No one wants to buy a house that looks like it’s been abandoned for years. But many people are intimidated by the idea of staging their own homes for sale, and hiring professionals can be expensive. The good news is, there are plenty of do-it-yourself options that will make your house look like someone lives there, and they’re not too difficult. Here are a few of the most important dos and don’ts to keep in mind:
Do:
Clean and declutter your home.
This is probably the most crucial step in home staging, and it’s something you can do yourself pretty easily. Get rid of any unnecessary clutter and make sure everything is clean. This will make your home look more spacious and inviting to buyers.
Depersonalize your home.
One of the most important things to do when staging your home is depersonalizing it. This means removing any personal items like family photos, memorabilia, etc. This will help buyers imagine themselves living in the house and not feel like they’re intruding on someone’s personal space. You can either put all of your personal belongings in storage or simply hide them away in cabinets and closets.
Make your home look inviting.
Buyers want to feel like they can imagine themselves living in your home, so you need to make it look inviting. This means keeping things neat and tidy, adding some fresh flowers or plants, and turning on all of the lights.
Paint your walls a neutral color.
One of the simplest and most affordable ways to stage your home for sale is to paint your walls neutral. This will help create a blank canvas in which buyers can imagine themselves living. A neutral color will also help distract from any bold or bright colors in your home. If you’re not sure what color to choose, go with a light beige or gray.
Update your light fixtures.
If your light fixtures are outdated or in poor condition, consider replacing them. New light fixtures can make a big difference in the appearance of your home, and they aren’t very expensive. Try to choose a style that is neutral and will match any decor.
Make minor repairs.
Everything must look as good as possible. If there are any minor repairs that need to be done, do them before you start staging your home. This may include fixing a leaky faucet, patching up a hole in the wall, or replacing a broken light fixture. It’s also good to mow the lawn, trim the bushes, and clean up the yard before putting your home on the market.
Decorate the outdoors
One of the simplest and most affordable ways to stage your home for sale is to decorate the outdoors. This can be as simple as adding a few plants or flowers or putting out a bench or chair on the porch. Try adding some brightly colored flowers or a small patio set if you have a garden. If you have a lot of space, consider adding a deck or patio.
Don’t:
Do too much renovation.
You don’t want to invest a lot of money into renovating your home before selling it. This is because you may not get that money back in the end. Plus, potential buyers may be intimidated by the idea of doing more renovations after they purchase the home. Stick to minor, inexpensive repairs and updates instead.
Try to do too much.
One of the things that you don’t want to do when staging your home is to do too much. This will make it look fake and staged, and potential buyers may be intimidated by the idea of doing more renovations after they purchase the home. Stick to minor, inexpensive repairs and updates instead. This will help make your home look more inviting and spacious.
Too much renovation
Another thing to avoid when staging your home is renovating too much. You may not get that money back in the end, and potential buyers may be turned off by the idea of doing more work after they purchase the home.
Load your home with too much furniture.
Too much furniture can make your home look cluttered and smaller than it is. When staging your home, remove as much furniture as possible and only leave the essentials. This will make your home look more spacious and allow buyers to imagine how they could decorate the space themselves.
Use too many personal belongings.
When staging your home, you don’t want to use too many personal belongings. Try to store away or hide your personal belongings in storage and only leave the essentials out. This will help create a blank canvas in which buyers can imagine themselves living. This will make your home feel like a stranger’s home, not like your own.
Use too many decorations.
Decorations can be a great way to personalize your home, but you don’t want to use too many of them when staging it for sale. Instead, stick to a few simple decorations that will add some personality to the space. This will make your home look cluttered and overwhelming.
Use too much color.
When staging your home, it’s essential to stick to neutrals for colors. Too much color can be overwhelming and distracting for potential buyers. Stick to light beige or gray colors to create a blank canvas that buyers can imagine themselves living in.
Summary
If you’re looking to sell your home quickly and for the best price, it’s important to stage it to appeal to potential buyers. The dos and don’ts of home staging we’ve outlined in this article should help get you started. If you want to take things a step further, consider working with a professional stager or home decorator. They can help you create a space that will make buyers fall in love with your home.
