What Is Staging?
“Staging” means presenting your home in its best and most appealing light to the majority of home-buyers.
It should not be hard nor costly. At least not theoretically speaking. Many homeowners find it difficult to do, however, so also trust you are not alone if you are feeling like staging is by any means out of your practical reach at this point. It is often hard to see something objectively when we feel so much love towards it; especially if the place has long been our memory-filled home.
Visiting Decorated Home Models – The Ultimate Test
Wondering if something is acceptable “staging”?
Can you leave your high-end, designer toaster out on your kitchen counter?
Nope! You won’t find a single toaster in the kitchens of model homes.
Can you display an artsy topiary tree on your kitchen counter?
Yes! Model homes do that.
An easy way to see live examples of effectively “staged” homes is to visit decorated models. Decorating a model is expensive, but builders are willing to invest the cost, because they understand just how well a “staged” home sells. So, you too can profit from this knowledge! Like we said, visit a model home to see if they do what you are thinking about doing. In the meantime, next are my basic staging rules for you.
Basic Staging Rules
1. Keep it Clean
Your home must sparkle! The level of cleanliness required is usually only achievable by hiring a cleaning crew.
In fact, having a cleaning service come back every week while your house is up for sale is a pretty good investment.
Get your windows professionally cleaned inside and out!
2 – Do repairs
You know what you need. Got a dripping faucet or a cracked tile?
Keeping fixable items untouched will send the wrong message to potential buyers. Getting them fixed, however, and especially doing so before you even put your house on the market, is a clearly smart idea.
3 – Get Rid of Clutter
Remove the clutter in your home by at least half. That is called the “50% Rule” and it may just be the hardest rule of all!
We love our clutter – it reflects our memories, hobbies, and values….but it doesn’t sell homes!
Clutter makes homes seem smaller and disorganized. Have you ever noticed that the really expensive stores seem to have an expansive, clutter-free layout, while “cheap” stores are often a jumble of merchandise?
There is a reason why the ancient practice of Feng Shui has as a central focus in the elimination of clutter. Learn from it and apply it to your upcoming business, as well.
4 – Go For Neutral
Neutral colors sell; it is just a fact.
Hence, try to convey an image of quality and neutrality.
Potential buyers walking through your home want to imagine themselves as the owners. If you use styles or colors they would never select, you can easily turn their hopes off.
Staying high-quality, but neutral is safest.
5 – De-personalize.
Remove objects with which your potential buyers just will not be able to identify.
Political and religious items, for instance, may make whole groups of buyers turn around and leave, for example. People cannot “imagine” your home as their home when items throw them in a different intellectual or emotional direction.
Buying a home is an emotional decision, and you want potential buyers to make an emotional connection with your home by being able to “see” themselves in it. Crystal wisdom, right?
Hope you enjoyed and feel free to reach out if you need any help with pictures of your home for real estate.