Don’t Make These 7 Staging Mistakes

Staging your home is a necessary tool in order to appeal to potential buyers and sell your property faster. If it is done incorrectly, it can have a negative effect on how your property is perceived. Here are some things to avoid in order to get the most value out of listed homes.

First impressions are important when listing your home, and in our modern world, the first time a home is viewed is typically in photos. Taking the time to account for lighting, layout, and working with your space will help illuminate all your property has to offer. Allowing in as much natural light as possible, shooting from the corner of a room, and choosing key focal points such as the fireplace and windows can breathe life into the photo. Avoid overcluttered or close-up shots, as these could shine an undesirable light on your home.

We have a tendency to push the furniture to the edges of a room and press them against walls, but this can have a shrinking effect on a space. Take a look at homes published in magazines and you will find that the couches and chairs sit a few feet from the walls. This allows for a more walkable area and creates a breathable and open feel. Avoid angeling furniture as it can skew how a room is perceived, a simple layout will always out benefit a complex one. The use of rugs can help turn a room from empty to a warm inviting space. The art hanging should match the room, overly large or too many small pieces can distract and disrupt the flow of an area.

Staging your property should result in a ready-to-move-in house. This means that the property should be clean, organized, and of course, neat. Removing personal items such as small decorations and knickknacks will allow prospective buyers to view themselves living in the space without distractions or clutter. Avoid items such as family photos or souvenirs, and instead, opt for hanging artwork or plants around the home. In the world of home staging, less is always more.

While viewing a home, a potential buyer is looking to see if their life will fit within, and a great way to show them it can is by minimizing. Thoroughly tidying closet spaces, cabinets, and other storage areas will create a larger and more open space.

Throw back those curtains and shine some light on your home! Bright areas are inherently more inviting to buyers. To create more natural light, consider using opening window treatments, and transitioning to translucent curtains. Instead of hanging curtains just above your windows, try positioning them a foot above to give the illusion of a larger and more open feel. To truly enhance the room, adjust lamps and overhead fixtures to create your desired layers of light throughout the home. Typically every room within the home should have four light sources, and for a cohesive feel, make sure they all use the same type of bulb. In the wise words of Bing Crosby “Bring The Gloom To a Minimum.”

When staging a home, a safety blanket for many sellers is to fill their space with varying shades of beige, white, and gray. Although it can be beneficial to stick to neutrals when deciding the color palette, a monochromatic, bland home can leave a room feeling boring, sterile, and lacking in life. Instead, work to find a balance between giving your space personality and maintaining chic decor. An accent wall is a great way to add a pop of color and make your space a little more welcoming. A general rule is to leave your furniture neutral and bring in color with rugs, plants, pillows, and throws. When showing your house, it is important for it to have character, yet maintain a sophisticated and luxurious feel.

Curb appeal is vital when listing your home for sale. The exterior sets the atmosphere for the entire property as the first in-person impression, and typically the first picture presented online. A well-manicured lawn weeded flowerbeds, and a freshly washed exterior can help draw in future buyers. Pressure washing the driveway and repainting your home can make your property look good as new.

When preparing the outside of your home, try adding some color to your lawn with seasonal local flowers by the front door and in the windows. A well-lit porch and lawn will ensure that the exterior of your home is well-maintained and up to date. The outside of your home is the main focal point, so creating a clean inviting environment will welcome more people.

Who are you selling to? A family? A bachelor? There is power in staging a house with your prospective buyer in mind. Catering your decor to appeal to certain groups has benefits, but try to avoid overly specific decor. For example, instead of keeping the second bedroom as a nursery, you could decorate it as a guest room or office space. You should avoid alienating people with decor that they can’t personally relate to.

When decorating a home for sale it is easy to get sucked into what is trendy in an attempt to attract buyers. This, however, can have the opposite effect of the desired outcome and be detrimental to selling your home. Maintaining a classic transitional style will allow your property to cater to a broad spectrum of tastes without excluding any potential buyers.

Whether you are currently trying to sell your home or still deliberating on when to list, give Lynda Wennerstrom and Associates a call and receive assistance every step of the way. Coast Life real estate agents have extensive experience in staging and listing homes in order to better guide you through this process. Let these experts make selling your home easy and enjoyable!