Source: Yahoo! —
If you have ever sold a home, you’re likely familiar with the process of staging. Typically, this involves hiring a real estate agent or staging professional to style your space so it looks its best (and particularly attractive to the buyer demographic) as you prepare to sell it. This makes it easier for potential buyers to ignore all of the things that make your space yours—and allows them to envision living there, instead.
A well-staged home also lets your home’s potential shine through, giving hopeful homeowners a peek at all the different things that can be done with the space. Here’s the thing: Staging your home can be expensive, especially if you need to hire a stager (though, some real estate agents offer this service for a fee). To cut costs (and see the majority of that selling price), learn how to stage your home like a professional.
Why It’s Important to Stage Your Home
Hiring a stager can feel like a necessary expense for some homeowners—but you don’t need to be an expert to learn how to disguise problem spots or make your home’s best features shine. It is important, however, to approach this process the right way. “Getting the ‘home showroom’ ready by arranging furniture and accessories to accentuate the space can be the difference between a buyer walking away or making an offer,” says Margie Anderson, a real estate agent for HomeLister, who is licensed in Oregon and Washington.
The goal of staging your home is to make the space feel as light and inviting to as many potential buyers as possible and to highlight its best features, says Becki Danchik, a broker with Coldwell Banker Warburg and accredited home stager. Staging to appeal to the widest pool of buyers often results in getting the best value for your home, she says.
How to Stage a House for Sale in 5 Steps
1. Evaluate Your Space
Before you decide whether or not your home needs to be staged, evaluate your space—look at each room as though you’re seeing it for the first time, says Anderson. “Take an unbiased look around the exterior and interior of your house, looking for obvious imperfections, wear and tear, and needed repairs,” she says. Make note of the things that need fixing, updating, or changing so that you know what to prioritize.
Once you’ve made a list of needed improvements, decide which items you can do on your own and which you need to outsource. “You may be able to fix a leaky faucet, but a home inspector will be looking with a trained eye—so don’t skimp on the major repairs and enlist the help of a professional where it matters,” says Anderson.
2. Set a Budget
Even the smallest staging steps can add up, which is why it’s important to set a dollar limit and stick to it, explains Anderson. “If you are planning on using a storage space for home overflow or any professional services (like weekly cleanings or yard maintenance), factor in these costs,” she says.
3. Clean, Streamline, and Update
If you are still living in your home while it’s being shown, take care to keep it neat and tidy. “Remove clutter from all surface areas and store appliances in cabinets (not on the kitchen counter),” Anderson says. Even spaces that aren’t entirely front-facing should be considered: “All closets should be kept clean and organized,” she says—since, yes, prospective buyers will open them.
