Buyers expect perfection. Staging to sell goes beyond just cleaning and decluttering. When we work with our moving clients we touch every nook and cranny your buyer’s prying eyes will see. It can be tough and we remind our homeowners that the moment you decide to sell your house, you’ve given up ownership in a sense – think of it as an asset you want to sell and from which you want to earn the highest price.
Here are some tips for you to consider:
- Edit and arrange furniture around a focal point. Shop the house to select the best pieces to create a cohesive arrangement in each room. How you live in a house is not the same as staging to sell. We usually remove furniture – and lots of it.
- Define the purpose of each room. A room with too many purposes confuses the buyer, therefore large rooms need to have clear zones (think about a basement or rec room). Open space is good. Don’t force something to work. Less is more.
- Freshen your furniture and spaces with modern accessories. Dated furniture can be updated with a modern throw blanket, fresh pillows, a tray with a stack of books, a modern objet d’art. Dated kitchens and bathrooms can be refreshed with painted cabinets and a few key accessories like faux succulents.
- Remove family photos, anything religious, political or personal and simplify wall art. One modern statement piece is all you need. This is often hard for buyers when we add pieces they may not like or enjoy. But the house is an asset now and needs to appeal to buyers.
- Buyers look online first: Continuity from room to room in paint color and design makes the online photos flow, therefore it’s wise to paint neutral colors and remove dated wallpaper. Neutral colors allow buyers to see the architecture, light and unique details.
- Remove window treatments to highlight woodwork and make spaces lighter and brighter.
- Showcase hardwood floors (remove most rugs and wall to wall carpeting, if possible)
- Organize and declutter behind closed doors. Don’t forget that every potential buyer will most definitely open every closet and most cabinets. Staging to sell means time must be spent here. The better these spaces are the better potential buyers feel about the home.
- Light fixtures also need attention, so change to brighter bulbs, buy new, neutral shades for fixtures that have them and consider spray painting outdated brass fixtures.
We’re Here to Help
If you find this all overwhelming or have a tight timeline give us a call. We can work magic in your home in a matter of days!