If you’re struggling to sell your home via the traditional route, you’re probably aware of the power of first impressions. After all, if it takes three seconds for someone to decide whether they like you, you can bet potential buyers make decisions about your home just as fast!
Staging your home for sale can be a good way to attract more eyes, as long as you do it the right way. Unfortunately, the process can be time-consuming and costly, with professional services running you an average of $1,500.
If you want to save some time and money, knowing how to stage your home for sale on your own is crucial. Here’s what to keep in mind.
Start With a Deep Cleaning
Before we start digging too far into home staging tips, it’s important to start with a clean slate.
Deep clean your home from top to bottom, whether you do it yourself or hire a professional cleaning service. Once you’re done, you’ll also want to declutter, removing all unnecessary belongings to clear space in your home.
In addition, don’t forget to depersonalize every room. It’s much easier for potential buyers to envision themselves in your home if they aren’t looking at family photos and personal collections as they move from room to room.
If needed, consider putting your extra belongings in storage. While this may add to the cost of selling, especially if it takes a while to find the right buyer, it’s the easiest way to create the atmosphere you’ll need.
Don’t Forget Curb Appeal
While we often think of home staging as something that focuses on the inside of your property, your exterior and entryway help form a buyer’s first impression. To that end, make sure to maximize your curb appeal!
If you have the budget, hiring a professional landscaping service can get the job done fast. However, there are plenty of small things you can do yourself as well.
Wash your windows and consider renting a power-washer to clean your home’s exterior, which can freshen up its appearance. You’ll also want to mow the lawn, do some simple DIY landscaping, and even add a few flower boxes to bring in some color.
Freshen Up the Air
Every property comes with its own odd smells, but you’ll want to neutralize your home’s odors before buyers show up. Take out the trash, change the filters in your air conditioner, and address any mold and mildew issues. If you smoke, you should also avoid smoking in your home for the time being.
Even if you think your home is odor-free, don’t forget that our noses often grow used to smells. Rope a friend or neighbor into performing a quick smell test to check common culprits like the bathroom and the kitchen sink.
To freshen up, clean your home well, and don’t forget to grind a lemon in the garbage disposal. You might also want to add some plants around your home: these clean the air and add a beautiful natural look to every room.
Give Each Room a Purpose
From the master bedroom to tricky smaller rooms, help the buyer see that each space in your home can be given a clear purpose. Transform every area with a single clear idea in mind, whether you turn a storage room into an office or a finished basement into a game room. This may require you to rent furniture, especially if you don’t have pieces that represent the space you have in mind.
Go Neutral
If you have any outdated wallpaper or bold paint choices, now is the time to neutralize them. This is also true if your walls have begun to look a bit shabby.
Though it takes time and money, a quick paint job can help buyers imagine your rooms with their own unique style and furniture. Timeless beiges, whites, and grays are all good neutral wall paint colors for your home.
Let In the Light
Adding natural light is a crucial way of creating an inviting, airy feel within your home. If the season allows it, open all your windows before a showing, and pull back the curtains, blinds, or window treatments.
In darker spaces, bring in light fixtures to brighten up the area as much as possible. If you have older fixtures, consider repairing or updating them to cast more light into the room.
Add Last-Minute Touches
Right before you show your home, add some last-minute touches to make your property even more appealing.
Set out a vase of flowers, light some candles, and add fresh towels to the bathrooms. You can also tempt buyers with appealing smells by baking fresh cookies in the oven, brewing some coffee, or burning cinnamon sticks.
Alternatives to Knowing How to Stage Your Home for Sale
If you don’t think you have the time or money to follow the tips above, you might worry that it will take months to get the property off your hands. However, home staging isn’t the only way to sell fast! If you want to get a house off your hands as soon as possible, a cash home buyer may be a better alternative.
Because cash buyers are investors who intend to fix up properties themselves, they won’t need the tricks you’d normally pull with a run-of-the-mill buyer. Instead, they’ll inspect your home in as-is condition, understanding its potential without extra effort on your end.
Contact Our Team for a Faster Sale
Knowing how to stage your home for sale is crucial if you’re selling with a realtor, and the home staging guide above can help you attract buyers fast.
However, if the thought of putting extra time and money into your home doesn’t sound appealing, we’re here to help! We believe in creating win-win situations that help you get rid of your property fast at a fair price. If you have questions about how we work, contact us today!
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