How to Stage Your Home for a Quick Sale Expert Advice

Selling your home can be a stressful process, but it doesn't have to be. One of the most effective ways to attract potential buyers and sell your home quickly is by staging it properly. Home staging is the process of preparing your home to make it look more appealing to homebuyers. It can involve everything from cleaning and decluttering to rearranging furniture and adding decorative touches. along with your real estate agent you may decide to hire a professional to offer home staging tips. When you hire a professional home stager before you put your house on the market they should go through every room in your home starting with the curb appeal. The home staging process could be as simple as a few throw pillows to make the room more inviting. Or maybe a fresh coat of paint or something as simple as new towels in a bathroom, just enough to make a room feel more inviting. A staged home will stand out amongst online listings where homebuyers can envision themselves in your home and makes the home more likely to get showings. You may not need to hire a professional stager with the wealth of information available online but when you put a home on the market you'll want to make your house look like a well staged home.

Declutter and Clean

The first step before you have your home for sale is to declutter and clean it thoroughly.  Living in your home is a different experience compared to putting your home on the market. A clean home is a home that's easy for a homebuyer to like and potentially make their future home. Buyers want to see a clean, spacious home, not one that is cluttered and dirty. Start by getting rid of any unnecessary items and storing away personal belongings like family photos and knick-knacks. Make sure to deep clean your home, including windows, floors, and carpets. A clean, clutter-free home is more appealing to buyers. To begin, start by removing any unnecessary items from your home, such as old magazines, clothes, or toys. This can be done by sorting items into three categories: keep, donate, or discard.

Once you have decluttered, it's time to clean. Begin by dusting and wiping down surfaces such as counters, tables, and shelves. Next, vacuum or sweep the floors, and then mop or clean any hard surfaces. Be sure to also clean windows and mirrors, and don't forget about the bathroom and kitchen areas, which may require more detailed cleaning. As you go, remember to tackle one room at a time, and along the way look out for any home improvement jobs that could make the space look and fit better.  By decluttering and cleaning your home, you will create a more welcoming and organized space that can help to attract buyers and even better...offers.

Remove Personal Items 

Removing personal items when selling a house can make a big difference in how prospective buyers perceive the property. Items, such as family photos, unique decorations, or personal collections, can make it difficult for buyers to envision themselves in the space.  When homebuyers visualize themselves living in your house you are ahead of the curve. When they are unable to imagine themselves living in a house, they may be less likely to make an offer or pay top dollar for the property.

By removing certain items, you create a blank slate that allows buyers to more easily envision themselves living in the space. This can help to increase the perceived value of the property and make it easier for buyers to connect emotionally with the space. Additionally, removing these items can help to depersonalize the home and make it easier for buyers to see the house as a property to invest in, rather than as a place filled with personal memories and attachments.Overall, removing personal items when selling a house is a simple and effective way to make your property more appealing and increase your chances of a successful sale.

Neutralize the Decor When Home Staging

Neutral decor is key when staging your house. This means using neutral colors on the walls, furniture, and decor. Neutral colors like beige, white, and gray create a clean, fresh look that appeals to everyone  Avoid using bold colors or patterns that may turn buyers off.

Neutralizing the decor when staging a home is very important, as it can help  buyers to envision themselves living in the space. When a home is decorated in a highly personalized or unique style, it can be difficult for buyers to see past the decor and imagine themselves in the space. If every room is painted a different color especially dark or bold colors some buyers simply will not want to even see inside. 

Neutralizing the decor is especially important when selling a home because it can help to increase the perceived value of the property. By creating a neutral and inviting space,  buyers are more likely to be drawn to the home and to see its full potential. This can help to generate more interest in the property and potentially lead to a faster and more successful sale.

Rearrange And Remove Furniture 

Rearranging furniture can make a big difference in how your home looks online and in person. It can create a  look that is more spacious and functional. Consider removing any large or unnecessary furniture pieces to make rooms look larger. Rearrange furniture to stage and create conversational areas that flow well from one room to the next.

Removing and rearranging furniture when selling your house is important for several reasons. First, removing excess furniture will make rooms appear more spacious and open, which can be a major selling point for potential buyers. This can be especially important if you have a small or cluttered space, as removing furniture can help to create a more inviting and comfortable environment. It's not just inside the house either don't forget your outdoor living space when staging the home. Secondly, rearranging furniture can help to showcase your home's best features and create a more natural flow through the space. By arranging furniture in a way that highlights the room's unique features, such as a fireplace or a stunning view, you can help buyers to better appreciate the property's potential.

Thirdly, rearranging furniture can help to depersonalize the space and make it easier for buyers to envision themselves living in the home. By creating a neutral and inviting environment, you can help to create a connection between potential buyers and the property, increasing the likelihood of a successful sale. Removing and rearranging furniture can also help to make your home appear more modern and up-to-date, which can be a major selling point for buyers who are looking for a move-in ready property. If you feel that the furniture you have is out of date or you don't have enough you could even rent furniture from a professional stager or check out the local thrift stores.

Add Decorative Touches

When you're staging a home adding decorative touches can make your home feel more inviting and cozy. Consider adding fresh flowers or plants to rooms, hanging mirrors to create the illusion of more space, and displaying art that compliments the decor. Just be careful not to overdo it – too many decorative touches will look cluttered. Enhancing the appeal: Decorative touches can enhance the overall appeal of the house and make it more visually attractive to potential buyers. This can help create a positive first impression and make buyers more interested in the property. 

Creating a welcoming atmosphere: Decorative touches can also help create a welcoming atmosphere in the house. This can make potential buyers feel more comfortable and at home, which can increase the likelihood that they will make an offer. Highlighting the property's best features: Decorative touches can be used to highlight the property's best features, such as architectural details, natural light, or views. This can draw attention to these features and make the property more desirable to buyers. Differentiating from the competition: Adding decorative touches can help differentiate the property from other similar properties on the market. This can make the property stand out and increase the likelihood of attracting more potential buyers.

Stage Your Home For A Quick Sale...Highlight the Best Features

Finally, with a well-staged home it's important to highlight its best features. Whether it's a beautiful fireplace, a spacious backyard, or a stunning view, make sure to draw attention to these features. This can be done through strategic furniture placement, highlighting the feature with lighting, or even adding a pop of color to draw the eye. In conclusion, staging your home is an important step in selling it quickly. By decluttering and cleaning, depersonalizing, neutralizing the decor, rearranging furniture, adding decorative touches, and highlighting the best features, you can create a space that appeals to a wide range of buyers. With these expert tips, you'll be well on your way to selling your home in no time.

This post was written by David O'Doherty, a licensed real estate agent since 2007 helping buyers and sellers in Clayton, NC and the Greater Triangle Area of North Carolina. He is committed to providing his clients with exceptional service and personalized attention throughout every step of the real estate process. If you're looking to buy or sell a property in Clayton, NC, or the surrounding areas or have any questions about the local real estate market, don't hesitate to contact David O'Doherty today. Call or Text (919) 601-2268 or email [email protected]