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If you thought winning a listing was challenging, just wait until you have to start telling a homeowner what to do with their home in order to sell it quickly. Home staging is your chance to transform a property into a home that buyers can’t wait to get their hands on. Homeowners can be reluctant to make some of these changes, but it’s your job to guide them through the process. As an agent, you know a beautifully staged home turns into a sold one.
I’ll discuss 17 home staging tips that will help you transform any property into a must-see listing. From enhancing curb appeal to modernizing accents, these simple yet effective tips will elevate your listing and help you sell it faster.
Why is home staging important?
Buyers want to be able to see how a home will work for them. That’s hard to do when all they see is how someone else lives there. The goal of real estate staging is to highlight all its best features. The best home staging tips help you create a welcoming environment that will make buyers feel right at home.
It’s important to communicate to your sellers the value of home staging for real estate by taking out the personalization of the home while keeping the home’s personality and what makes it unique.
According to the National Association of REALTORS (NAR), 82% of buyers’ agents say that home staging makes it easier for a buyer to envision themselves living in a home. In addition, homes that are staged sell 73% faster than ones that are not. These facts clearly show the powerful impact home staging can have on real estate sales.
Make a strong first impression
1. Start with the curb appeal
Cost: $$
The very first impression a buyer will have is when they pull up to the property. It’s important to have a well-maintained exterior with fresh landscaping. It doesn’t have to be elaborate, but it should add some personality to the outside of the home. Fresh-cut grass, newly mulched flower beds and a clean driveway go a long way toward creating that “wow” factor. Small updates can make a big impact that is sure to spark the buyer’s interest and invite them to come inside.
2. Make outdoor spaces feel inviting
Cost: $$
The front of the house is not the only place buyers will want to feel at home. Outdoor spaces like patios, decks or balconies are often overlooked. Many buyers are looking for spaces that will allow them to entertain guests or relax on a cool fall evening. Not all buyers are able to visualize what they want, so it’s important to showcase what the space could be. Adding simple touches like cozy seating, warm lighting or some privacy plants can bring an outdoor space to life.
Pro Tip
If there’s a pool or outdoor water feature, be sure the seller turns it on during showings. This is a fun way to make the outdoor space memorable and invites the buyer to connect to the property.
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Prepare a clean, neutral canvas
3. Clear out clutter and personal items
Cost: $
Alright, the first two tips weren’t that hard, but this one might ruffle some feathers. Most sellers – especially if they’ve lived there for a long time – have their entire lives rooted in the property. Telling them to declutter and depersonalize the house can be a hard conversation and might be met with some resistance. It’s important to explain why this step is so important.
Decluttering
Decluttering is all about removing the excess and cleaning up the personal clutter to create a clean and inviting canvas. Let’s be honest: sellers probably don’t want buyers snooping through their mail or checking out all of their unfinished projects. Buyers can get easily distracted and start visualizing the sellers’ lives instead of their own.
If the sellers don’t take any other advice from you, this is the one real estate staging tip you’ll want to stress the importance of doing. It’s free and is likely to make the biggest impact on buyers.
Depersonalization
In order to attract more buyers, they have to be able to visualize themselves living in the home. Having personal items around can make it harder for buyers to connect to the space. Keeping the surroundings neutral – not just in color – will help them create their own story. It’s best to have the sellers pack up any family photographs, children’s artwork and other personal collections and store them out of sight.
Pro Tip
Don’t leave the cleared-out spaces blank. For example, if a fireplace mantel is empty from photographs being removed, consider filling the empty space with a few decorative pieces that add to the overall aesthetic of the home.
4. Make the home sparkle with a deep clean
Cost: $
After the house is decluttered and depersonalized, it’s time to make the home sparkle with some deep cleaning. This means going beyond everyday cleaning to get into the areas you don’t think about often. Baseboards, blinds, light fixtures and ceiling fans should be dusted and wiped down. Appliances should also get a deep clean to bring back their brilliant shine. A clean home gives the impression that the home has been well cared for and move-in ready.
5. Stick with neutral colors
Cost: $$
When I purchased my home a few years ago, I absolutely fell in love the second I walked in the front door – that is – until I walked into all the bedrooms and bathrooms. Every room was painted a different color with a quasi-matching ceiling. The dollar signs started running through my mind and all I could think about for the rest of the showing was how much it was going to cost me to repaint or how much time it would take me to fix it if I did it myself.
While painting may seem like an overwhelming task – and cost to most home sellers, it can be one that makes a big impact and helps the home sell quickly. A neutral canvas will allow buyers to decide how they will use a space or what color they may want to paint it. Instead of focusing on what they must change, they can focus on what it could be.
Pro Tip
If sellers can’t afford to paint and neutralize the home, suggest offering a credit to buyers before negotiations. This lets buyers focus on making the space their own instead of worrying about the cost of the updates.
Optimize the space and maximize the layout
6. Highlight storage and multi-use spaces
Cost: $
Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ve probably seen all the TikTok and YouTube videos of DIY’ers converting spaces for extra storage and organized spaces. Pantry conversions, garage organization and man cave spaces are at the top of the list. If your listing has any unique spaces that are on trend right now – be sure to highlight them in your listing pictures and description.
