In any real estate market it is important to show the most positive aspects of a home for sale. The process of staging a home, or decorating to sell, helps. Unlike regular interior decorating, the focus on staging is to de-personalize and neutralize a space to make it appear move in ready for the buyers.
The Value of Staging
In a recent survey done by the Accredited Staging Professional® organization, 94.6% of the 1,000 homes surveyed sold in approximately one month or less. Homes that were not staged took up to 196 days to sell. 196 days is a long time to wait if you need to sell your house quickly.
Staging Importance: Clutter Leaks Cash
It’s a simple fact. If the kitchen counters are strewn with boxes of food, toasters, papers, or bread, and there are lots of pictures on the refrigerator, a home is less likely to sell quickly. Despite the thought that the space ‘feels like home’ with all that stuff lying around, the exact opposite happens. Sure, it feels like home, but it feels like someone else’s home. The key to a quicker sale is to make a space feel clean and un-cluttered, ready for a new owner to start a fresh life.
Staging Basics: Colors
Bold and bright paint colors on walls are to be avoided. While it is acceptable to use color, soothing shades of neutrals for the walls work best. Neutral colors can include anything from ecru to coffee, depending on the size of the room and the color of the flooring. Accents such as pillows, throw blankets, candles and some artwork can be done in brighter shades. It is important that all colors blend in an aesthetically pleasing manner, with accents serving to add nothing more than a splash of vibrancy.
Stage for Space: Rearrange Furniture
Most people do not want to purchase new furniture before moving, so existing furniture should be rearranged to highlight important features of the house such as a fireplace or large window. The key to successful furniture arrangement in a staged home is that less is always more. Remove extra pieces that are not necessary and put them in a storage facility. It is important to have the buyer pay attention to the house, not the furniture. Although you might love your stuff, the buyer needs to love the house.
Staging the Bathroom
Bathrooms don’t need to look like a spa, and rose petals do not need to be scattered in a tub full of water. In fact, that just might seem like a bit of overkill to potential buyers. Be sure to remove all personal items so that hair dryers, brushes and toothbrushes are not visible. Towels should be clean and freshly hung, with no more than two coordinating colors used.
Home Cleanliness Counts
It is important to clean the house thoroughly, top to bottom. Dust everything, including all ceiling fans. Vacuum all the corners, wash all the windows, and scrub everything until it shines. If necessary, steam clean the carpets and draperies. No amount of staging can make someone buy a dirty house. Plus, a dirty house will bring in lower offers from buyers.
Uniquely Unsellable Homes
There are times when no amount of staging will help sell a house. Sometimes location is a key factor, and if there is a brand new coal plant being built next door it is unlikely that the house will sell quickly, if at all. If this is the case, consult a real estate professional about alternatives. There may be zoning ordinances that make the property attractive as a business location, or it might work better as rental investment property.
Narielle Living - Narielle Living is a freelance writer living in southeastern Virginia. Her winning entry in the 2011 and 2009 Yorktown Literary ...
Join the Conversation