Staging: Importance and Tips

                                                         

           Staging has became almost crucial in the real estate industry, but why? Staging allows the buyers to see how they can utilize the space. Staging your home may show off its qualities that can add to the overall selling price. Did you know? By staging your home you can add on average $2 increased sale price for every $1 spent on staging.  Staging is just as much marketing, you want to show off how comfortable the space can be.
                       According to the Real Estate Staging Association, professionally staged homes spend up up to 73% less time on the market. You can stage the house yourself, or hire a professional to help stage the home, a typical staging  on average runs about $2,500. If you choose to stage the home on your own, then I have some big advice.


Tips on Staging:

                                             
             1. Depersonalize
                          Buyers want to imagine themselves living in the space. As cute as little Jack and Suzy may be it may be a distraction that detours buyers from buying the house. Look at the photo above, do you see how much of a difference depersonalizing can make? I know we all want to have up pictures from our wedding, vacations, engagement, animals, etc, but take them down!!!
                                         
            2. Maximize the Space
                           Declutter and maximize the space. Closets that looked packed make buyers think that it lacks space. Pick up all the toys in the kids bedrooms and have them organized. If you have a ton of larger furniture or a ton of items you're not sure what to do with, then either decide: Do I really need this? Can I donate this? Can I put this in a temporary storage unit? By having clutter put away helps to show the full potential of the space. Do not be afraid to hire a professional organizer or a staging company to help show you how to utilize the space.

                            

            3. Sanitize
                           Make sure there isn't a sink full of dirty dishes. Think: If I were to buy this house, is this what I want to see? If you are walking into a home for the first time you don't want to smell cigarette smoke, you don't want to be walking on sticky floors. Cleaning and sanitizing the home will  not only help you feel better, but it will also help sell the home. It is well worth the elbow grease cleaning the window sills, floors, baseboards, and ceiling fans.
                                                      
          4. Modernize
                             Buyers want to see modern day appliances and amenities. Consider simple changes like swapping out gold fixtures for nickel or chrome. Once again, you want to help buyers see the home in the modern day. I'm not saying you have to go full on HGTV, but just bringing some modern touches can go a long way.

                                             
         5. Neutralize
                             Color can make or break a buyers interest in a home. As much as you may love dark purple walls or fun neon green walls, buyers don't want to see that. Painting is one of the most inexpensive ways to change a look of a home, consider neutral colors such as grays, beige, and whites. Also, lighter colors help make a room feel bigger.


                                            
Closet Tips
             Clear closets of unnecessary clutter. Buy matching hangers, it's a cheap and inexpensive way to modernize your closet with a more visual impact and a more luxurious feel. Do NOT stage with metal from the dry cleaners Put items in boxes. Once again, I cannot reiterate it is worth every bit of time decluttering and updating! Look at the closet above, think if you were a buyer would you see the most of this space.

                                       

Bedrooms
            Bedrooms should create an atmosphere that is relaxing and comforting. Remove any televisions, power strips, office furniture, computers, etc. I know with modern day society we are all guilty of having these things in our bedroom because so many of us are technology driven, myself included, but having these things in a bedroom may take away from the central purpose of the bedroom.
             A quick and inexpensive way to improve the appeal of the bedroom is to use neutral colors. As I said before, buyers do not want to see crazy shades, as these may detour them away from the house.  Color coordinate where possible when staging, such as bedspreads, curtains, pictures, they should have a clear theme to their colors if possible.
              Adding a headboard to the bed provides a visual focal point and creates a bit of sophistication that buyers want to see. Adding a few decorative items, such as flowers, plants, or books also create focal points especially to the tops of dressers.


Dining Room
           Set the table! Use matching dishes in the dining room, add a vase of fresh flowers to the table to create a focal point. Remove any leaves from the table to maximize the most of the space. Be careful on over staging, do not bring out every piece of china you own!



Kitchen
           Kitchens are crucial when it comes to staging, kitchens and master bedrooms help sell the home! If you have a knife rack on the wall in the kitchen, make sure that they are all matching.

• Clean your refrigerator, sink, inside of oven, and declutter the kitchen cabinets and drawers. Buyers will be looking so this is important. I know we all have extra kitchen supplies, at least if we love to cook like I do. Think, how often do I use this? If you are not using it everyday or every other day, then put it in storage. 
• Modernize your date cabinets. If your cabinets are in good condition and maximize the most of the space, then they can be touched up for less than $200 on average, with a new coat of wood stain or even a good sanding a coat of paint. 
• Rugs, such as those that we put in front of our sink or put in front of our backdoor if your kitchen is connected to your backdoor like my duplex is, then put them up! By putting up your rugs, it helps to maximize the most of the space.
• Consider modernizing 

Remember: Clean, Clean, Clean!!! This is what buyers want to see!!

                                

Living Room

               Lightness is a major source of living room appeal for buyers; make sure shades are open before buyers arrive. Stage the home with light colored furniture to help make the space feel larger. 

              In large living rooms, a strategically placed plant can create a focal point that draws the eye. 

              Consider replacing the flooring if it has stains a stain remover or carpet cleaner cannot remove, replace boards if it is hardwood and they are damaged or broken. Consider also, sanding and a coat of hardwood stain, rather than pulling up the entire floor. 

Remember: I'm not trying to tell you what to do, I'm just trying to help you maximize the most of the home and I'm looking out for your best interest as a client. Once again, a staged home can sell up to 73% faster than a nonstaged home and can help you receive more money from the home. 

Disclaimer: I do not own the pictures above, they were just some images I found on Google Images.