When it comes to selling a house, the first impression that potential buyers have of your real estate listings is very crucial. Even if the house is well designed, if it is not displayed well, the property’s allure can be detracted. So, how can real estate agents increase their chances of closing a real estate deal? Well, one way is through home staging. Home staging is the process of preparing a house for sale in the real estate marketplace by making it more appealing to potential buyers. Home staging techniques tend to highlight a home’s best features while downplaying its flaws. They make a home stand out from the rest. With the right home staging tips, a seller’s agent will be able to sell a house fast and at a higher price.
Staging a house can be quite time-consuming and expensive. But that doesn’t mean you can’t implement some simple house staging techniques yourself to give the home more glamor. Your real estate clients will expect you to help them sell their house swiftly, at a higher price, and cost-effectively. Therefore, it is important for every agent to learn how to stage a house, even on a limited budget. Here are 20 home staging tips you can use:
1. Deep Clean
This is one of the basic home staging tips you should never ignore. Take your time to thoroughly clean every room in the house before the first showing. No potential property buyer will want to walk into a house that is dirty. If you or the homeowner can’t do it, you can hire a professional cleaning company to clean the entire home.
2. Boost the Curb Appeal
When staging a home, the exterior is also very important. It is the first thing a potential home buyer will see. How does the home buyer view the home from the street when they arrive? If the exterior is not appealing, some potential buyers may not even be interested in viewing the inside. Ensure the home’s exterior is attractive and welcoming.
Here are some tips to boost curb appeal:
- Landscaping
- Take care of the lawn
- Clean the gutters
- Design a clear path to the front door
- Plant some flowers in the yard
- Repaint the front door
- Place new doormats at the front door
- If there is a pool, make sure it’s crystal clear
3. Declutter All Rooms
Managing clutter is one of the most important home staging tips for real estate agents. Clutter distracts potential buyers from the key features of the home. It also makes the home appear to have little storage space. If the house is messy and cluttered with too much stuff, potential buyers will subconsciously doubt that all their stuff will fit. This can reduce the perceived value of the home. Therefore, have less furniture to make the rooms look bigger. You should also have the homeowner empty the closets. Any excess clutter should be put in storage rather than tossed in the closets.
4. De-Personalize the Space
A common mistake made by real estate agents is leaving the home personalized. One of the primary home staging objectives is to enable potential buyers to envision themselves in the space. Keep in mind that people have different tastes. So, have the homeowner take down personal photographs from the walls and remove any personal items. These can alienate potential buyers.
5. Repaint the Home
To freshen up the home and give it an instant makeover, add a coat of paint. It’s advisable to go for neutral colors. You or the homeowner may love bold colors like orange or red, but they may be a turnoff to some people. People’s tastes in colors are usually personal and specific. Having a neutral color would be best.
6. Set Up Good Home Lighting
Lighting is also one of the best home staging tips that are cost-effective. Well-lit rooms have a more welcoming environment and even seem bigger. Therefore, use brighter bulbs to give the home a better appearance. Take advantage of the natural sunlight by opening all curtains and blinds and keeping the windows clean. Moreover, make sure you replace broken or outdated light fixtures.
7. Add Mirrors
Apart from helping to reflect light and making the room brighter and seem less crowded, mirrors also add some style to a place. Even if it’s tiny, a mirror can make a room feel more designed and curated.
8. Give Each Room a Purpose
It is important to have a theme for every room when staging a house. You should avoid staging a house with “multi-purpose” rooms. This can make the house appear smaller than it is. Make sure you assign each room or space a single, defined function. Even if the property buyer would want to use the room for a different purpose, it is important for them to see that every space in the home is usable.
9. Remove Odors
Bad smells can be a big turn off for potential buyers. A real estate property can smell because of pets, food remains, cigarette smoking, and many other conditions. Don’t just cover the smell up. Make sure you fix the source of the smell. Have the homeowner wash any dirty bed sheets, empty and wash bins, clear drains, open windows, and so on.
10. Update the Kitchen
Successful real estate agents know that the kitchen is one of the most valuable rooms. Suggest that the property owner update the kitchen by investing in new kitchen appliances and fixtures to add to the allure of the home. Also, suggest that they upgrade kitchen countertops and reface kitchen cabinetry. Be sure it makes sense to their budget and adds to the final return on investment (ROI) of the sale of the home.
11. Master Bedroom Should Be Gender Neutral
Another important room in a home is the master bedroom. As such, a seller’s agent should try to make it attractive to any prospective buyer, regardless of their gender. Therefore, the wall colors, décor, and room features shouldn’t be overly masculine or feminine. By being gender-neutral, buyers can easily envision themselves in the space.
12. Rearrange Furniture
Rearrange furniture so that they are away from the walls. Also, group chairs and couches together so that the traffic flow in the rooms is clear. This will help the room to look more spacious and inviting.
13. Fix Faults on Walls and Ceilings
No buyer would want to buy a home with cracks in the walls or ceiling. Such cracks can make them question the safety of the house. This can make the house very difficult to sell. So, ensure all faults are inspected to know how best to fix them.
14. Add Fresh Flowers
Adding fresh flowers like roses and tiger lilies to a room can immediately warm it up and improve people’s moods. This is also one of the cost-effective home staging tips that agents can take advantage of.
15. Select the Right Kind and Size of Furniture
Large pieces of furniture are not ideal for home staging. They may make a room appear smaller than the actual size. Also, make sure that the furniture you use does not look cheap. Furniture that looks elegant and inviting will improve the overall look of the house and make buyers want to purchase it.
16. Replace Window Treatments
Replacing old window treatments with new and more fashionable ones can add instant style and increase the value of the home. Also, ensure that they are all working properly.
17. Contain Pets
Pets are loving and your real estate client may like them. However, you should minimize their presence during house presentation. Contain all pets in a crate at a hidden place or outside the house.
18. Fix the Flooring
If the carpets in the house are worn out or stained, ensure they are washed clean and repaired. If they are beyond repair, ask the homeowner to consider replacing them. Though quite pricy, you can also suggest that the owner considers adding elegance and value to the home with hardwood floors. They are usually low maintenance and provide great long-term value.
19. Virtual Staging
If you don’t have the money or resources to purchase and store furniture, virtual staging is a cost-effective option. Virtual staging services edit your listing photos by including or removing virtual furniture and décor to make a house more appealing.
20. If Unsure, Work with a Professional Home Stager
If you aren’t sure how to make a home more desirable to potential buyers, it’s always best to utilize the services of a professional home stager. They can help you achieve the best possible look for the home by recommending the best home staging tips for your specific listing. You will avoid spending on unnecessary things that won’t add much value to the home. Hiring a home stager will also free your time so that you can focus on what you do best.
The Bottom Line
In the presentation of a home for sale, home staging can make a huge difference. Through a good selection of artwork, accessories, furniture, plants, home decor, and other home staging tips, you can transform a home into a beautiful showcase. When properly executed, these home staging tips can help any real estate agent to sell a home more swiftly and at a higher price. When your clients are happy, they are likely to refer other people to you, thereby boosting your real estate lead generation. Consequently, you will be able to close more deals and make more money.
If you’re ready to list the house for sale, do so for free in the Mashvisor Property Marketplace where you can reach thousands of real estate investors and help your clients close quickly.
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