Home Staging: How to Make Your Home POP on a Budget. When it comes to selling your home, the process can be emotional, time-consuming, and at times may feel overwhelming. After all, this is the house that you have spent years transforming into the perfect home, a safe place for you and your family. Now, you’re inviting the world in to see it, judge it, with hopes it will be seen for all its worth and purchased at a generous price. While it all can feel a bit much at times, the bonus side of selling is beginning a new chapter, continuing to grow, and capitalizing on the equity in the home that you have taken such good care of.
To get the most out of the sale of your home, however, creating a blank slate, staged for buyers' appeal is an excellent marketing tactic that all sellers should consider. Preparing your home perfectly and padding your listing with captivating photos of your space can get your house the attention it deserves and sway the odds of a higher sold price in your favour.
Fortunately, staging your home doesn't have to come at too high of a cost. There are many ways that you can make your home “pop” on a budget. Here are some tips and tricks to get the staging of your home started for minimal cost in 2021.
Create a Blank Slate
While buyers are typically encouraged to look past possessions and aesthetics and focus on the bones of the home, for some this task is easier said than done if the home is filled with clutter. This is why it is important to begin all home staging by decluttering, depersonalizing, and essentially creating a blank canvas for potential buyers to envision their new lives.
Below are some ways to ensure this is done effectively.
- Declutter: Recycle, donate, pack or get rid of your items accordingly. Not everything in your home needs to come with you. A general rule of thumb for decluttering: if you haven’t used it in a year, remove it.
- Depersonalize: Remove all photos and wall hangings that are unique to your family.
- Store: Place as many items as possible into storage to help your home appear less lived in. Buyers want to be able to envision themselves in your home, which can be difficult when your possessions fill up each room.
- Fresh Paint: Once you have decluttered, depersonalized, and removed as many unnecessary items as possible from your home, paint your walls in a fresh coat of neutral coloured paint. This will brighten up your space and completely transform your home.
Deep Clean
When it comes to selling your home, nothing feels better than when the pride of ownership shines through. While you have likely kept your home clean and tidy throughout your residency, completing a big deep clean before your home is listed is a great idea to help your listing shine a bit brighter. You may want to consider a cleaning company to get all the corners and crevices that you may have missed, or are unable to reach.
Special attention should be paid to bedrooms, with clothes and personal belongings tucked away neatly, and bathrooms where the porcelain should be shining. If you have pets, it would be beneficial to remove as much pet hair as possible, and keep flooring washed and polished.
Invite Ample Lighting
For your listing photos and for any open houses or walk-throughs, you should ensure that your home is filled with light to avoid looking dull or dark to potential buyers. Having the right amount of light in your home can generate positive attention and allow your space to feel larger and more welcoming. To do this, invite in as much natural light as you can; keep your curtains open, and your windows clean allowing the sun to shine effortlessly into each room. For any dark corners that remain, use your home's light sources to create the bright and airy look you desire.
Hire a Staging Expert
If you are interested in getting assistance with your staging, or for more elaborate staging, hiring a professional stager can have major benefits. With all home sales, Royal LePage Team Realty offers a complimentary staging consultation. Not only do professional stagers have a keen eye for design, but they are also experienced in modifying space to accentuate a home's full potential. This can not only help your home stand out and sell faster, but it could also bring in more money from your sale and allow for a high return on investment.
Use A Professional Photographer
While photographers aren’t exactly stagers, their experience, techniques, and equipment can also work well to make your home stand out to potential buyers. Real estate photographers are excellent at highlighting important features of the home, and they have the right equipment to make your home look bright and spacious, helping to pique the interest of prospective buyers. Using a professional photographer can positively influence the sale of your home, and is a strong recommendation when you are ready to launch your listing.
If you are planning on selling your home, get in touch with one of our Royal LePage Team Realty agents today. There is nothing more comforting than a full-service brokerage that has your back and is ready to help you navigate this journey as you move on to the next chapter of your life.