of paint creates a welcoming first impression. An expert also recommends attention to details like mulching, removing cobwebs, and disguising trash containers from view. You can further spark buyers' interest by stylizing an outdoor space for relaxing with features like a fire pit or barbecue setup. This helps showcase lifestyle possibilities.

A board member from a realtor's association suggests practical methods such as pressure washing for overall cleanliness. They also recommend replacing the front door paint if needed. They also recommend ensuring that mailboxes and house numbers appear tidy.

Small upgrades everywhere outside help set the right inviting tone and lead buyers inside eager to explore further. Curb appeal strengthens home desirability from the moment a vehicle pulls into the driveway.

 

The Power of Decluttering for Home Staging

Start with moving boxes and thoroughly evaluate each room, storage space, and surface area. Gather all items you no longer use, need, or attach meaning to. Be ruthless: there's no need for it to be in your house right now if you wouldn't take it with you when you moved.

Donating, selling, or recycling unneeded possessions are great options. You can also consider having a garage sale or using buy-nothing groups online. The goal is to purge in quantity so buyers can better envision the home's potential without excess clutter interfering. Removing a substantial portion of your belongings can make all the difference when attracting purchase offers.

 

Achieving a Spa-Like Bedroom Vibe

Take cues from upscale hotels by keeping bedrooms simple and serene. As Architectural Digest recommends, adopt a "less is more" mentality. Opt for crisp white sheets, pillowcases and bath linens to achieve a spa-like look. You can add interest with a single colorful throw pillow or towel, but otherwise keep colors light and bright.

Clear bathroom counters of any personal care items that could draw the eye, such as shaving products, toothbrushes, or perfume bottles. Buyers don't want visual reminders that the space is occupied. Instead, display folded white towels or set out sealed hotel-style miniature amenities.

Remove excess décor, furnishings, and personal effects from bedrooms. Go for minimal lighting and open floor plans that feel relaxing and spacious. Hang sheer curtains or keep windows bare to allow natural light in. Regularly lint roll or vacuum bedspreads to maintain a polished, five-star appearance.

The goal is to transform lived-in rooms into relaxing guest suites that invite buyers to mentally check-in. A pristine, resort-style aesthetic can help sell the vision of moving into a meticulously-kept home.

 

Consider Expert Home Staging Services

While many homeowners can successfully stage their properties using general guidelines, there are situations where enlisting a professional home stager can be advantageous. This is particularly true if you're finding it challenging to depersonalize your space. It is also relevant if your property has remained on the market longer than anticipated.

Professional home stagers bring several benefits to the table:


  • Objective perspective: They view your property with fresh eyes and are unbiased by personal attachments.
  • Innovative solutions: Stagers may propose creative ideas you might not have considered.
  • Market knowledge: They understand current buyer preferences and staging trends.
  • Efficiency: Compared to homeowners, professionals are frequently able to stage a property more swiftly and successfully.
  • Possibility of a quicker sale: A well-staged house might go for a higher price and sell sooner.

 

Find a Cash Buyer

You may not have the time and money to make these upgrades to sell your home fast and at a good price. Fortunately, selling for cash is an ideal solution to bypass these steps.

Some businesses specialize in making quick, cash-based purchases for people who want to sell their homes quickly. Some firms can buy homes in any condition, potentially offering a streamlined selling process without the need for extensive staging or repairs. For example, it is possible to sell your house fast with Doctor Homes–no fees, no repairs–get a cash offer here.

When deciding between quick cash sales and do-it-yourself staging, consider your budget, timetable, and comfort level with staging. Sometimes, the best course of action is to combine your own endeavors with expert advice.

 

FAQs

1. How is home staging different from interior design?

A: Home staging and interior design serve different purposes. Staging aims to create a depersonalized, neutral atmosphere that appeals to a broad spectrum of potential customers. Its main goals are highlighting the property's finest qualities and enabling guests to picture themselves residing there. Contrarily, interior design is concerned with modifying a place to the occupant's unique preferences and way of life.

 

2. Does staging a home increase sales prices?

A: Staging provides an estimated 8-10% return on investment. Staged homes typically spend less time on the market (73% less) than non-staged homes. Around half of agents report home sale prices increasing 1-10% on average due to staging.

 

3. Is staging a home worthwhile?

A: Staging makes a home more desirable to potential buyers, allowing for faster sales and higher offers. Research shows 95% of staged homes sell within 11 days or less, 87% faster than non-staged equivalents. Staged properties also attract bids around 17% above non-staged competitors, frequently offsetting and exceeding staging costs.

 

While staging your home takes work, it can pay off by helping sell your home faster and for a higher price. Taking the time to declutter, de-personalize, and maximize curb appeal allows buyers to envision themselves living in your home.

A well-staged home improves your odds of a quick sale by attracting more potential buyers and making a stronger first impression. By making a few minor adjustments and arranging your home thoughtfully, you can highlight its best features. By employing this tactic, you can instantly win over potential buyers of your home.

Proper staging showcases all that your home has to offer and sets the stage for a successful open house and speedy transaction.