The Dos and Don'ts of Home Staging
Staging your home involves a lot of planning and preparation. After all, you want to make sure your home is as appealing as possible to prospective buyers, both online and in person. Luckily, there are quite a few tips, tricks and best practices that can help you achieve this goal. But do be careful, as there are also things you should avoid during the staging process.
The Dos
Do - Focus on your curb appeal.
Your curb appeal has a substantial effect on your home staging. Not only is it potential buyers’ first impression when they browse online, but it’s also the first sight they’ll see upon arriving at a showing or an open house. This is a golden opportunity to wow them, so make sure you put some effort into planning out gardening, decor and any other prep that needs to be done before guests arrive, or photography is taken.
Do - Have professional photography done.
Not only does your home need to look nice, it also needs to be captured well. It’s important that you hire experienced professional photographers, as they’re properly educated on effective practices and precise techniques that will undoubtedly make your home shine. They’re often equipped with thousands of dollars worth of professional instruments like drones and high-resolution cameras which can achieve wonders inside and outside of your home. Lucky for you - most realtors will handle this on your behalf.
Do - Brighten up your home.
It’s important that you do what you can to brighten your home before showing it or having any photography taken. Draw back any curtains or blinds you have and make sure that your lighting appliances have fresh, bright bulbs screwed in. Also consider applying a fresh coat of paint, as the existing coat has likely faded and become dull over time.
The Don'ts
Don’t - Clutter your spaces.
Try to keep your spaces decluttered. This involves storing (or sometimes, discarding) much of your home decor during the staging process. If you’re having a hard time figuring out where to start, try removing one piece at a time. Keep things simple so that it’s easy for potential buyers to imagine themselves living there. Make sure any visitors have room to explore the home without moving anything out of the way.
Don’t - Personalize your home.
On a similar note to the previous point, you should always try to separate your personal touch from the decor. On the other hand, try to avoid a look that’s too dull and simplistic, as it may take away from the coziness of your home.
Don’t - Decorate seasonally.
If you choose to decorate your home seasonally, any listing photos you have done can become quickly outdated. Let’s say, for example, that you have a rough season and your home doesn’t sell right away. Potential buyers may assume that there’s something keeping others from making an offer, considering how long it’s been on the market.
Allow us to help you along the way!
If you have any other questions about home staging, feel free to reach out and ask away! We have a vast network of industry professionals to help make your real estate goals a reality.