Stage Your Home To Sell

There are many things you can do to stage your home. If you need to sell your home quickly, it is important that you do everything you can to make it appealing to the potential buyer. Most people know how helpful it is but don't have enough time or money. Here are some ideas for making your home more attractive without spending a lot of money. 

House staging has 5 main benefits: 1) Helps sell homes faster 2) Boosts overall home value 3) Minimizes buyer objections 4) Creates urgency  5) Improves your return on investment.

Curb appeal

Curb appeal is the first way to convince a buyer that it makes sense to invest in your house. No one wants to buy a house that looks dreary and unwelcoming from the outside. So, do what you can to make your home shine from the curb.

This could involve simple improvements like mowing your lawn, planting some flowers, pulling weeds, hiding clutter or cleaning up toys, trimming shrubs and trees, repairing cracks in your driveway and sidewalks, painting or staining the front step. If you have any painted surfaces that are peeling on the exterior of your home now is also a good time to repaint them so they look fresh.

If it snows where you live shoveling snow can be an important chore as well. And if it’s summertime don’t forget about watering as this can go a long way in making a great first impression with buyers!

Clear the clutter

If you have a home that’s full of clutter, then it might be time to get rid of some of your stuff. To start, take an honest look at what you really need and use and then get rid of the rest. Are there old furniture items that are making your home feel out-of-date? Then it's time to donate them or sell them to someone who can use them! In addition to getting rid of the clutter inside your home, don't forget about what's outside as well. Your yard may need some maintenance before you can show it off. Make sure you're keeping up with mowing the lawn and also rake up any fallen leaves and branches.

Storing things in your garage is another great way to clear out clutter from your main living spaces while still keeping items within reach if needed (especially useful for those seasonal decorations). If you don't have room in your garage for all the things that are cluttering up your place, consider renting a storage unit for extra space. This is also a great option for people who may have already moved or sold their homes but still want access to their belongings for sentimental reasons or until they find their next place! And don't forget about those closets – often we forget what we're storing away in there!

Get rid of old toys, books, and clothes by giving them away or selling them online through sites. 

Make your home shine

Now that you know how to make the best first impression, let's get started. It's time to deep clean your home and make sure it shines. You want buyers to picture themselves living there, so remove any personal or distracting items. Clean up every room, starting with the kitchen and bathroom(s), then move on to other areas of the house such as bedrooms and living rooms. After that checklist is complete, focus on all the little details you may have missed, like baseboards and door knobs.

Here are some more tips for cleaning up:

• Let in as much natural light as possible; open all shades and blinds, replace burned out bulbs with bright new ones (100 watt bulbs will do), switch light fixtures if necessary, etc.

• Clean all windows

• Wash walls with warm water and detergent if they need it—usually they do!

• Wash baseboards and doors, too. And don't forget the front door! It makes an important first impression too!

• If you have wall-to-wall carpeting in any rooms (not just bedrooms), professional steam cleaning is strongly recommended. Be sure to have pets cleaned before potential buyers visit (this includes fish).

• Neutralize bad smells by opening windows when weather permits--buyers will not like walking into the smell of last night's fried chicken dinner no matter how tasty it was! Fill your home with pleasant aromas using potpourri or scented candles instead.

Don't be too personal

You may have personal items that are special to you, but they're not so special to others. Personal photos can distract buyers, and it's best to avoid bringing up topics like religion or politics. Keep your home looking and feeling as neutral as possible.

Rearrange furniture

In the living room and dining room, rearrange furniture to best show off the space. If you have a small living area, try using floor-to-ceiling pieces that open up the area by creating vertical space rather than horizontal clutter. If you have a large room, don't be afraid to use your furniture as part of a conversation area. Take advantage of the natural flow of your home and create a path that guides buyers through each room.

Show off storage space

If you've ever seen those episodes of House Hunters where people get excited over a walk-in closet, you know how important storage space is to homebuyers. Storage is what allows people to keep things organized and out of view—which they all want, but don't necessarily have.

Closets are the most obvious place to highlight organizational features, but if square footage is at a premium in your home, think about using under-bed storage boxes. A couple of these can make a big difference in how easy it will be for buyers to imagine themselves living there; they'll feel like the place already has their stuff tucked away.

Hooks on doors and walls can also help you maximize your square footage by making additional storage options visible; if buyers see empty hooks everywhere, they'll naturally start thinking about what else could go there. For example: maybe that hall closet would be better suited for shelving or shoe racks instead of its current hodgepodge layout.

Home staging is about giving you the best edge in the market, and getting top dollar for your home. That is the end goal is it not?   Ready, set, stage!