When preparing to list your home, there are a number of steps that you should take to ensure that you are presenting the house in the best light (both literally and figuratively). While not all sellers choose to stage their homes, it is something that can give you an edge when listing. Here are five staging tips to help you prepare to list your home.
- Declutter and depersonalize
When prospective buyers step inside the house, you want them to see themselves living there. You want them to see where their furniture and personal items can fit in the home. Seeing as you’re preparing to move, chances are you are already taking steps to declutter, but consider going one-step further. Packing up anything you don’t need until you move that might be taking up extra room and utilizing an external storage to keep as many unnecessary belongings out of the house. Among those items could be anything on display that is deeply personal. Take the photos and magnets off the fridge, family memorabilia off the mantle, and clean up the children’s toys. - Swap wallpaper or bold colours for neutral paint
Part of allowing prospective buyers to be able to see themselves in what might be their new home, is giving them as clean and neutral canvas to visualize their furniture and other belongings in. Part of this taking the time to add a fresh coat of paint to the walls. Wallpaper will most likely be removed by the new owners, as well any bold wall colours. So, preemptively putting neutral colours on the walls will appeal to the potential new owners. - Clearly identify each room
When walking through a home of interest, it’s extremely important for the size and versatility of the home to be on display. This means that each room needs a clearly defined purpose. That spare room that was an office one day, a gym the next and a spare room on the weekends, needs a clear purpose. The goal is not to tell the buyer what the room has to be, but show them what it can be in a way that efficiently maximizes the space. - Add greenery to freshen up focus rooms
Fresh flowers and plants can do wonders to brighten and freshen up a room. While you don’t want to clutter a space that you have just worked hard to declutter, strategically adding a few plants in focus rooms of the home can bring it to life. Make sure you don’t overwhelm the room or yourself, because with plants comes upkeep. You want to make sure that any greenery added is greenery you can maintain so that they don’t get overly dusty and you can remove dead leaves or flowers as needed. - Clean, clean, and clean again
One of the most important routines you can get into when listing, is constantly cleaning. Anticipate the mess before it happens. Everything from ensuring clothes are out of sight, desks are clear, countertops are empty, and remnants of pets, old food, or anything that can leave an odour, is taken care of. Making yourself a daily check-list and taking thirty minutes each day, will help you keep your home showing ready at any given moment.
If you’re considering selling your home, don’t let yourself get overwhelmed. I’m here to help lead you to a successful sale. Get in touch with me today at [email protected] and we’ll get started.