Increase Your Selling Price by Up to 10% with Home Staging
If you are planning to sell your home, you might be wondering how to make it more appealing to potential buyers. One of the most effective ways to do that is by staging your home, which means preparing it for sale by temporarily furnishing and decorating it to highlight its best features and create a positive impression.
Home staging can have a significant impact on your selling price and time on the market. A survey by the National Association of Realtors found that 83% of buyers’ agents believe staging helps buyers visualize living in a home. Additionally, 40% of agents said staging affects most buyers’ opinions of a property. Another study by the Real Estate Staging Association (RESA) found that staged homes sold 73% faster than non-staged homes.
So how can you stage your home to increase your selling price by up to 10% or more? Here are some tips from the experts:
Declutter and Depersonalize
The first step in home staging is removing excess items and personal belongings. Clutter can distract or deter potential buyers. Aim for a clean, spacious, and neutral environment. This helps buyers focus on the home’s features. You can use containers, baskets, or boxes to organize your items. If needed, consider renting a storage unit for extra space.
Clean and Repair
The next step is to make sure your home is spotless and in good condition. Avoid allowing buyers to notice dirt, dust, stains, odors, or damages that could diminish their perception of your home’s value. Consider hiring a professional cleaning service or do it yourself. Address every detail from floors to ceilings, inside and outside. Resolve minor issues, such as leaky faucets, squeaky doors, loose knobs, and chipped paint. These fixes can prevent negative impressions from buyers.
Update and Refresh
The third step is giving your home a modern, fresh look. This should appeal to current buyer trends. You don’t need major renovations. Simple, inexpensive changes can make a big difference. For example, paint walls in neutral, light colors. Shades like white, beige, or gray can make rooms look bigger and brighter.
You can also replace outdated fixtures, hardware, or appliances with newer and more energy-efficient ones. You can also add some pops of color and texture with accessories, such as pillows, rugs, curtains, or artwork, to create some visual interest and warmth.
Highlight and Accentuate
The fourth step is to showcase the best features and benefits of your home and make them stand out to buyers. Aim to highlight the features of your home that make it unique, desirable, and valuable, like the view, fireplace, hardwood floors, high ceilings, and spacious closets. Utilize furniture, lighting, plants, or mirrors to enhance and emphasize these elements, creating focal points in each room. Arrange the furniture to maximize space, improve the flow, and showcase the potential and functionality of every area.
Create and Set the Mood
The final step is to create a positive and inviting atmosphere that makes buyers feel comfortable and at home. Strive to connect with their emotions and senses, encouraging them to fall in love with your home. Incorporate candles, diffusers, or fresh flowers to infuse pleasant scents and aromas throughout the space. Additionally, playing soft and relaxing music in the background can help create a welcoming ambiance. Setting the table, making the bed, or showcasing magazines and books can further enhance the lived-in and cozy atmosphere of your home.
Conclusion
Home staging is not just a cosmetic process, but a strategic one that can help you sell your home faster and for more money. By following these tips, you can transform your home into a showpiece that attracts and impresses buyers, and that increases your selling price by up to 10% or more.