How to Stage Your Home for a Quick Sale

Staging a house is a lot like putting together a puzzle. You want to make sure everything looks nice and clean, but you don't want to spend too much time doing it because you want to show off what makes your house special.

The key to selling your home fast is to prepare it properly. Some experts say that staging your home could mean getting $20,000-$40,000 more for your home versus just listing it without staging it.

What Is Home Staging?

Home staging is making a house look presentable and attractive to potential buyers. It involves tidying up clutter, dusting off surfaces, and cleaning things up. But there are many misconceptions surrounding home staging, including the idea that it’s just about getting rid of stuff. Staging is much more than that. The goal is to make your home look great, not necessarily sell it quickly.

Staging is similar to interior decorating because it’s about creating a comfortable atmosphere. However, staging is different because it focuses on selling your home rather than improving how someone feels inside it. Here are three reasons why staging is important:

1. It Makes Your House Look Better On Websites

When people see pictures of homes online, they often assume that the rooms are empty. This isn’t always true, especially if the room contains furniture. If your home looks messy or cluttered, it could affect whether potential buyers think your home is worth buying. A clean, well-organized home can help potential buyers envision living in the space.

2. It Improves Your Listings’ Descriptions

Having a tidy home helps buyers picture themselves living in your home, which improves the description of your listing. When prospective buyers see a mess, they might assume they won’t want to live there. They’ll write less compelling descriptions that don’t accurately reflect the value of your home.

3. It Helps Sell Homes Faster

If you have an open house scheduled, having a neat home will give visitors a better impression of your home. Potential buyers may be impressed by your home's appearance, even if they aren’t interested in buying it.

Why Home Staging Is Important

Staging a home isn't about making it look like a magazine spread. It's about creating a welcoming environment that encourages people to buy. Here are some reasons why home staging is important:

• You never know what someone else might find attractive. If the space doesn't appeal to you, it won't appeal to anyone else.
• A staged home looks better on paper.
• Potential buyers are less likely to make offers on homes without staging.
• Your home could sell faster if it looks appealing.
• People are more willing to pay more for a house that looks good.
• Staged homes tend to sell for more money.

Benefits of Home Staging

Staging homes help prospective buyers imagine themselves moving into the space. A staged home typically looks better than one without staging because it’s cleaned up and organized and contains items that are likely to appeal to buyers.

The study found that having furniture and wall art in place made the home feel more welcoming. 42% of buyers indicated that some furniture already in place helped them see how the house could fit their needs.

Another benefit of staging is that it gives buyers a sense of what the home will look like once they move in, which can help them envision how the home might look once they move in. This can help buyers visualize the home as their future residence and make it seem more attractive to buyers.

According to the NAR’s profile of home staging, staging the living room is the most important part of staging, according to 46% of buyers' agents surveyed.1

Options on How to Stage a Home

Many people think that staging a house is expensive, but it doesn't have to be. There are plenty of ways to make your home look great without spending thousands of dollars. You don't even need to spend money on decorating items; you'll be able to save a ton of cash by simply renting what you need. And you might want to consider doing some of the work. Here are some options on how to stage a home.

1. Paint Your Walls

You can do this yourself, but you may want to enlist the help of a friend or family member who knows how to paint walls. If you're willing to invest a little time, you could save hundreds of dollars by doing this yourself. Just remember that you won't be able to use the same color twice.

2. Rent Furniture and Accessories

If you don't know where to start, you can rent everything you need for free from companies such as IKEA. This way, you can focus on ensuring your house is clean and organized rather than worrying about finding matching pieces of furniture.

3. Hire a Professional Staging Company

This option isn't cheap, but it does allow you to avoid getting stuck with something you hate. A professional staging company will often charge anywhere from $500 to $1,500 per room, depending on the space size and whether or not you've got pets.

Home Staging Tips

How do you stage a home without spending too much time or money?

Staging a home is a great way to sell it faster at a higher price. The key is to get rid of clutter and organize items properly. Consider hiring a professional stager if you don't want to spend hours cleaning out closets and drawers. They'll take care of everything from dusting furniture to painting walls.

You can also save money by staging your own home. Start by taking photos of every room in your house. Then, look through magazines and websites for ideas on how to decorate each space. Finally, create a checklist of things you'd like to change. This will help you stay organized and focused throughout the project. Here are some tips on how to stage a home.

Clean

A clean home shows potential buyers you've taken good care of the property. "Clean homes sell faster," says real estate agent Chris Haines. "If there's clutter everywhere, it makes people feel like they're walking into someone else's space." And while we're talking about cleaning up, here's one more reason you should do it now: It'll help you save money down the road. "Having a clean home helps reduce maintenance costs later," says Haines. "Plus, it's easier to sell a home that looks newer and fresher."

Declutter

There are two major problems with cluttered homes. First, it distracts buyers from what matters—the home itself. Second, it makes it seem like there isn't enough room inside.

Now is the time to box away the things you don't use daily. This includes knickknacks, old board games, papers, seasonal clothing, and messy hobbies. It's also time to purge outdated items from the kitchen and pantry. If you're feeling brave, go ahead and throw some stuff away. You'll feel great once you start seeing how much extra space you've created.

The empty storage space you find, the better. This is because it lets potential buyers see exactly how big the house is and how much living area you have to offer. Cluttered spaces make buyers think, "Oh my gosh, I could never live here!"

Define Rooms

The most common mistake homeowners make is overstuffing their homes. They fill up rooms with furniture and decorations that don’t fit the size of the room. Buyers are drawn to smaller spaces because they feel they have more freedom to decorate and personalize them.

Buyers are looking for a functional layout, so they need to know what each room is used for. For example, a kitchen might include a dining table, a breakfast nook, a pantry, a refrigerator, and a counter space for cooking. Buyers should consider where they want to eat, sleep, entertain, and relax.

If there is a finished attic, make sure it becomes an office. A finished basement can become a game room, media center, playroom, workout area, wine cellar, or guest bedroom. An unfinished garage could become a workshop or hobby room.

Even if the buyer doesn’t want to use the room as intended, it is important to show them how much usable space there is throughout the house.

Flooring

Hardwood flooring is something every homeowner dreams about. But there are many options, including laminate, vinyl plank, cork, tile, and even concrete. Hardwood floors are durable, easy to install and come in various styles. If you plan to sell your house someday, having hardwood floors could increase the value of your home.

Lighting

The lighting system is one of the most important elements of a house. A well-lit room creates a warm atmosphere, while dark rooms make people uncomfortable. In addition, good lighting has many benefits, such as making homes look bigger and helping buyers see potential problems faster.

Consider whether you want to use dimmers or switch plates when selling a home. Dimming allows you to adjust the brightness of each fixture individually; however, some buyers prefer to keep the lights on full blast during showings. Switching plates allow you to easily change the color scheme without changing the bulbs. You can choose white, black, red, blue, green, yellow, or pink.

Consult a professional electrician if you're unsure about what type of lighting you should install. He or she can help you determine how much lighting you'll need, and he or she can advise you on the best options for your home.

Conclusion

Even if you have plenty of money, don't spend it on staging. Buyers generally prefer homes that look lived-in over those that look staged. But there's a difference between looking lived-in and being able to use the house comfortably. If you're trying to sell your home quickly, focus on highlighting the home's best features and avoiding anything that could turn off potential buyers.