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7. Optimize furniture placement
Cost: $
Have you ever walked into a house and thought, “Why in the world would they put that there?” Yeah, me too. As a part of the decluttering process, encourage your sellers to move furniture pieces to make the home feel more cohesive. If there are too many pieces, suggest they put a few in storage so that buyers can navigate the home more freely. A little rearranging can go a long way when trying to show the potential of a space.
8. Let the natural light in
Cost: $
While abundant lighting in a house is great, sometimes just opening the blinds can make a huge difference. Natural sunlight creates the feeling that a space is warm, open and airy – even in small, dark places. Letting the natural light in is a great home staging tip to make the home feel more inviting and is sure to attract more buyers.
9. Use mirrors to open small spaces
Cost: $$
Did you know that using mirrors in smaller spaces can make them feel more open? Mirrors reflect light and create the illusion of additional space. Be sure to position any accent mirrors across from a window or another well-lit area. This little trick will help buyers visualize how to take advantage of every square inch of space.
Accentuate unique features
10. Make unique and upgraded features stand out
Cost: $$
Unique details are what make a property special. Make sure these features are front and center in your listing. It could be a charming fireplace, an outdoor oasis, a custom pantry or the newly updated kitchen that will attract potential buyers. Use neutral décor to stage the area in a way that naturally draws attention to the feature. This will help the buyers see the value in the property’s potential.
11. Brighten up the space with better lighting
Cost: $$
I know we talked about using natural light to open up spaces, but we can’t forget to talk about lighting in general. Dark rooms make it hard for buyers to see the details of the property. Lighting can also add character to a plain room. Suggest that the seller install updated light fixtures, brighter bulbs or add some accent lighting. With the right lighting choices, you’ll make every room feel warm and vibrant.
12. Strategically stage primary rooms
Cost: $
Primary rooms are those areas that buyers are likely to use the most, like a primary bedroom, kitchen and main living areas. The goal of this home staging tip is to show the buyer how a space can be utilized while maximizing the space. Living rooms are for family gatherings or afternoon naps, while a primary bedroom should feel like a retreat away from the rest of the world. Be sure to focus your attention on how buyers may utilize the space by helping them envision themselves living there.
Add final touches with modern enhancements
13. Refresh old hardware and fixtures
Cost: $
I’m sure we’ve all seen a house with the beautiful wood cabinets that have the original 1970’s hardware still attached. Changing out the old hardware and other dated fixtures is a quick way to modernize a home. This may seem like a small detail, but it can have a big impact on the home’s overall feel. Swapping out old door knobs, cabinet handles and other dated fixtures will make the home feel refreshed and updated. The best part – this is a relatively inexpensive way to create a modern, cohesive feel throughout the house.
14. Accessorize with modern décor
Cost: $$
Some properties need a splash of style to get it sold. Accessorizing with modern décor can give any space a fresh and stylish feel. Using neutral pieces of art or decorative throw pillows can add a little flare without going too far over the top. The key here is to keep it simple by adding accents to enhance a room’s character without detracting from the space. This is a great way for buyers to imagine how they would decorate with their own personal items.
15. Invest in professional photography
Cost: $$
Home staging will only be as good as your listing photos. Even a perfectly staged house can go unnoticed if the pictures don’t capture the essence of the home. Invest in a professional photographer to be sure your staging investment doesn’t go to waste. When you upload the photos into MLS or on your listing website, be sure the pictures tell a story. They should flow from one room to another while accentuating the best qualities of each room.
Are you looking to create a branded website to showcase your listing photos? AgentFire can create a custom website that fully represents your brand. If you’re not sure where to start, their Ignite package offers templated web design to get you started. You can also customize an already existing layout or custom design one of your own from scratch. With three packages to choose from, AgentFire is sure to have a package that fits your budget.
Visit AgentFire
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16. Try virtual staging for vacant homes
Cost: $$
Not all listings will be occupied or necessitate bringing in staged pieces. Virtual staging is a cost-effective alternative to traditional home staging. It allows you to add furniture, fixtures and neutral wall colors to your existing listing photos, regardless of the occupancy status. If your listing is vacant or the budget is tight, virtual staging is a budget-friendly way to bring a buyer’s creativity to life and see a home’s true potential.
17. Bring in smart home technology
Cost: $$$
Let’s face it – we live in a tech-driven digital age. New tech gadgets for the home are being released every day. More and more buyers are interested in homes equipped with smart devices – from smart thermostats and appliances to security and lighting systems. Tech-savvy buyers, especially those attached to their phones, will prioritize properties with a modern edge.
If the seller already has smart tech in the home, be sure to highlight these upgrades in your listing. If not, consider discussing adding a few simple, cost-effective additions prior to listing the property. As the agent, you know the market. If the return on investment justifies the expense, it may be a worthwhile upgrade.
The full picture: The 17 best home staging tips
Staging a home for sale is not just about making a home look beautiful. It’s not putting lipstick on a pig or hiding imperfections. The purpose of home staging is to make a property’s best features stand out while showing a buyer the potential of the property. When it comes down to it, these 17 tips will help your listing stand out in a competitive market and attract more buyers. Homes that are well-staged don’t just look better – they feel better, too. This allows buyers to create an emotional connection with the house and is sure to motivate them to make an offer.
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