Presentation is key to selling your house fast. So as a home seller, you should look into the art of home staging. It’s a process that transforms your home into something buyers will want to live in.
In fact, the National Association of Realtors (NAR) found that 83% of homebuyers find it easier to see themselves living in a staged home. There are many tips and tricks to stage your home, but these are some of the best:
- Boost curb appeal First impressions matter, and the exterior of your house is the first thing homebuyers set their eyes on. From your driveway to your front door, the exterior of your home should serve as a preview of what’s to come. Some proven ways to boost curb appeal include:
- Trimming your lawn
- Planting colorful plants and flowers
- Repainting your front door
- Adding décor by the entrance
- Upgrading your lighting fixtures
- Get rid of clutter Nobody likes a house filled to overflowing with stuff. It makes a home look cramped and gives the impression of a smaller space. To make your house look clean and roomy, get rid of clutter. The occasional chair or table that blocks the flow of the room. A kitchen counter littered with cereal boxes and small appliances. A coffee table with one too many decorative items. So before taking pictures of your home to post online or hosting open houses, make sure to clear your tabletops, get rid of long-unused kitchenware, and empty half the contents of your drawers – buyers will open drawers so be forewarned. Pro tip: Depersonalize. The goal is to make homebuyers feel right at home, and having family photos and memorabilia around the house doesn’t help. Put away your personal items so that homebuyers will have an easier time visualizing the place as their own.
- Make repairs A leaky faucet and cracked tiles are more than enough to turn off most homebuyers. Get your home in shape by making repairs a top priority. Simple fixes you can DIY include:
- Replacing a broken ceramic tile
- Unclogging a toilet drain
- Clearing a jammed garbage disposal
- Replacing a light switch
- Fixing a leaking pipe
- Repaint your interior Homebuyers prefer homes that look new and well maintained, and a fresh coat of paint can go a long way in doing just that. But don’t just use any color when repainting your home. For the living room, go with neutrals like gray or beige, which appeal to most buyers. For bedrooms, blue and gray have a calming effect. Kitchens stand out in warm whites and pale beige because they make the space look bigger and brighter. Pro tip: Use painted sample boards in the color you like and place them directly opposite a light source. This allows you to visualize the color under brighter conditions in relation to the rest of the room. If you place your sample board on the window walls themselves, the color will appear darker. Both methods will give you a good idea of how the paint will look under different lighting conditions.
- Get rid of odors Don’t like funny smells? Nobody does. No matter how appealing your house is, odd scents can turn off buyers. Rid your home of odors by regularly throwing out the trash. Eliminate kitchen grease wherever they might accumulate. Shampoo your rug. Don’t hang wet towels in the bathroom. Keep your pets and your pet accessories outside the house. Airing out your home by opening windows is an effective way to clear away unwanted smells too. Pro tip: Having trouble getting rid of that musty smell? Use scented candles or indoor air purifiers to freshen up your home. Numerous studies have shown that pleasant smells like honey and vanilla can make retail shoppers buy more. And though this probably won’t make homebuyers want to pay more for your house, it will definitely leave a good impression.
- Other tips
- Give your home a deep clean
- Rearrange your furniture to maximize space
- Brighten up your home by letting natural light in
- Hang artwork on the walls
- Place decorative bowls and plants on countertops