Selling your house fast can be a quite an overwhelming, yet exciting experience. There’s a lot to think about and consider when selling your home. One important decision is whether or not to stage your home.
Have you ever visited an open house before from popular developers? The smell of fresh paint, the luminous lighting and spacious rooms, instantly captivate you and make you eager to explore more of the house. Wouldn’t you like to stage your house in a similar way to be just as inviting? Remember, your ultimate goal is to sell your house, fast! To ensure that you sell your house fast, just keep in mind these four simple tips that many sellers overlook:
Minimize The Clutter
Keep in mind, your house must be ready to show to a potential buyer on the fly, so be sure to minimize the clutter. Go ahead and get a head start on packing up some of your things now. Buyers do not like cluttered countertops; you want to optimize the space. So put away your toaster, can opener, and other appliances you don’t use every day, or that take up too much room. This also includes decluttering furniture. You want your living spaces to look bigger. For example, if you have a five piece furniture set, try leaving one sofa and two arm chairs in the living room. Store the other pieces in a different room (game room, master bedroom, nook) to provide a reading area or an extra sitting area elsewhere. If you don’t have this option, it may be better to put your extra furniture in storage. Also, be sure to tidy up the bedrooms, game room, and office. (I’ll get more into that as you read).
Minimize Distractions
You want buyers to focus on your house alone. Put away family photos in frames and other personal items. Besides having you out of the house, it’s also a good idea to have your pets out of your house as well. If that is not possible, then try to keep them outside during the showing. This will give the buyers the freedom to walk around the house comfortably.
Lighting
Lighting is key when showing your house. Bring as much natural light as you can into your home by opening blinds and curtains. It is a good idea to install high watt light bulbs, or the very bright LED lights in places with minimal natural light such as bathrooms, closets, and kitchen pantry. Remember not to overdo it though. If there is enough natural light in rooms, then you don’t really need the extra help from high watt bulbs. Also, think about how you can use light to your advantage to highlight some potential strengths in your home. An example we have used in the past is to place a lamp and chair in nooks of your house so that it is set up as an extra reading or office space. Or, if you have an extra large master bedroom, add a lamp and recliner in the corner to make a more appealing master suite.
Ambiance & Environment
Furthermore, make sure your house is tidy and clean. Be sure there are no dishes piled in the sink, clean your floors, and wipe down the cabinets and especially your doors. This may sound like a lot to do before a showing, but some of these cleanings such as the cabinets and doors you only have to do once since these are often overlooked. Keep in mind that buyers want to visualize themselves living in your home. One way to achieve this is to simply set up your tables (breakfast and dining if you have both) which includes adding placemats, cloth napkins, and a centerpiece (as seen in picture below). This doesn’t mean you have to go out and buy a new table setting. Use what you have around your house. I had the plates, silverware, napkins, vase, and marbles. I bought the silk hydrangea flowers on sale at hobby lobby for two bucks and the place mats at garden ridge for $2 each. So if you don’t have some things, it gives you a great chance to bargain shop! 😉
Bonus Tip
Lastly, to achieve a great first impression from a potential buyer when they first walk in, vamp up your entry way. Consider adding fresh or silk flowers (that look fresh) as a centerpiece on an entry table. Also include a fragrance plug-in by the front entrance and in main living areas for a nice smell to walk into (light fragrance, you don’t want to make it too over powering, the “clean linen” scent is what I typically use).
Your house can have the same wow-factor of a developer model home without busting the budget. Minimizing the clutter and distractions, using proper lighting, and touching up on the ambiance will help leave a lasting impression on potential buyers. Using these four house staging tips will certainly help your house sell fast and maybe even for a higher price. Oh and, don’t forget the entry way!
Happy House Staging!