How to Stage a Home to Get it Ready to Sell
When it’s time to sell, homeowners want to make sure they can sell quickly and get the highest amount for their home. To do this, most real estate agents will recommend staging the home. The idea behind this is to create a comfy, cozy look that makes buyers interested in the home and helps encourage them to consider it as their future home. To stage a home, there are a number of things homeowners will want to do.
Thoroughly Clean the House
When it’s time to think about listing a home in Augusta, the first step every homeowner should take is to thoroughly clean the home. This doesn’t mean just wiping down the counters and cleaning the floors, but really getting into the areas that aren’t cleaned as often, like behind the refrigerator, to make sure the home is spotless. It’s important to clean everywhere that buyers might see when they’re touring the home, so they see the home was taken care of properly and is in good shape, and they can move in right away if they buy it.
Remove All Clutter from the Home
Go through the home while cleaning and remove anything that isn’t needed daily or could be considered clutter. It’s time to minimize the number of belongings in the home as much as possible. Anything that will be kept can be packed and placed into storage or moved to the new home if it’s ready. Now’s a great time to get rid of anything that won’t need to be moved to the new home. The goal with decluttering is to make more space in the home so it looks spacious and open for potential buyers.
Take Out Personalization
Remove any personalization from the home so it looks like a home anyone could live in. This helps buyers picture themselves in the home, which can encourage them to put in an offer. Names above bedrooms, photos of the family, and any other personalization throughout the home should be taken down and packed away. Remove art on the refrigerator, put clothes in the closet or dresser so they aren’t as easy to see, and keep all toys put away so they don’t stand out when a buyer comes to look at the home.
Define Each Room
Often, with busy lives, rooms end up being multi-purpose. The dining room might become the home office, homework zone, and an area to work on art projects. However, when buyers are looking at the home, it’s best to keep it just as a dining room. Think about what each room should be and organize the belongings so they fit that definition. If something doesn’t fit, it should be packed away or kept out of view to avoid taking away from the overall look of the room.
Paint the Inside of the Home
It is a good idea to consider painting the interior of the home so it’s consistent, fresh, and neutral. There are some paint colors that are recommended as they can help increase the home value, but homeowners can choose any more neutral color they prefer. Have all of the rooms painted to look the same, as this gives the potential buyer a fresh palette to consider how they’d like to decorate the home if they decide to buy it.
Clean or Replace the Flooring
Once everything is organized and clean, take a look at the floors. If they’ve seen better days or are stained and can’t be cleaned, it might be time to think about replacing them. Look for flooring that is not too expensive while still being durable and that will add to the overall look and charm of the home. If the flooring is in good shape, however, a deep clean should be sufficient. It may be a good idea to have a professional clean the floors so they look their best before buyers start looking at the home.
Use Natural Lighting
It is a good idea to check the window coverings to see if they need any repairs or if they’re still in good shape. It is recommended for homeowners to keep the windows open when the house is being sold, as this lets in a lot more natural lighting and helps buyers to see what the home looks like. In areas where there might not be enough light, it’s okay to use overhead lights or lamps to make sure the room looks great, but where natural light is possible, use it.
Minimize Furniture in the Room
It is a good idea to minimize the amount of furniture in each room. Homeowners may have a lot of furniture they’ve obtained over the years to ensure the home meets their needs, but more furniture just takes up more space and can make the home look smaller to a potential buyer. Instead, remove any non-essential furniture so the space looks as large as possible.
Do Necessary Repairs
It is a good idea to go through the home to look for any basic repairs that might be needed. If there are cracks in the drywall, discoloration in the ceiling, or other minor issues in the home, the homeowner may be able to do the repairs themselves. However, for bigger jobs, it may be better to have a professional handle it all. Getting everything fixed now helps when there is an inspection before the buyer purchases the home, and can help the home look better to encourage more potential buyers to put in an offer.
Finishing Touches
Don’t forget the finishing touches before potential buyers take a look at the home. This might include fresh flowers in a vase, airing out the house before a viewing, or putting fresh towels in the bathroom to make sure everything looks amazing.
If you’re getting ready to sell, staging your home can help it sell faster and for more money. However, it is important to make sure everything is done right to ensure you get the best offers for the home. Use the list here to start going through the home and getting everything ready for the buyers to see.
