Introduction: What is Home Staging?

Home staging is the art of styling and arranging the furnishings, décor and overall appearance of a property to enhance its appeal to potential buyers or renters. This involves playing up the best features of the property, while minimizing its limitations.

Staging the home can help to establish a connection with the potential buyers and can help them envision themselves living there. It can also help to create a positive first impression, which can be instrumental in closing a deal.

Benefits of Home Staging

The benefits of home staging are numerous. First and foremost, it can help to sell the property faster and for more money. When buyers see the home staged properly, it becomes easier for them to picture themselves living in the space, which can lead to a faster closing. Additionally, staged homes have been known to sell for a higher price than non-staged homes.

Home staging can also help to distinguish the property from others in the market. When there are multiple properties available, a beautifully staged home can help it stand out among the rest. Finally, staging the home can help to decrease the time that it spends on the market and reduce the number of showings that sellers need to go through.

Dos and Don’ts: What to Do

Clearing Clutter

The simplest and most cost-effective way to stage a home is to declutter it. Clean, uncluttered spaces appeal to the majority of potential buyers, as they can more easily imagine their own belongings in the space. Start by removing excessive furniture, knick-knacks and personal items like photographs. Clear countertops, shelves and other surfaces (including floors and walls) of extra items. The goal is to present a space that is serene and calming, as well as one that highlights your home's best features.

Neutral Tone

Neutral colors are the perfect solution for creating a calm and inviting space. Consider painting walls a lighter shade, and refrain from using strong or bold colors to avoid potential buyers from being distracted from the property’s best features, and to allow them to imagine their own style in the space. A fresh coat of paint can make the space feel newer and more spacious regardless of the room size.

Staging Furniture

Once the clutter is cleared and the walls are painted, the next step is to arrange furniture in a way that creates a comfortable and welcoming space that highlights the best features of the property. Be sure to use appropriately scaled furniture, to open up traffic flow and set spaces that buyers can understand such as formal or informal living rooms. This can help to show the potential buyers how to best utilize the space, and gives a perspective on how to achieve their dream home.

Dos and Don’ts: What Not to Do

Unnecessary Renovations

A common mistake made when staging a property is to invest in unnecessary renovations or major upgrades. When it comes to renovating or upgrading a home, it's important to focus on making updates that will provide a solid return on investment. Working with a professional that can advise you on which projects are worth making based on the market, is the most beneficial advice that you can invest in your future.

Personal Touches

While personal touches are allowed, it is essential to remove excessive personal items like family photographs, trophies, and collections. Remember that your goal is to create a space that is appealing and attractive to the buyer. When potential buyers see personal touches it becomes more difficult for them to envision themselves living in the home.

Using The Space Well

Utilizing Limitations

Proper use of space is essential to staging your home effectively. As a home seller, you should be mindful of how to best utilize every space in your home. In tight spaces, make use of multifunctional furniture to create a seamless space that allows for easy navigation around the room while promoting multiple uses. If you’re utilizing small spaces by adding seating areas, such as a window bench, ensure the height of the furniture showcases the space best and allows for easy movement.

Avoid Overcrowding

Overcrowding is a common mistake made by home sellers during the staging process. Overcrowding a space can make the room look cluttered and much less spacious, leading to confusion and difficulty focusing on the features that make the home worth the investment. When staging, it's best to leave some empty space in each room to help balance the design and increase the feeling of openness, ultimately allowing the buyer to imagine their personal belongings in the space.

Brightening Your Home

When preparing your home to showcase, brightening is essential. Buyers are often drawn to bright and airy spaces, so ensuring your home is light is a crucial element to creating a welcoming environment. Use floor and table lamps to add light, in addition to natural light sources that can be further emphasized with sheer curtains and strategic mirror placement. Layers of lighting can give your home a special touch and provide a sense of warmth and comfort buyers love.

Keeping it Clean

Before a showing, ensure that your home is sparkling clean with an emphasis on the kitchen, bathrooms, and floors. A clean space can make a world of difference and can create an air of freshness that makes buyers feel more comfortable, resulting in a better overall viewing experience.

How to Showcase Special Features

Lighting

Controlling lighting is crucial when showcasing your homes' features as it can highlight significance with the proper use of light and shadow. For example, on large walls or art pieces, place a floor lamp, and for smaller features like a warm fireplace or mood lighting, consider using a table lamp or a chandelier for an elegant final touch.

Highlighting Built-Ins

Built-ins are a fantastic selling point in potential homes. Remove the clutter and any personal touches to keep buyers focus on the built-ins, arranging shelf items with intention gives potential buyers the ability to picture their own belongings being showcased in the space. Don't have them as a storage extension for personal items.

Emphasize Fireplaces

Fireplaces create an ambiance that can give the feeling of comfort and luxury. When staging, emphasize the fireplace with decor while keeping the rest of the space minimalistic so that the fireplace can be showcased properly. Create a seating arrangement that will allow potential buyers to appreciate the warmth and coziness the fireplace brings while having optimal viewing space.

Fixtures

Incorporating small touches like wall art and interior lines complement special features, like marble countertops, beautiful flooring or a custom backsplash, so buyers can quickly pinpoint and appreciate the added touches. While adding small pieces like a unique showerhead or window treatments can give a subtle touch of luxury without spending significant renovation costs.

Advice From A Professional

Hiring a Stager

If you feel over your head with the staging process, consider working with a professional stager. Professional stagers can advise on what needs to very work with your space to create an optimal showcasing environment while remaining in your budget. Stagers will also have more approachable and objective opinions that homeowners tend not to have.

How Professional Staging Can Help

Professional home staging typically has a significant return on investment and can help sell homes faster and for more money. Real estate professionals rely on professional stagers to ensure homes on the market look their best and are up to the latest design and style trends. Staging can elevate the feel of a home and allows potential buyers to feel confident and drawn to the space, ultimately leading to the ideal sale.

Summary

Home staging is an effective way to showcase the best features of your home. Through careful planning, pro cleaning, decluttering, and employing a professional stager, you can transform your property into a welcoming space that draws potential buyers' attention. Focus on highlighting your home's best features while avoiding overcrowding and removing personal elements. With the proper professional help, your home can stand out in the market, sell quickly for a higher price point, and be remembered as the perfect dream home by your ideal buyers.