If you have ever sold a house before, you are well aware that it’s not as simple as throwing it on the market and waiting for a sale. Selling a home requires some preparation to ensure you get the most return on your investment while attracting the perfect buyer at the same time.
For this reason, I’ve collected some of my favourite home staging tips that have resulted in above-average closing rates and equal satisfaction between the buyer and seller.
That’s what I call a win-win!
Chris Proctor’s Top 12 Home Staging Tips
1. Make Sure It Looks Great Outside
First impressions are everything and the first thing that turns prospective buyers off is easily a poorly maintained front-yard. This means mowing the lawn, trimming the hedges and even giving a fresh coat of exterior paint to the doors, window frames and perhaps the house itself, depending on how rough the condition is.
2. Don’t Go Crazy With The Colours
You would be amazed at how often a poor choice of paint colour can ruin the vibe for your potential buyers. Avoid louder colours like bright green or hot pink and opt for more neutral colours like beige or burgundy.
3. Lighting Is Everything
If they can’t clearly see there way through the house, how can they judge it? Even retail stores realize the power of lighting when closing sales so take a page out of their manual and make sure you have ample lighting when your potential buyers come for a visit. This means opening all the windows and making sure all burnt light bulbs have been replaced.
4. Refinish/Replace Old Flooring
Replacing carpets will be much cheaper than the hit you’ll take to the price if you make the new owners replace them. If you have hardwood, refinishing & staining can bring old floors back to life again without the high price tag of replacement.
5. The Little Things Matter
Go around the house and pay attention to the smaller details like small paint chips, dents in the wall or putting a little WD-40 into squeaky doors. Trust me, buyers notice these things, especially when the last house was almost perfect.
6. Clean Your House & De-Clutter
Yes, this one is obvious but you would be amazed to see how many homes show up on MLS with messy homes in the photographs that are supposed to attract buyers! Which reminds me of the next point…
7. Hire A Good Photographer
A picture says a thousand words! Don’t underestimate the value of hiring a great photographer. They can be the difference that gets potential buyers interested or else they might never even make it to the front door.
8. Remove Personal Items
Go through your house and remove personal items such as family photos. It’s crucial that you are setting up your home so that prospective buyers can easily picture themselves living there. Pictures of you and your family will make that visualization that much more challenging.
9. Remove Damaged Items
Remove any damaged furniture or items around the house. If you don’t take care of your stuff, how well did you take care of the house? It might sound silly but the thought will cross their mind.
10. Make The Master Bedroom Appealing
We spend approximately 1/3 of our lives sleeping so you can’t underestimate the importance of making the master bedroom appealing. Consider buying new covers and pillows to freshen up the look.
11. Make Sure The House Smells Good
This is absolutely imperative! Nothing will turn off prospective buyers (and house guests) like a strange, mysterious odors.
12. Showcase Optimal Use of Space
Get rid of anything that is crowding rooms and makes them appear smaller. This is especially important in the living room since that is where most time is spent for families. That big, comfy sectional couch might be great to lounge on but don’t let fool buyers into thinking your house is cramped.
Remember That Not Everyone Can Use Their Imagination
The one key that ties all of these home staging tips together is that you have to show people the potential of your home. Do not assume that their imagination will fill the gaps because not everyone will have the attitude!
I hope you found these home staging tips useful. Feel free to connect with me via Facebook or Twitter if you have any questions about Edmonton real estate.
Posted by Chris Proctor on
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