With homes flying out of inventory, many sellers are asking themselves why they should bother to stage the house before listing. The answer is simple: Staging helps prospective buyers fall in love with the house creating the potential for a bidding war and increased profit. Your best course of action would be to consult with our agents to ensure you don't invest more in staging than it's worth. But no matter how much or little you choose to invest, a few basics are critical to a quick sale at or above your asking price.
1. Don't Skimp on Housekeeping
It's amazing how many sellers post photos of their beautiful homes showing a basket of laundry on the bed. Even if you have invested in professional deep-cleaning, keeping it as clean as possible throughout the showing process is important. Cameras will pick up every dust bunny in a virtual showing. When the house sparkles, it tells the potential buyer its owners have taken good care of it. It may be helpful to pack and remove things you rarely use to ensure that clutter doesn't creep back into the picture.
2. Don't Neglect to Depersonalize
To captivate buyers, you want them to imagine themselves living in the home. Your photographs, trophies, and collections will make them feel like visitors. Of course, you don't want bare walls, so use artwork, mirrors, and similar tasteful decor to fill in the blank spaces. It's important to eliminate gender-specific decors such as pink walls and frilly curtains in a girl's bedroom. You don't want to make it difficult for a young professional to imagine a home office in that space. The first step toward selling your home is packing personal items and opening up the space.
3. Don't Ignore Focal Points
If a room offers an attractive feature, such as a fireplace or staircase, put it in the spotlight. Arrange the furniture in a manner that highlights it. If the room features a big bay window with a magnificent view, ensure the drapes are open, and the eye is drawn to it. A luxurious rug can accent a shining hardwood floor. An interesting small sculpture can draw attention to a mantle. Place decorative items with this in mind.
4. Don't Leave the House a Blank Slate
An empty house may look ready for new owners, but austerity isn't welcoming. Emptiness doesn't feel like home. Many sellers rent furnishings to bring life to the house, even when no one resides there. It's important to create an environment where people would like to live. Consider going beyond furniture with plants near the windows and the dining room table set for dinner.
5. Don't Ignore the Lights
Insufficient lighting makes a house look as dreary as a rainy day. Use lamps to draw attention to the best characteristics of the house. A bold variety of light sources adds interest to the stage that is your home. Bright lights in the kitchen say this room is central to activity. Soft lights above the end of a sofa say that this room is a quiet, relaxing space. Whatever statement you wish to make about any given room, the lighting will help you make it.
Contact us when you're ready to add your house to Ridgewood homes for sale. Our agents will be happy to advise you about staging the house or any other concerns you may have before listing.
