Buying a new home can be an exciting adventure and the opportunity to try something new. However, the first step is to sell your existing home, and this can be challenging in today’s market. You will want to give your house every chance to make a good first impression, and that includes staging.
Staging is preparing your home for potential buyers by presenting it in the best possible light. You are setting the stage, so to speak, by drawing attention to the best features of each room and giving buyers a chance to see what the home might look like if they lived there. You can go the professional route since some resourceful people have built businesses around the art of staging. However, there are some simple and inexpensive steps you can do yourself to set the stage in your home.
A good cleaning
Perhaps the most important part of preparing your house to sell is to clean. Cleaning as part of staging goes far beyond the normal Saturday morning chores. You will be scrubbing every corner, every cabinet and every closet to ensure potential buyers recognize how much care you have taken with the home. Seeing your home through the buyers’ eyes can help you notice stains, tears and dirt you may have overlooked for years.
Clutter can quickly turn off potential buyers. Too much stuff makes a room look small and cramped even if it feels cozy to you. Buyers will notice your things instead of seeing the lovely baseboards, the unique fireplace or the natural light. Remove as much as you can from the house including from the closets and cabinets. Taking personal items from the home, such as family pictures, will allow buyers to imagine themselves living there.
Setting the stage
When the hard work of cleaning and decluttering is finished, you can try some of these tricks to maximize the attractive features in your home:
- Paint the rooms with neutral colors.
- Arrange the furniture to create a natural flow and reveal hidden features.
- Use accent chairs to create interesting contrasts of color and style.
- Take advantage of natural elements, such as seashells or dried flowers, to add warmth.
- Fill the home with inviting fragrances, such as coffee, baked goods or cinnamon, not sprays.
You do not have to spend a fortune to stage your home, and can probably find some helpful ideas online. The trick is to create a welcoming space that potential buyers not only see themselves living in but also see themselves loving.