Staging a home is when you make changes to your house in order to improve the likelihood that it will sell quicker or for more money. One survey conducted by the National Association of Realtors found that 29 percent of agents representing the sellers reported that staging a home lead to a sale price increase of up to five percent compared to homes without staging. The same survey reported that eighty-three percent of agents said that having a home staged made it easier for them to sell the property. It’s clear that if you’re not staging a home before opening it up to potential buyers, you’re potentially missing out on significant sale revenue.
What makes for a well-staged home that will maximize appeal for buyers? We’ve put together a few tips below to help you present your home as attractively as possible and get the most out of your sale.
1. Depersonalize the Space
Staging your home includes looking at your home through a buyer’s eyes. As a seller, one goal is to have potential buyers picture themselves in the space. To do this, you want to remove highly personalized items including personal photos and anything that is overtly religious. Although these things are important to you, it makes it harder for a buyer to see themselves in the home.
2. Remove Clutter
A clutter-free home looks bigger to potential buyers. You want to maximize the spaciousness of your home. To do this, remove as much clutter as you can from your current home. Edit down what you can before hosting an open house or tours. Potential buyers will open every closet and storage space, so try to remove any unneeded items from the house completely rather than storing them in your home.
3. Patch and Repair
Before putting your home on the market, make minor home repairs such as repairing nicks, scrapes, and holes in walls.
4. Neutralize the Home
Although you may like bright and bold colors, unique colors can be a turn off to buyers and may cause them to overlook the positives of the home. Luckily, painting is a relatively easy chore to tackle. Repaint with neutral colors that appeal to a broader group including white, gray, and taupe.
5. Furniture Arrangement
The National Association of Realtors survey found that buyers tend to focus the most attention of three spots within the home—living room, master bedroom, and kitchen. Pay extra attention to the furniture size and layout in these rooms, and rearrange or remove any furniture that does not enhance the space.
6. Clean the Interior
Do a complete deep cleaning of your home before you start opening the space up to potential buyers. Prior to any showing, do general touch ups including vacuuming, emptying trash cans, putting the toilet seats down, and putting away any dishes. Also open the windows to air out the entire home.
7. Add Curb Appeal
Don’t only focus on the inside. The first thing potential buyers will see is the exterior of the home. A few simple touch ups can make a big impact.
- Power wash siding and walkways
- Add flowers or potted plants to the front of your home
- Mow the lawn
- Repaint the front door
- Clean the windows
- Trim or cut back any overgrown plants
If you have a porch, patio or deck, put out some nice outdoor furniture and accents.
8. Remove Pets
Pets can be a distraction to buyers, and you may even have some guests that have allergies to certain animals. If you have a showing, make sure pets are removed from the home. Spray air freshener or light some scented candles to remove any lingering pet smell.
9. Add Light
People love natural light. Open all shades to access as much sunlight as possible. Turn on overhead lights and lamps in any darker spaces including the basement.
Get the Most out of Your Houses for Sale in Lockhart TX
Do you have properties on the market in the Lockhart area? Lone Star Realty can help you get the most out of your properties for sale using our local expertise. Our team has helped close the deal on dozens of houses for sale in Lockhart TX, and we’d love to add yours to our list. Contact us today!
