When selling a home, first impressions matter. Prospective buyers begin forming opinions on the home within minutes, if not seconds, of walking in. Properly staging a home can create a strong first impression and help buyers picture themselves in the space, resulting in reduced time on the market and boosted home values. But, simply staging a home is not enough; given today’s market, professional home staging provides sellers a necessary and competitive edge. Read on for seven home staging tips for a faster sale.
- Depersonalize and Pare Down
One of the most important steps in home staging is creating a neutral, welcoming environment where buyers can easily picture themselves living. To achieve this, start by depersonalizing the space. This means removing family photos, personal collections, and sentimental items that may make it harder for prospective buyers to imagine the home as their own. While these pieces are meaningful to you, they can unintentionally distract buyers from focusing on the actual features of the home.
Along with depersonalizing, paring down furniture and décor is just as critical. Too much furniture can make a room feel smaller, cluttered, or overwhelming. By thoughtfully reducing the number of pieces in each room, you open up the space, allowing buyers to clearly see the layout and flow. A pared-down look also highlights the home’s natural light, square footage, and architectural details, elements that buyers are most interested in.
- Lighting, Lighting, Lighting!
Correctly lighting a space can make it or break it. Properly lighting a room can emphasize the space’s warmth and even make it look bigger. Include three kinds of lighting—ambient, task, and accent— in any given space to provide a dimensional and layered look. For each type of lighting, choose bulbs carefully to ensure a uniform look, and update the lighting you are not changing out, so it matches the rest of the space. Similarly, emphasize daylight as much as possible to brighten up a space. Do not forget to turn all lighting on, and open all blinds, when showing the home or taking photos of the space.
- Think Neutral, Not Boring
Staged homes should appeal to a large number of prospective buyers. Focusing on a neutral color palette can help achieve a universally appealing look and gives buyers less to visually overcome when picturing themselves in the space. But it is important to remember that neutral does not have to mean boring. Consider using the 60-30-10 design rule: 60 percent of the room should be in a dominant (neutral!) color, 30 percent in a secondary and complimentary color, and 10 percent in an accent color. By focusing on dominant neutral colors with the occasional pop of an accent color such as a pastel hue, the home will be broadly appealing but also memorable! If adding a pop of color is not possible, consider using texture to add visual interest without creating overwhelm.
- Don’t Forget Curb Appeal and the Importance of Photos
Remember that first impressions matter when it comes to selling a home quickly! A first impression often starts before the prospective buyer even steps into the home, either through photos of the home available online or from the outside appearance of the home. Ensure the staging photographs well, and do not forget to take a second look at quick revamps or small projects for the outside space. Consider some quick home improvement projects, like renting a pressure washer to ensure the driveway, roof, and gutters are clean, or some easy additions to the front door, like including a potted plant by the front entrance.
- Add Lifestyle Touches
While depersonalizing and paring down is the first step for a successful stage, creating a space that feels welcoming and where people can picture themselves living will further bring the home to life and create a lasting impression. Think of lifestyle touches as a place to bring balance to the rest of the staged home. For example, balance the neutral color scheme with some fresh flowers, bowls of fruit, or greenery to liven up the space.
If paring down and focusing on neutrality has left the house feeling more like a hotel than a home, add in some cozy touches like throw blankets and pillows, but don’t forget to keep these tasteful and minimal. Lastly, focus on lifestyle appeal. Setting the dining table with simple, elegant place settings can help prospective buyers picture themselves enjoying a meal with family, hosting, or even just appreciating their new space. The more a prospective buyer can easily picture themself in the space, living a life that appeals to them, the more successful the stage and the quicker the house will sell!
- Pay Attention to Small Details
Prospective buyers are drawn in by the feeling a home gives them (think of the warm and dimensional lighting, thoughtful furniture choices, and overall neutral but appealing décor), but the small details can elevate a space, taking it from a well-decorated house to an expertly staged home. Focus on the small details, such as updating outdated hardware (cabinet pulls, doorknobs, and faucets), ensuring rugs are large enough for the space, and utilizing wall space strategically (especially mirrors!) to make spaces feel bigger and brighter. Paying attention to detail is exactly what prospective buyers will do, so ensuring you have considered those little features will help create a lasting, positive impression.
- Work with the Home, Not Against It
All homes have their quirks. Rather than fighting against the home’s size, layout, or quirks, focus on emphasizing the home’s features. For example, keep walkways largely clear to help create natural flows throughout the home, use minimal window treatments to make ceilings appear higher, and emphasize built-ins by clearing them of clutter and utilizing some well-placed lighting.
Successful home staging is one that helps your home sell quickly. Most importantly, make sure to keep front of mind the goals of staging: to make it easier for prospective buyers to visualize themselves in the space, ensure the space has made a strong and positive impression, and highlight the unique qualities of the home. Emphasizing the features of the home, paying attention to those details that elevate a space, adding lifestyle touches, considering often overlooked concepts such as how a home photographs or the importance of curb appeal, keeping the color palette neutral but memorable, creating dimensional and layered lighting, and depersonalizing the space are all great tips for helping to achieve a successful staging!
Boost Your Home’s Value with Professional Staging—Contact Us Today
Our team of experts is ready to go to work for you. We’ll help you find the best possible creative solution for your space, whether you need short-term staging to prepare your home for a quick sale or tailored furnishings that create a lasting impression.We proudly serve Dania Beach, FL, and beyond. Call us today at 954-681-7128 to schedule your consultation and take the first step toward a faster, more successful home sale.
