What is Home Staging and How Can it Help Sell Your Home?
Want to sell your home for the highest price in the least amount of time? A well-staged home is the best way to make an outstanding overall impression on potential new buyers. Many home sellers already know that they need to clean and organize their home prior to a showing. But there is much more to home staging than simply straightening up the clutter.The goal of staging is to reinvent your home so that it looks and performs like a model home, making every room as comfortable, inviting and appealing as possible. Ultimately, you want to create a complete “showstopper” for potential home buyers-one that results in a quick sale for you.
Decorating is just one aspect of home staging. Adding a fresh coat of paint or a bold new living room fixture can certainly enhance the way your home looks. Staging takes it a step further by reworking the overall functionality and focus of the main rooms in your home. Typically that involves removing extra chairs or furniture that doesn’t add value to the overall aesthetics and traffic flow. Rearranging the living room furniture may help you create a better focal point for the main living space.
Be sure to clear out your closets. Closet space is a huge selling point for buyers so expect that your closets and cabinets will be opened and critiqued. Cull down what’s in these significantly to make it look roomy. You want people to envision their new clothes and accessories in the closet not think about how jammed and small it looks.
Even pet owners won’t want to see your pets in their potential new home. Give your pet the day off when potential buyers are coming to see your home. Remove all pet toys, bedding and of course, any loose fur. There really should be no signs that a pet lives here, so make sure that your home looksand smells pet-free during the selling process.
Remove the highly personal touches so prospective buyers can see themselves living here. It’s best to remove any personal items, photos and belongingswhich can distract from the new prospect’s own vision. Plus, you want to convey the feeling of spaciousness that unadorned hallway walls and clear counter spaces will provide.
Consider creating a space where your furniture “floats”.Contrary to popular thought, furniture doesn’t need to always be up against a wall. In fact, a “floating furniture” design cancreate a more intimate atmosphere that better utilizes your space by staging certain pieces to “float” in different areas of the room. It helps set the stage for every room having a purpose. Even those awkward spaces, like that area underneath the stairs, could be offset with a well-positioned console table.
All of these tips may seem like enormous projects, but it will all be worth it when you sell your home quickly. If you’d like some professional staging help, we recommend Susan’s Organizing Solutions, LLC. Susan Laydenhas been keeping Tampa Bay homes clutter-free and organized for years and is a member of the National Organization of Professional Organizers.She can be reached directly at 813.503.0967. For more information about home staging or tips on selling your home, please contact us at info@dickandkarla.com.
