We’ve all heard the quote “you never get a second chance to make a good first impression,” and that’s especially true in real estate. When you’re selling your house, making a strong first impression on potential buyers impacts whether or not your house stands out from the competition. A successful sale requires careful preparation, and your Realtor has the resources to help you make a positive and lasting impression. Whether your house needs minor adjustments or more extensive input from a home stager, staging your house to sell can start with some easy changes. Let’s look at 10 DIY tips to get started with home staging.
Home Staging Tip 1: Start at the Entry
1. Start Staging at the Entry
The first impression starts at the entry. Make sure the yard is neat with freshly cut grass and weed-free flower beds. Additionally, sweep the sidewalk and entry area, ensuring that there are no unsightly cobwebs and debris. Give the door a fresh coat of paint, add a welcome mat, and consider incorporating seasonal potted plants to create a warm welcome.
2. Deep Clean
A clean home speaks volumes to buyers and visitors, communicating that your house is well-maintained. Thoroughly clean windows, countertops, appliances, bathrooms, floors, and under furniture. The added benefit to a deep clean is that your house will shine in photographs. If you need recommendations for trusted cleaning services, we can help with that too!
3. Declutter and Neutralize
Prospective buyers need to envision themselves living in the house. First, remove personal photographs and artwork to make the spaces more neutral. If your rooms are painted bright or dark colors, repaint them to more neutral shades. Your agent can recommend the best paint colors to appeal to buyers. In the meantime, check out some of this year’s most popular neutral wall colors here.
Decluttering will make rooms feel larger and help buyers focus on the space rather than the “stuff.” As a result, they will be able to consider how each room will suit their specific needs.
Home Staging Tip 5: Thoughtfully Arrange Furniture
4. Use Staging to Emphasize Storage Areas
Potential buyers want a house that will provide enough storage for their belongings. Highlight the storage space in closets and cabinets by organizing and decluttering. The addition of shelving and organizers to your closets showcases versatile storage solutions and can prove to be a worthwhile investment.
5. Thoughtfully Arrange Furniture
Arrange furniture to create a sense of flow and maximize the perceived size of each room. Avoid blocking natural pathways and ensure that there is plenty of space to move around. The wrong furniture arrangement can make a room feel cramped and too small. Fortunately, rearranging your furniture is cost-free, and you can experiment with multiple layouts by moving furniture from other rooms.
6. Showcase the Versatility of Spaces
Do you have a bonus room, spare bedroom, or other multipurpose space? Showcase the various uses of a room to help buyers clearly envision the possibilities. For example, an extra bedroom can double as an office. Stage it with a desk, chair, and bookcase to communicate a different use. A bonus room may have room for a craft space, entertainment area, and extra storage. Look around your home for items that you can use to stage distinct scenes in the room. Your Realtor can offer valuable insight into what buyers are looking for and how to stage a room to appeal to multiple buyers.
7. Focus on Lighting
Well-lit spaces feel welcoming and inviting, which is the tone you want to set for anyone looking at your house. Open the curtains and blinds to let in as much natural light as possible. Similarly, focus on your lighting fixtures. Replace any outdated fixtures with more classic or on-trend options. You can find impactful lighting options to fit almost any budget. Combine overhead lighting, task lighting, and ambient lighting to add warmth to each room.
Home Staging Tip 8: Create Relaxing Bedrooms
8. Create Relaxing Bedrooms
Stage bedrooms to convey a serene and relaxing atmosphere. Using soft, neutral bedding and fluffy pillows conveys a feeling of comfort. While your house is being shown, neatly make your beds each day. Depersonalize the bedroom spaces and remove any items that may be stored under the bed. Potential buyers want to see a clean, spacious, and clutter-free area.
9. Tackle Small Kitchen Upgrades
Kitchens are still some of the most important rooms in a home, and small updates can payoff. There are many changes you can easily make yourself, like updating the cabinet hardware and thoroughly cleaning appliances and cabinets. If faucets and lighting are outdated, replace those with new fixtures. Decluttering is also important in the kitchen, so clean off the countertops and remove magnets and papers from the refrigerator for a clean, organized look.
10. Tell a Story through Staging
Staging your house to sell is about creating a narrative to communicate the lifestyle that it offers. Think about what you love the most about your house. What are its strengths or most unique features? Highlight its most desirable qualities, like a gourmet kitchen for culinary enthusiasts, entertaining areas for those who love to host, a workshop for DIYers, or spaces for relaxing.
Staging your house to sell doesn’t need to be complicated. Even little changes help buyers visualize themselves living comfortably in your space. Make the best first impression by creating an inviting home that encourages visitors to explore all that it offers as their prospective next home. Simple changes like decluttering, updating cabinet hardware, and altering furniture arrangements will help your house stand out among the competition.
Get the staging and selling process started by talking to your Realtor. At Shaheen, Ruth, Martin & Fonville Real Estate, we have connections to reputable contractors and service providers to help you tackle your to-do list. We will recommend the changes – big or small – that will help your home sell successfully.
If you’re currently considering buying or selling in Richmond, Williamsburg, the Northern Neck/Middle Peninsula, or surrounding Virginia areas, we invite you to explore our website. Here, you’ll find a handpicked selection of experienced and trusted agents ready to assist you in achieving your real estate goals. With us, you will find that our value is our process.