Home Staging Tips That Aren’t So Obvious
I want to clear up the myth that home staging is only about cleaning your home so that it is presentable and de-cluttering the most common areas. Although this can go a long way in selling your home and I encourage it as a starting point IT IS NOT WHAT MAKES THE DIFFERENCE IN A HOME SELLING EXTREMELY FAST AND FOR WAY MORE MONEY!
When a homeowner cleans and de-clutters their space to help sell their home they are definitely in a better position than someone who doesn’t put the effort in to sell it (the “as is” sale).
Home staging is pushing it to the limit of the WOW factor, the most desirable home on the block, the “transformed” home. This is where you will really make more money in selling your home and selling fast.
Home staging is striving for PERFECTION. If you look at model homes, they are perfect. They often have high end features and everything is just right. It is not often that a buyer goes into a model home and says “I don’t need hardwood floors, I would much prefer the basic carpet and underlay”. Builders count on you “falling in love” with all the upgrades and that is why they plump these homes up and make them irresistible. And as for the price, are you able to negotiate to get “below” asking price? No, but you can do without the upgrades to lower the price and go for the “basic” model.
I hate to say this, but selling a home is like a game. If you play the game right you can really benefit in so many ways. If you don’t you simply get OK results. You are basically settling. In marketing we call this leaving money on the table.
Home staging is an investment. It is an investment to increase the money in your pocket and a way to save time and headaches. So let’s take a look at some home staging tips.
HOME STAGING TIP #1
Clean your home. I know, I said I would give you the not so obvious tips. I am talking about cleaning your home from top to bottom and inside and out. Remember, we are going for PERFECTION.
Have you ever cleaned your light bulbs? I was cleaning my windows this weekend and after I was finished I stepped back and there was such a clear view it was incredible. When they were dirty I hadn’t really noticed the dirt, but when they were clean it made such a difference in what I saw. Again, will your home sell faster or for more money with clean windows or light bulbs? No, but all the little things make a HUGE difference in the experience a potential buyer will have.
Things to clean:
There are more, but this should get you going on how far to take your cleaning.
HOME STAGING TIP #2
De-cluttering is a problem for many. Years of living and collecting are difficult to sift through. Think of it as part of the moving process and the work is now instead of later. I know it causes overwhelm for many just thinking about it. Where to begin, what to do with everything. I never said getting your home ready to sell wasn’t hard work. The good news is when you are given a checklist or a guide of what works it is easier to do the things on the list and move on to the next item. A sense of accomplishment is important. You are closer to your end goal.
When doing your de-cluttering, imagine your room as empty. Now start visually putting a few things back in the room that fit the rooms function. Everything else must go. A few accessories are fine, but the majority of your items can be packed away. I always find it interesting when a client says they are done weeding through their things I usually can say now do it again. Why – let me take you back to the model home look. They always have just enough in the rooms to show its function and nothing more. Strive for a minimalist look.
HOME STAGING TIP #3
The final point today is repairs and maintenance. Yes, it would be much “easier” to leave all the pesky repairs for the next homeowner, but really do you want to have to do the leftover repairs in your new home once you move in. Those cupboard doors that don’t shut, the chip in the wall, the caulking in the bathroom that needs to be redone. You may be able to get away with not doing some repairs, but I guarantee a buyer will offer a lower price and when buyers see another comparable house to yours that doesn’t need repairs they will chose the other house.
I will never say that if you don’t do anything to your house that it won’t sell. However, the closer you come to the ideal house for your buyer the more money they will pay and the faster it will sell. Just think of how busy your life is and how much easier you make it for the buyer, also having a busy life, to offer a picture perfect home that is “move in” ready. The effort is always in the preparation which in turn makes the selling process easier. You are the seller right now so it is important to have your home ready for what the buyer is looking for. When you are the buyer you too will be critical of the home you will be purchasing.
These home staging tips are obvious, however staging your home to sell takes it to the not so obvious level. We are aiming for the model home or “dream home” in order for the decision for a potential buyer to be an easy one. There is a buyer for every home and there is also a price to pay for a used and un-kept home. My hope is that you sell quicker than you expected and you get more money than you imagined for your home.
Tags: cleaning, de-clutteing, dream home, game, home selling, home staging, home staging myth, investment, make more money, model home, most desirable home, perfection, real estate staging, repairs and maintenance, save time, selling your home, wow factor
