It’s not enough anymore to keep the grass mowed and the sink empty when your house is on the market. You have to set the scene, also known as “staging” – when you stage your home for sale.
Staging, or arranging your home with purpose, should allow prospective buyers to imagine living there themselves. They’ll be picturing their furniture and family in place of yours, so help out by minimizing visible items.
The most important part of staging is decluttering. Clear counters, tables and other surfaces of knickknacks. Anything that disturbs the floor plan should be removed. This will create a feeling of openness.
You’ll also want to remove most of the personal touches from your home. Family pictures should come down, as well as any custom décor that won’t be staying behind. If you have bright walls or murals, now is the time to paint over them with a more neutral color. This will help the buyer view the home as a clean slate, not someone else’s long-established domicile.
Once you’ve removed the clutter, it’s time to deep clean the house. Don’t cut corners here, even if you have to hire a cleaning crew. Buyers look everywhere, including inside cabinets and bathtubs, and they won’t be inspired to make an offer after encountering grime. Once your space is clean, try to keep it that way so that you can clear out quickly for showings.
Try thinking of your home as a luxury hotel suite. In the bathroom, display towels and toiletries so that buyers can imagine using the bath or shower. Keep a simple, elegant centerpiece on the dining room table, and a bowl of fresh fruit in the kitchen. You may even want to drape a cozy throw blanket on the couch.
The more touches like this you can incorporate, the closer you are to getting buyers to picture living there comfortably. Your old house might be their dream house, so show it off to them as though it is. Just make sure you have enough bright light in every room to reveal the floor plan and open spaces.
Last but not least: don’t forget to stage the outside. Curb appeal is a huge factor, because you want to build anticipation as soon as buyers arrive. Keep your porch and walkway swept, and add some live plants near the entrance. And it probably goes without saying, but be sure to keep the lawn in good shape.
Check out all of our posts in our home buying and selling series!
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The blog and its opinions are expressly those of its author and do not convey the opinions or strategies of the Credit Union and should not be considered financial advice. CommunityAmerica’s mortgage offers are subject to credit approval and terms may vary based on conditions.
Ms. Montana says
My mom is the only person I know who keeps her house “stage ready” ALL the time. She once saw a couple looking at a house across the street for sale, and waved them over. They made an offer the same day on her house, the 81st they had looked at! My house, on the other hand, is never even close! My 5 little kids might have something to do with that. =)