7 Tips for Staging Your Home for a Quick Sale

Selling your home will probably be one of the most stressful things you ever do. If you want to shorten the process, consider learning how to stage your home. Staging is a great way to increase your home’s overall market value and bring in offers fast.

1. Work from the outside in.­ Curb appeal should be one of your first considerations when preparing your home for the market because the exterior is the first thing a potential buyer sees. Make sure your landscaping is neat and inviting. Uproot the weeds, prune the plants, and consider giving your home and any walkways a power wash. You should also take a good look at your front door. A fresh coat of paint is a cost-effective way to liven up your entryway and entice buyers.
2. Clean. Making the kids mop the floor before a showing won’t be enough. When staging your home, it is essential to do a deep cleaning of your home from top to bottom. Rooms that buyers love, like the kitchen and bathrooms, are especially important. Now is the time to tackle mold, mildew, grease, and dust buildup. Pay special attention to grout and hard-to-reach spaces that get left out during regular cleaning. Also, be hyperaware of any odors. If you have pets or you smoke, steaming and vacuuming any carpet or upholstery is essential.
3. Neutralize your space. Staging your home is all about creating an experience for a prospective home buyer. You want buyers to envision themselves in your home. Personal items like family photos and unique décor distract and deter attention. Remove family photos, personal items, and the like. Also consider painting over bold wall colors. Warm tones like deep golds and light browns, beiges, and blues promote comfort and appeal to a wide array of buyers. Choose modest statement pieces to lead buyers’ eyes to important features and to prevent monotony.
4. Define your spaces. Decide whether your bonus room is an office or a playroom, and decorate it accordingly. Investopedia reminds us that every space in your home should serve a function. This guides a buyer away from confusion and thus an aversion to your home. Remember, you want to help them see potential assets, not problems.
5. Make upgrades. When selling your home, you’ll find that small upgrades can go a long way in guaranteeing that you get offers that meet or exceed your asking price. Now is the time to consider refinishing or upgrading flooring, replacing aging fixtures, and modernizing kitchens and bathrooms.
6. When in doubt, look about. Many of us don’t have an eye for interior design, and it can be difficult to strike the essential balance between lived-in and neutral. If you don’t want to invest in a professional staging service, do your own research at open houses. Bankrate recommends that you specifically visit model homes in new developments. These homes are staged by experts, and the visits are free.
7. Make your home an experience. Learning to stage a house is about learning to create an inviting ambience. Small efforts like adding throw pillows to beds, setting the table in the dining room, and infusing your home with an inviting scent can help buyers feel comfortable and eager to mimic the comfort of your home.

Dipping your toes into the real estate market is intimidating, but with elbow grease, research, and some strategy, you have the tools to turn your old house into somebody’s dream home.