Top 10 Home Staging Tips to Sell Your House Fast
Home staging is one of the best marketing strategies for selling your home. Nothing sells faster (or for higher) than a house that looks beautiful inside and out. The first time a buyer sees your home is in pictures online, and a properly staged home photographs much better than an empty or messy house. By strategically arranging furniture, optimizing lighting, and incorporating tasteful décor, staging showcases your home's full potential, highlighting its best features and allowing potential buyers to envision themselves living there. It helps create an emotional connection, enabling buyers to see the space as more than just a property, but a place where they can build memories. A staged home appears more spacious, inviting, and well-maintained, leaving a lasting positive impression on buyers. That said, hiring a professional staging company can be really expensive. That’s why we’ve compiled these tried and true home staging techniques and strategies, so you can create a magical home that will fly off the market all by yourself!
1. Create an Inviting Entrance
First impressions are everything. Curb appeal is like the cover of your book and, despite what they say, that’s often how people judge it. Creating curb appeal can be as simple as planting a few flowers and keeping your lawn trim. If you’re looking to go the extra mile, you can rent or purchase a pressure washer to clean the facade of your home and/or your front sidewalk. Pressure washers are a very handy tool to have and there are many inexpensive options available. It’s a great spring cleaning task to keep your new home looking nice and shiny every year! Make sure your porch is nice and clean and clear of any debris, and place a welcome mat by the door for an added touch. Don’t be afraid to give your front door a makeover, too. A new paint job can be a really great way to spruce up your front entrance.
2. Use Neutral Colors
Create a blank canvas where potential buyers can envision their own ideas. While bright, bold colors can be fun, they’re not always everyone’s cup of tea. Consider repainting with more neutral tones so your potential buyers can start from scratch. Let your furniture do the talking and paint the walls with soft, muted colors to play it safe. It’s totally ok to have a colorful wall here and there, but avoid leaving whole rooms painted brightly.
3. Arranging your Furniture
You don’t necessarily need to replace your furniture to create an inviting space. Rearrange your furniture to make your room more open and alluring. If your room is too cluttered, you can put some furniture in storage. You can also use furniture covers to spruce up your old furniture! Decorative mirrors are a great way to make a space feel larger. Use shelves decoratively instead of functionally. You can also break up bookshelves with some decorative spots to make them feel less cluttered.
If your main bedroom is large enough, adding seating is a great way to make the space more cozy and inviting. Try adding a bench to the foot of your bed or a comfortable corner chair.
4. Fill the Space
Too much open space can leave a room feeling drab and boring. Fill the walls with artwork (especially local Philly-inspired art) and use potted plants to make the space more enticing. This could be especially useful if you’ve put some furniture in storage. And as a bonus, you’ll get to bring them with you to spice up your new home! Don’t forget your coffee table– make sure you add some books and maybe a candle so it doesn’t look too empty.
5. Don’t Overlook the Kitchen
The kitchen is one of the most important spaces in the house. A couple of great ways to make your kitchen pop are by painting cabinets and changing or adding drawer pulls and door handles to make them more modern. Don’t be afraid to splurge on some details and accessories for the countertop. Home Goods is a great place to find a beautiful bowl for fruit or a vase for some fresh flowers.
6. Do a Deep Clean
A clean house is crucial to making a great sale. This might be a good opportunity to spend a little money and hire someone who knows how to clean every crevice. If you have multiple open houses and showings planned, make sure to do maintenance to keep the space clean. The key room to keep as clean and sparkly as possible is the bathroom!
7. Keep Nurseries and Kids’ Rooms Gender Neutral
This may be difficult to do, but the more neutral you can make any kids’ rooms or nurseries, the easier it will be for buyers to envision their own kids there. Repaint pink or blue walls and remove as many color-coded items or artwork as possible. You should also remove any name placards and try to stay away from anything too themed.
8. Pack Away as Much Clutter as You Can
This is a great opportunity to get a jump on packing and downsizing! Start going through toys, clothes, and personal items. Get rid of what you can, and pack up what you can’t! If it’s summertime, you can pack up some of those winter clothes, and vice versa. Put any boxes in a lesser-used or secondary area like the basement, attic, or garage. This is especially helpful for closet spaces, which will look much larger if they’re not crammed.
9. Accessorize Smaller Spaces
Bathrooms, mud rooms, and laundry rooms aren’t typically the most exciting spaces, but it only takes a few small touches to change that. Make sure your laundry room or mud room looks organized and add some cute touches like baskets and bins. Use small potted succulents in these spaces to add some life, and never underestimate the power of a good candle!
10. It’s All About the Lighting
Get rid of table lamps and try some wireless wall-mounted LED lights. These will make rooms more glamorous, especially the bedroom. Use sheer curtains that go from the ceiling to the floor to make your space (and your windows) look larger and brighter. Make sure your new lights make the space nice and bright!
A well-staged home can make a powerful impact, capturing hearts and driving quick, desirable offers. If you're looking to maximize your selling potential, partnering with a professional real estate agent who understands the local market dynamics and trends can also be a valuable asset on your journey to a swift sale. The agents at CCSJ have years of experience selling homes in Philadelphia and the surrounding areas and can help you get the best offers.
