My name is Jeremy, I am the owner of Frontier Homebuyers. If this article helps, and you are looking for some more information based on our experience, please don’t hesitate to call or text my team at 267-459-3025 and we’ll help however we can.
Properly staging your home is key when you are trying to sell your house. Many people think this will cost a fortune on decorations and upgrades, but there are many ways to do this without breaking the bank. With a little time and effort, you can make your home stand out and look truly beautiful. We have years of experience buying, renovating, and selling homes so the following tips are time-tested and will definitely give you an edge in the market.
With a little time and effort, you can make your home stand out and look truly beautiful.
Hide The Clutter & Personal Items.
This suggestion tops every agent’s list and it is vital! You want the house to look like a “home” but people don’t want to see your laundry in the washer. In addition, too many personal items can make prospective buyers feel as if they are intruding. Clutter on the floor, on the walls, or in the kitchen not only gives off the vibe that you may be disorganized, but it will also make any room feel smaller, and that makes a big difference to potential buyers.
Limit photographs and other very personal items like backpacks, paperwork, and purses, and instead put out some books, flowers or other interesting items. Take all family or personal pictures off the wall. Not only does it make the walls feel cluttered, but it gives a potential buyer the impression that they are “invading” someone else’s home. It is very painful to take down all the personal memories you love so much, but trust us, it is a critical part of the decluttering stage. Your goal is to make potential buyers feel as if it could be their home the moment they walk in the door.
To that end, take everything off the kitchen counters, including the toaster, the coffee maker, the box of tissues, EVERYTHING. The kitchen may feel completely cold and bare to you but it will feel much larger and more organized to your potential buyers. You want them to feel immediately comfortable, as if it were somewhere they could see themselves living.
Appeal To All The Senses.
When someone comes to your house for a showing, it’s about more than what they see with their eyes. Emotional cues play a big role in how people will see your home.
Consider playing some music softly in the background. Or maybe have a candle burning that smells like freshly baked cookies or clean linens. Just remember that subtly is good, don’t overwhelm the senses or give the impression that you are hiding odors. Have a soft and cozy blanket folded up nicely on the couch. Doing these things will make your home feel cozy, and encourage buyers to stick around for awhile. Remember that most home buyers will spend no more than 20 minutes walking through a house, and as they discuss with their partner or realtor, often times the first impressions and subtle touches like smell play a vital role in deciding to make an offer.
Doing these things will make your home feel cozy, and encourage buyers to stick around for awhile. Again, remember to keep the touches subtle and natural.
Give Each Room a Purpose.
Do you have a space that is used for many things? Clean it up, and make it appear as if it only has one focus.
For example, a guest room/office can subconsciously make the homebuyer feel as if the home is cramped and lacking enough space. Making it strictly an office, for example, and removing everything else will give the impression of purpose. Buyers will then typically have a conversation with each other along the lines of “you know, we could easily turn this into a guest bedroom…” Back to the previous point, neat, clean and uncluttered is your goal in every part of the house.
Instead, make it very clear that the room is a guest bedroom OR an office. If you have an unutilized space, consider making it something fun like a game room or library. Even if it’s not really how you use the home, creating the definition of spaces will make the buyer feel less confused about the spaces they are working with and allow them to more easily imagine themselves living there.
Spend a Day Deep Cleaning and Making Small Repairs.
Do you have a crooked shelf? Or a squeaky step? Maybe a leaky faucet? You might have small fixes you can make by yourself for a reasonable cost.
Some small touch-ups to paint, dings in the wall or a power wash to the driveway can really alter the appearance of the home to your prospective buyers. Focus on the high-impact areas, such as entryways, front walks, porches, etc. where buyers are most likely to notice defects.
Now is also the time to wipe down the baseboards, rake the leaves and get those stains out of the carpet. Remember, they will be looking in every corner of your house as they walk through. Getting the carpets professionally stretched and cleaned is a relatively inexpensive thing that will make a big impact.
Don’t let them get so caught up looking at a wobbly fan, that they miss the beauty of your breakfast nook. You will probably find things to repair you hadn’t even noticed before!