Property Staging Tips That Sell
- Jun 27, 2019
- 6 min read
Updated: Mar 23
Designers tout it, and builders love it, but what is all the hype about home staging tips? Well, there’s a good reason why many see staging as the perfect selling tool. On average, well-staged homes sell for 6% over their non-staged competition. In fact, according to the National Association of Realtors (NAR), 81% of buyers find it easier to visualize a property as their future home when it’s staged. When you factor in that the average home in Michigan sells for around $152,000, you can see why sellers use property staging tips to capture an extra $9,000+ that staging may bring.
Staging a house to sell quickly is a useful selling tool because it transforms your home into the ultimate salesperson. A well-staged home provides buyers with just enough vision to picture themselves living there while leaving room for them to imagine what it could be and how it fits their lifestyle. By following these real estate staging strategies, you can stage like a pro without breaking the bank.
The Minimalist Wins
The number one rule in home staging tips is... declutter! Grandma’s porcelain figurines and your college furniture may fit well with your décor, but they will only make your space seem cluttered to buyers (we love you, Grandma!). If you do nothing else, a simple cleaning and storing of non-essential items will open up your space and allow buyers to focus on your home’s best staging features instead of your personal items.
Pay attention to countertops, cabinets, and excess furniture. Aim to declutter display and work surfaces, and when you think you’ve decluttered... declutter some more! Just a few well-placed display items will help buyers visualize the space while still highlighting key property features. Check out these decluttering tips from HGTV. Ideally, you should store irrelevant items in a storage unit. If that’s not possible, store them in a basement, shed, or garage to keep living areas open and inviting.
Don't Make it Personal
What is life if we don't get to celebrate life's precious moments? Family pictures, achievement awards, kids' paintings, vacation photos, and similar personal items all have sentimental value and allow us to relive the moment. However, when selling your home, it is important for buyers to envision themselves and their families living in your... their home.
How to stage a home for sale effectively means replacing family photos and other personal items with 'neutral' photos or removing them altogether will keep buyers from focusing on your personal items and will allow them to fill in the blanks with their own personal touches. Now, that doesn't mean that all personal items are bad. For instance, a kid's painting in a room that is dedicated as a kid's playroom may work very well. However, in general, it's best to remove or replace your personal items with more 'buyer neutral' and buyer-friendly items.
Sell a Lifestyle
What do some of the most successful real estate staging strategies have in common? They sell a lifestyle and not just a home. No matter how well-priced your property may be or how good it looks on a listing, the fact is that your listing will face competition, whether it be through quality, price, location, or all of the above. One of the things you can do to ensure others can't compete is to offer not only a home but a lifestyle through DIY home staging.
Does your property have a unique feature? A pool? Near a lake or river? Close to a recreational park? On a lot with acreage? Near attractions? Offer a quiet retreat? ... you get the point. Play it up! Bring in staging items that reflect that lifestyle throughout the property, and if the feature is on your property, take care to further draw attention to it. Offering a vision to buyers of what 'life could be like' living in your property, so they can see themselves living there, is a surefire way to get a 'buzz' going about your listing. Buyers may look beyond your property's shortfalls for the appeal in lifestyle that it can offer.
"Effective staging not only strategically places items within your space but, also removes irrelevant items with the ultimate goal of helping buyers see the highlights of your space."
Provide a Design Solution
When viewing your property, buyers have tons of questions 'What can this space be used for? Will my furniture fit in here? Is there enough storage?', etc., etc., etc. One of the most overlooked staging tips for sellers is understanding that staging is all about providing answers for buyers as they look through the property asking themselves these questions. The more solutions you are able to provide for your buyers, the more successful your staging will be and the more buyers it will attract.
Show buyers the way. The best home staging ideas use staging to define awkward spaces and common in-demand spaces like kitchens, living rooms, and master bedrooms. Take care to use appropriately sized furniture for your space and don't overdo it. If done correctly, staging can actually make a room appear larger and more inviting than if the room were left completely empty.
Anchor For Effect
Have you ever viewed a listing and had one or two standout features stick in your mind? That’s an anchor! Whether it’s a stunning fireplace, an accent wall, or a charming reading nook, staging a house to sell quickly means making sure buyers remember your home long after they leave.
Anchors, however, can be as simple as using pops of color strategically or as involved as incorporating a consistent theme throughout your staged property. Highlight architectural features of your property as anchors; think of a pool, a bonus room, a fireplace, storage, laundry room, etc. Essentially, almost any positive feature can be used as your anchor, so long as you 'dress' it up correctly to ensure it stands out as a positive in a buyer's mind. If you don't have many noteworthy features, make your own anchor; think of chalkboard frames, accent walls, and other unique design elements. The key here is to stand out in the buyer's mind in a positive way so that your property will long be remembered after they have left.
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Focus on Gatherings and Highlights
If you're working within a limited DIY home staging budget, which most of us are, it may be best to start by addressing your property's key features and places that naturally draw people to gather. Kitchens, bathrooms, and master bedrooms are highlights that buyers look forward to seeing, and living rooms, patios/decks, and eating areas are natural gathering places where buyers will envision themselves living. Special attention to these key areas will maximize your return on investment and make your listing stand apart from the crowd.
Curb Appeal
If HGTV and DIY have taught us anything, it's that curb appeal for home selling is essential. Now, of course, there's not much you can do about the neighborhood your property is in, but what you can do is ensure that your property looks inviting enough from the street for buyers to want to come in. All the bells and whistles and hard work that go into staging your property will be no good if buyers are immediately turned off by your property's outside appearance and never come in.
A simple outside cleanup will help greatly: mow the lawn and trim hedges, repaint or clean the front door, add potted plants for a welcoming touch, power wash the exterior, and a general overall attention to appearance will not only make your listing photos stand out, but will also set the tone for onsite buyers by creating a sense of interest. Check out these expert curb appeal tips from Better Homes & Gardens to make your home stand out.
Putting it All Together
The ultimate goal of how to stage a home for sale is to sell your property faster and for top dollar. Staging gives your listing an edge by making it more attractive, memorable, and marketable. Understanding the latest real estate market trends can help sellers price their homes strategically. If you're still curious if staging will help you, Realtor.com’s New & Insights provides valuable data on buyer preferences and selling trends.
By applying these best home staging ideas, you’ll help buyers visualize themselves living in the home and make your property stand out. Whether you’re working with a professional stager or handling DIY home staging, these strategies will increase your chances of a fast, profitable sale.
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About the Author Ricardo Reis - Learn About Ricardo
Entrepreneur, Inventor, Investor, Military Veteran. Ricardo is a member of G3 Management & Investments a division of Great Lakes Real Estate and a real estate professional. He is a real estate professional and a successful real estate investor for over 15 years.
NOT INVESTMENT, FINANCIAL, LEGAL, TAX, OR OTHER ADVICE: This blog is for informational purposes only and not a substitute for professional advice. We do not offer advice, solicitation, recommendations, or endorsements. You are solely responsible for evaluating the information's merits and risks. Always consult a qualified professional before acting.