When demand outpaces supply, it can be tempting to leave your home’s appearance as is and assume you will get top dollar. However, homes courting premium prices must fit the buyer’s perception of how they want their home to feel. On the surface, it seems a bit lofty, but it is really about how the buyer perceives the property’s potential. Home staging when selling bridges the gap between how you see your home versus how the buyer views the property.
What Is Home Staging for Selling?
At its core, home staging for selling involves preparing your property for sale by depersonalizing and redecorating. It is not meant to make the home feel barren but rather to eliminate anything that may distract a buyer from envisioning themselves in the space. Home staging can be done by the homeowner or professional companies.
Is Home Staging for Selling Expensive?
The costs associated with home staging will vary and can run from inexpensive decluttering to pricey furniture rentals or even renovations. For many sellers, excessive costs are a deal-breaker when setting the stage for the sale. While staged homes tend to sell faster and command better prices, there is no guarantee you will recoup the costs for big changes or furniture rentals. Thankfully, staging does not have to involve large-scale plans or significant upfront costs.
What You Can Do to Stage Your Home
Three of the most important tasks when staging your home to sell are decluttering, depersonalizing, and cleaning. If you are in a time crunch, focus on the kitchen, bathroom, and living room. Remove knick-knacks, mementos and any collections. Depersonalize your rooms while keeping the lived-in look by removing family photos and replacing them with peaceful images from nature. Pare down your items in each room until everything is streamlined. What’s left should have a defined spot; the final result will be a fresh take on your existing space.
Cleaning should be done to a standard of “move-in ready.” You want your home to look and smell clean, from ceilings to baseboards to behind the toilet tank. However, you do not want your home to smell like cleaners, which can give the impression of trying to hide other odors. Use neutral-scented products, and if necessary, invest in a cleaning service.
Sell with the Twin City Professionals
Staging your home for selling can help position you for a quick sale, but it can be challenging to go through the stages of selling your home and buying a new one on your own. The experienced professionals at Network Title can help make the process easier. Contact us today for expert real estate and title insurance services.
