When you put your property on the market, presentation and preparation are key elements to help you sell faster and fetch a better price. While improving your home’s curb appeal can help, remember that your interiors are the most important selling points to which buyers pay attention. This is where staging your home comes in. It is the final stage where you dress up your property to highlight its best features and prepare it for visitors. If you have decided to take this task on yourself, it is vital to look through the buyer’s eyes and design an inviting space with timeless value. With a few inexpensive additions and a bit of elbow grease, you can make your property ready for market in no time. Here are 10 home staging tips that experts swear by to ensure your property stands out in the current competitive market. Take a look!

DIY Home Staging Tips

Declutter

One of the most cost effective and simple ways to boost any property’s value is to free up space taken up by personal items. Here’s the best way to go about it:

Pre-Pack

Pack items you don’t use frequently and that are out of season. For instance, if you are listing during the winter, put away things you only use in summer and vice versa.

Off-Site Storage

If you have bulky personal items and furniture taking up unnecessary space, consider using off-site storage. You may be able to find a provider willing to offer a discounted rate, so do thorough research before booking one.

Arrange for Open Space

Every house has objects that are barely used and that homeowners want to part with. An effective way to get rid of such items is by organizing them according to where you plan to take them. For instance, if you have a paper shredder, decide if you want to donate it to charity or take it to an electronics store for recycling. This can be useful as items can be stored with others meant for the same purpose. This ensures nothing gets left behind when the time comes to get rid of them.

Dress Up Your Windows

Decorating your windows with elegant drapes and casual curtains will create an interesting effect. Example: long heavy drapes that puddle on the floor will give the dining or living room a sophisticated and charismatic appeal. On the other hand, short curtains made with light materials can create a more casual atmosphere. If your home doesn’t have access to enough natural light, use sheer drapes to ensure that sunlight floods your living space. Furthermore, curtains and drapes can be used to visually expand the windows. For instance, if a room has narrow windows, you can place drapes on its sides and leave the centre bare, making the windows look wider than they are.

Add Mirrors

Mirrors are a chic and functional decorative element that greatly open any space they are placed in, especially small rooms. If you have rooms in your home that don’t get enough natural light, use mirrors to reflect sunlight and visually expand them. Mirrors can alternatively be used to elevate the décor by experimenting with finishes, designs and frame styles.

Depersonalize

You need to make sure you separate the concept of staging from decorating. Staging is meant to depersonalize the space, helping a buyer visualize living in your home; decorating means making a space your own.

Room Outline

Bedrooms and the living room are the most important areas as these will be the most personalized rooms in your home. Bathrooms and the kitchen are more functional and utilitarian, but make sure you remove all personal items from cabinetry and countertops.

Neutrality

When depersonalizing any space, remember that the key is to neutralize it. From storing personal items to using a neutral colour palette, your job is to make sure your house seems like a blank canvas to its potential new occupants.

Pay Attention to Smells

Odours trigger both positive and negative feelings. A house that smells great will encourage potential buyers to venture in, whereas a bad-smelling one will discourage them. So make sure you get rid of bad odours and incorporate pleasant ones to make your home seems more inviting.

Eliminate

Some odours you should be careful to eliminate are:

Pet Odours
Body Odours
Strong Cooking Smells
Smoke

Incorporate:

Once you have eliminated unpleasant odours, use the following ones to create a pleasant ambience:

Lime
Bergamot
Orange
Grapefruit
Peppermint

You may bake cookies or muffins to entice house hunters but remember to stick to simple recipes such as chocolate chip or vanilla instead of complicated ones.

Be Mindful of the Lighting

Lighting can create a warm ambience in your home and accentuate its features. Apart from maximizing natural light, you can layer in artificial lighting to create a beautiful atmosphere. However, make sure the lighting you choose fits the purpose of every room and boosts its functionality. Lighting fixtures can turn into attractive embellishments and focal points, leaving a lasting impression.

Re-Organize Bookcases

When you’re cleaning the rest of your home, don’t forget your bookcases. Start by removing about 25% of the books from shelves and then rearrange them, with some stacked vertically and some horizontally. Place trinkets between the books to act as bookends and accents. This helps brighten the area while also adding personality and character to it.

Make Necessary Repairs

If there are things that need to be repaired in your home, now is the time to do it. No potential buyer wants to invest in a house with broken light fixtures or faucets that don’t work properly. It is also a good time to complete any unfinished renovation projects.

Clean Out Drawers and Closets

Potential buyers may look inside drawers and closets to get a better understanding of the storage your home has to offer. Use small baskets to hold items that are loose in drawers and closets to make the space seem less cluttered. You may additionally take out 20-25% of your closet’s items to show potential buyers there is space between your stored items. Doing so will make the storage space appear larger than it is.

Deep Clean

No buyer wants to invest in a house with scuffed walls or a dirty bathroom. So, it is vital that you take the time to clean every room thoroughly. No matter how much time and effort you put into decorating and designing your home, potential buyers won’t notice if you have mouldy bathroom tiles or dirty rugs.

When looking to sell your property, staging makes a big difference. It will help your home appeal to top buyers (who are bound to be delighted) and sell it faster and for more money. With these expert tips, you can rest assured knowing you will capture potential buyers’ interest like a pro as soon as they walk in. Follow these ideas and you will soon see offers coming your way.

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