Home Staging, Will it Work for You?

Is home staging for you? If you are serious about selling your home and getting the most for it you need to seriously consider home staging. You are responsible for marketing your home and appearance is important. Staging does not require major renovations.  If you have been doing your due diligence as a homeowner, you have made good ROI updates and upgrades to keep your home well maintained. Large, last minute renovation projects will seldom bring you a higher asking price. A home that shows well will help you get the price you have set and help your home to sell more quickly.

Avoid Clutter, Make Rooms POP!

One of the easiest steps that you can take to stage your home is pre-packing and de-cluttering. A good first step should be packing away all items that personalize your home. What is meaningful to you is not meaningful to a potential buyer. If you cannot borrow a family members or friends garage to stow your boxes rent a storage unit. Keeping your garage free of clutter is part of your process.

Clean your home and keep it clean. It’s as simple as that. Don’t leave cleaning products out when showing, assemble essential products in an easy to grab tote that you use on a daily basis and just before showing. Avoid air fresheners. Potential buyers will wonder what you are hiding.

Fresh paint is always a big plus. Don’t be afraid to use some color; but don’t overdo personalization in your choice of wall colors and coverings. When you begin to bring your furniture back in choose your best pieces and don’t over-crowd or clutter the room with your favorite personal accessories and keepsakes. Brighten up rooms with a plant, new throw pillows (but not too many) and new hardware as appropriate. Good lighting always ‘sells’ a home. A room that is uncluttered and well lit will show well.

In the Dining Room don’t forget to set the table. A new table runner and your place settings will invite potential buyers to envision themselves in the Dining Room.

In the Bedrooms it is a little more difficult to avoid clutter; but it can be done. Use small storage bins for a few essentials that each family member needs and keep the bins stowed out of sight during showings. Pre-pack clothes; keep enough for a week. Your closets will look great! Keep the beds neat and simple. If you have young children pre-pack any cartoon character themed linens and use plain bed linens that coordinate with the paint or curtains will help to de-personalize the room.

Home Staging, Do I need a Pro?

If you are still not convinced you have done everything you can do, ask your Realtor for a referral to an area home stager. Home stagers can make recommendations based on your budget, work with the furniture you have or rent items to help you market your home.

For help with these and other marketing tips call Jason Gracey today at 832-541-5060 for reliable, experienced representation.