Despite a housing market that currently favors sellers, it is essential to stage your home for success. It can be easy to forget that a potential buyer envisions their family and daily life inside your home. Suppose you have already begun moving into your new home. In that case, your furniture may be partially or entirely removed from the space.
An empty or somewhat empty house is not nearly as inviting. It may be difficult for buyers to picture themselves within it. A thoughtfully furnished home has the potential to sway a buyer from “on the fence” to fully decided. The benefits of staging a home are numerous. Staged homes tend to sell faster and receive higher offers. So what can you do to get your home market-ready?
Consider renting furniture for the time your home will spend on the market.
There are several upsides to renting furniture for your home rather than leaving your personal belongings inside to be ogled. Firstly, a professional home stager can help you accentuate the positive elements of your home and draw attention away from the not-so-perfect parts. Often, professional stagers will furnish the house with the season in mind. This familiarity and comfort can help invoke an emotional response in a potential buyer.
For example, imagine it is a cool autumn day. The leaves outside on the sidewalk are crunchy, and carved pumpkins dot the porch of each house on the block. The potential buyers enter your home and are greeted with seasonal touches like cozy chunky knit blankets and cinnamon candles. The home stager may even handpick the furniture in earth tones to promote the comforting feeling of fall. Part of a showing is fostering a connection between the home and the prospective buyers.
Accessorize to dress up less eye-catching areas of your home.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many buyers have begun to utilize virtual tours. Unfortunately, it may be a bit more challenging to sell the charm of your home through a walkthrough video or set of images. If you have personal items in your home, it may even feel like an invasion of privacy to have a digital version of your house available 24/7 for viewing. Instead, try dressing up plain spaces with seasonal accessories or houseplants. If you currently have a pet in your home, such as a cat, you should make sure to choose cat friendly house plants to ensure safety.
Can staging increase my home’s value?
According to a study by the National Association of Realtors (NAR), 22% of sellers’ agents reported a 1-5% increase of the dollar value offered by buyers in comparison to similar homes. Additionally, 17% of sellers’ agents stated that the dollar value of the home increased between 6-10% after staging the home. Regarding time spent on the market, 28% of sellers’ agents reported decreases in the time a staged home spent on the market. If you are looking to sell your home in the least amount of time at the highest value possible, staging your home is one of the best ways to give your house a boost.
The staging process is not pre-set. Your specific requirements will determine it. The main idea behind staging a home is to increase its appeal to buyers. Thankfully, there are several easy ways to accomplish this. Consider renting furniture for a short time and sprucing up your space with seasonal accessories or plants. If you are having trouble making decisions, consult with a professional stager. These professionals have extensive experience in the home staging industry and know what buyers are looking for. Moving can be stressful, so leaving home staging to the experts can allow you to focus your attention elsewhere.
