First of all, what is home staging? Home staging, simply put, is what we do to present a home in the most flattering light for potential buyers. However, there are some insider secrets to make a big impression and let your Newburyport home or Plum Island house shine. Come along with us as we run through the top six tips.
Depersonalize the space
The first step in any home staging endeavor is to help potential buyers visualize themselves in the room. To accomplish this, it’s important to remove as much evidence of your own lived-in experience in the space. Doing this is easy if you know what to focus on.
Experts say that the best way to depersonalize your home is to:
- Remove family mementos, photos, and art from walls
- Store away clothing, bedding, and any personal items or furnishings
- Declutter bookshelves, closet space, and kitchen counters
Once again, the idea behind this step is to help new homebuyers picture themselves in the property as easily as possible. Invite friends and family to the house before posting photos and videos of the home to your listing so they can pinpoint any personal effects that may stick out to open houses or visitors.
Be selective with repairs
It can be easy to get overwhelmed with the amount of repairs and renovations that a home may need before listing it on the market. It’s critical to hand pick the repairs that will best improve the market price with the least amount of effort. Some must-have repairs will include:
- Structural defects to walls, the foundation, and the roof
- High-visibility damage to interior paint, flooring, and carpeting
- Upgrades to landscaping and the entry to improve curb appeal
- Fresh, modern paint and kitchen appliances
- Potentially redesigning the layout and floor plan
Focus on high-traffic areas
When staging a home by yourself, it’s key to focus your efforts on the sections of the house that get the most exposure. Curb appeal for the exterior is one target area. Installing a fresh row of annual plantings near the front door, repainting the entryway, and resurfacing the flooring in high-traffic hallways are good first steps.
The kitchen and bedrooms usually get a lot of attention from potential buyers, so consider refreshing the countertops, purchasing new bedding and furniture, and maybe investing in accent pieces like framed artwork, pops of color, and fresh flowers.
Go room by room
Next, you’ll want to get a little more detailed with your staging process by going room by room to target what needs attention. Focus on removing unnecessary furnishings in the living room and dining rooms to add space. Clean the windows to let in more light and move chairs and sofas to the edge of the room. Bring in houseplants, bowls of fresh fruit, and add accent pillows and bedding to the bedrooms.
In the kitchen, the goal should be to clean and sanitize the space, remove dated appliances and cabinets, and fix any leaks that could distract visitors. The bathrooms should include modern faucets, sinks, and showerheads. You can also add a touch of homeliness by setting out fresh soaps and towels too. Halls and passageways should be clean, and you can repaint large walls with neutral, light colorways to accentuate a modern feel.
Prioritize natural light, size, and cleanliness
Going further into the idea of modernizing the home, it’s always a good idea to focus on cleanliness and sanitary conditions for anyone visiting the property. If there are any offensive odors in the kitchen or living areas, remove them and deep clean high-traffic zones.
Don’t forget to clean windows, light fixtures, and fans so that the interior reflects the maximum amount of light. You can go above and beyond the competition by investing in a home cleaner to fumigate, sanitize, and remove harmful allergens like those left by pets.
Comfort is another aspect of the home that you should center your attention on. If any furniture needs replacement, like sofas, stools, and armchairs, consider finding modern furnishings. A survey by the International Association of Home Staging reported that about three-quarters of homeowners realized a boost in ROI of 5-15% after staging, so it’s worthwhile to take these extra steps to increase sale prices and invite more competitive buyers.
Declutter and use storage to your advantage
Finally, let’s turn to one of the most important parts of staging a home: decluttering and storing excess furnishings. Removing furniture can be difficult to do, especially if you have personal attachments to them, but doing so is essential because it helps buyers imagine what they can do to make the house a home. That’s why it’s critical to invest in storage if you suspect that the home is burdened with excess items.
Decluttering the home requires some attention for each area of the property. This means you should aim to simplify the following spaces:
- Ensure buyers can access shelving units and areas for entertainment units
- Clear kitchen counters and pare down the number of appliances on view
- Simplify office spaces and clear desks
- Remove distracting accent pieces like excess wall art and sculptures
- Clean closets and stow away clothing
- Store bathroom items, buy fresh shower curtains, and regrout
- Make high-traffic areas dazzle by installing new lighting
All these steps are sure to help your potential buyers quickly feel that their new home is move-in ready and perfect for them to start a new life in.
Contact a local real estate agent today
Once you’ve mastered the art of home staging, it’s only a matter of time before your listing starts to pop for both online and in-person buyers. It’s well worth your time to invest in home staging to make your listing photos stand out from the crowd. Any questions about home staging in Newburyport real estate, Ipswich homes, or elsewhere? Contact Alissa Christie for more info!