Did you know that studies have shown that most people who set out on the home buying journey actually end up making their final decision based on emotion, not logic? Sure we may all head out there knowing the number of bedrooms we want or the price we can afford, but at the end of the day, most people go with a gut feeling. Where does this gut feeling come from? Usually it’s whatever house they can see as their home. What makes them feel warm and fuzzy when they walk in. Which house creates the best atmosphere for the buyer. So what does that mean for you as a seller? Well that means that staging your house is going to be very important! Having a properly staged home will not only help your house sell faster, it will also help it sell for top dollar. A lot of people think staging is really expensive and not worth it, but while a good staging company can do wonders, you don’t have to spend a ton of money. Here are some of the top staging tips that you can use yourself to help sell your home for top dollar.
#1 Create a Welcoming Entrance
We all know how big first impressions are, right? That is why you will do your house a great justice by making the entrance as inviting as the house itself. That means that your grass should be nicely cut, the hedges should be trimmed, the door handles should be clean and polished. You can also do things like buying a new mailbox, nice looking house numbers, potted plants, and a welcome mat to greet potential homebuyers at the door. Click here for more tips on adding curb appeal.
#2 Avoid Pushing Furniture Against the Walls
A lot of people think that pushing their couches against the wall creates the most amount of space in their living areas. The more they’re out of the way the more floor space you have, right? Well, not really. Interior decorators will tell you that this common mistake can be fixed by placing furniture in a conversational manner and at least 12” from the wall. This technique is called “floating” your furniture. It not only creates a cozier environment; it can actually do a great deal to make a room look bigger than it is.
#3 Create a Function for Awkward Spaces
Does your house have a weird nook that you never really used? Or a corner that would work perfectly as a reading area but you have it used as storage? Properly staging the little awkward spaces in your home can help interest buyers more by allowing their possibilities to shine. A great option can something like a bar cart with co*cktails, or some book shelves and a nice comfy chair.
#4 Focus on Your Big Selling Rooms
The two main spaces that tend to sell homes are kitchens and bathrooms. So if you can’t afford to properly stage your whole house, focus your attention on these areas. The biggest thing you can help out with in these areas is clearing the clutter. A cluttered kitchen won’t allow a potential homebuyer to see the space for what it is. They will only be concentrating on the crowded feeling you’ve created on the countertops. Little things like a bowl full of fresh fruit, a display of fresh cookies, and a vase with fresh flowers can also go a long way to creating a more inviting space. For your bathroom, add little touches like scented soaps, and again, clear out the clutter! Are you one of those people that have 12 different shampoo and conditioner bottles lined up in your shower? Go ahead and put those under the cabinets and maybe buy some boutique toiletries to go in their place while you show your home. Some people add fresh flowers to their bathrooms as well, others prefer scented candles to spruce up the feeling of the space.
#5 Don’t Forget About Lighting
It’s amazing what some natural light can do to truly brighten up a space. Allow the sun to shine through and open the shades and draw back the curtains. You can even use a trick like increasing the wattage in your light bulbs so that you can gain 100 watts for every 50 square feet. If you really want to go the extra mile here, consider installing under-cabinet lighting. Many sellers have found that this extra feature helps to sell homes.
#6 Think About Neutralizing Your Style
If you have a loud style or really unique design going on in your house, look for ways to tone things down a bit. Chances are, your style isn’t going to match that of most homebuyers so you don’t want to scare people away just because you like to have cheetah print everywhere. Try to create a neutral and inviting feel in every space.
#7 Create a Hotel-Worthy Master Bedroom
Another great selling feature in a home is the master bedroom. There’s a lot you can do in here to stage it for a quick and bountiful sale. First, make sure you choose neutral colors. Again, you don’t want to go crazy with color here and cause an eye sore for potential buyers. Instead, go with calm, neutral colors that create an inviting look. Think of the chicest boutique hotels. They often have lots of soft, fluffy white linens and calm neutral colors to help welcome their guests. Create a bed that your potential buyers will want to just dive into. It goes a long way! As we’ve already mentioned, if you have any awkward spaces in your master bedroom try to stage them as a nice little sitting area or reading nook. This is a great feature for buyers to be able to envision what they can do with the extra space.
Do you have any other ideas? Comment below! For more tips on selling your house fast, click here.
Josh Mente
Real Estate LeaderJosh Mente, is a founding member and owner of The MD Home Team of Keller Williams Excellence, and is responsible for business administration and marketing for the firm. Josh’s career path began in 1998 as a loan officer for Eastern Savings Bank, where he managed national accounts. He later joined Option One Mortgage originating more than 500 transactions per year valued at $100M+ in sales.In 2006, Mente shifted his expertise to real estate sales, gained his license and focused on buy/fix/sell transactions. Josh is a member of Elite Real Estate Network (ERN), the 2009 Rookie of the Year for Long and Foster corporate, and in 2012 ranked 206 and 2013 ranked 234 in Real Trends of the Wall Street Journal, ranking in the top 250 agents nationwide for all brokerages.From any early age, Josh was introverted and worked hard to overcome a fears of sales - a business that doesn't lend itself well to introverted people. When challenged by a manager that he didn’t have what it took for a specific job, Josh pushed forward and won approval in his new position. That was a pivotal moment that set the pace for his success in real estate sales.Having earned an AA degree from Montgomery College in business administration in 1995 and a Bachelors of Arts Degree from Towson University in Mass Communications 1997, Josh married his college sweetheart Melinda and they now have three wonderful daughters that provide the opportunity to watch them grow up and experience things for the first time.A committed sports fanatic, Josh spends time on the golf course, and follows the Ravens and Orioles as a season ticket holder. He is a part owner of two restaurants in Manhattan, enjoys music and time away with the family at their beach house in Rehoboth, DE. He hopes to find time for his hobbies that include building furniture, playing guitar, learning Spanish and flying planes.
