How to Stage a House: A Brief Guide
Selling
Staging a house involves everything from cleaning and organizing to decorating and styling. Follow this guide to learn how to stage a house and increase the likelihood of a sale.
Deep Clean Everything
Potential buyers will notice an unkempt lawn, peeling paint, and dusty windowsills right away. If you expect them to invest in your home, you should present your property as a well-kept and worthwhile investment. In addition to having the carpets professionally cleaned, you should stop in regularly while the home is on the market to vacuum and dust.
Enhance Your Home’s Natural Light
Your house only has so many windows, so trying to increase the natural light may seem like an impossible task. However, there are many ways to help improve both the quality and quantity of natural light in your home. These include:
- Cleaning all windows thoroughly, inside and out, to remove grime or dusty films
- Pulling back heavy curtains or switching to lighter-colored fabrics
- Replacing old or yellowed blinds with new sets or styles
- Hanging a large mirror on a wall opposite a window, such as in the living room or dining room
- Keeping tall items such bookshelves away from windows
In addition to keeping tall shelves away from windows, you should ensure they are not blocking the sun’s sight line into an adjoining room.
Remove or Put Away Personal Items
Whether you are still living in the home that is on the market or have recently moved out, be sure to remove any personal items. You want prospective buyers to imagine themselves on the property, and your cutesy comforter or children’s’ toys may not fit in with their daydream.
Style Your Home to Make it Inviting
Properly staging a house means finding the balance between a space that is overly decorated and one that appears livable. Potential homebuyers may feel uncomfortable if your home appears overly magazine-like, because they may not be able to picture their family in residence. However, you must ensure that everything is kept neat and tidy, with enough wall décor and table decorations to keep each room from looking plain.
Check Back Regularly
No matter how long you expect your home to be on the market, you should plan to visit the property often. Make sure that the walkway is kept clear, and that the house is kept at a comfortable temperature. Try parking on the street or in the garage to avoid leaving oil stains on the driveway, and be sure to clean up after outdoor pets. Following these tips will help make your home more appealing to potential buyers, improving your chances for a faster sale.
