Staging Tips to Sell Your Home for More
Selling your home can be a huge financial matter. Getting it to sell for top dollar can allow you to significantly improve your financial well-being and help you reach your goals faster.
Having someone who can walk you through the process can not only make it easier but can also give you a leg up when you’re listing.
I had the pleasure of speaking with Louis Guillama, Vice President of Real Estate Operations over at Coastal.
As we discussed ways to prepare your house to sell, one key area we discussed that many sellers overlook or don’t truly appreciate was staging.
Why Staging Your House Matters
Staging your home properly can make a huge difference.
Did you know that Daymark Realty includes a staging consultation as a free service for every one of their listing?
According to Louis, “Once we started that program, we saw a significant reduction in days on market. So there is definitely a tangible benefit to doing some staging.”
Declutter
Over the years, it’s easy to acquire (and pile up) on stuff. When we were selling our townhouse years ago, it amazed us how much we had for the girls.
Before you list your home, you might want to go through your home and see if there are any things you’d need to get out, either by storing, selling, or donating it.
It’ll instantly make your house feel roomier (and you’ll have less to clean).
Depersonalize
It can be hard for some sellers to picture themselves living in your house, if they’re a ton of family photos and mementos around.
Find a safe spot for your sentimental items and pack them up first so you can take them with you to your new home after you sell.
Deep Clean
As you’re removing some of your personal items and any clutter you’ve accumulated over the years, you may find that certain spots in your home may need extra attention.
Taking a weekend to deep clean the carpets, wipe down the kitchen backsplash, and refreshing some of your linens and pillows can be an easy way to make your house look like a million bucks.
Neutralize Paint Colors
As you go through your home, have the mind of a buyer when it comes to the decor and paint colors.
One piece of advice we (mostly) took when we had one of Daymark’s staging consultants was going with more neutral colors.
Now we had two kids under four at the time, so we left one room the same - their nursery. As parents, we wanted to give them a sense of stability while we having to deal with the disruptions of showings.
We made sure to have our agent note to buyers that we would be more than happy to have that room painted if they made an offer.
Apparently, it didn’t matter to buyers because if there was one piece of negative feedback that came up, it was about the paint colors in that room.
So please keep that in mind - make it easy for buyers to make your place feel like their home from the get-go.
Go for Natural Light
A practically free way you can get your house ready for showing is by bringing in whatever natural light is available.
Switch out your curtains for ones that allow more light in and open up your blinds before showings.
Arrange and Plan Rooms
A room is a room, right? Not when you’re trying to sell your home.
Thinking like a buyer, you want to go into each of your rooms and make sure it has a definite purpose.
You might have a very large multi-purpose room, but it helps to break it up and show the multiple purposes that you can do in each section versus having that all together.
Curb Appeal
We’ve been talking about the inside, which is absolutely key, but don’t forget your home’s exterior. It’s the first impression when buyers come for the in-person showing.
Some things to consider tackling before you list:
- Pressure wash the exterior
- Trim back any overgrown hedges
- Keep your walkways clear and fix any loose stones or steps
- Clean the windows
- Freshen up the paint (if needed)
- Plant some flowers
- Fix any broken lights
These fixes can give leave buyers with a wonderful impression before they even step inside.
Small Updates for Big Effects
Since we mentioned fixing up, let’s talk about a question many have when getting their home ready to sell.
What updates do we need to do to sell for more without breaking our budget?
Louis’ take on it was, “We never recommend doing any heavy lift changes to the property.
Substantial changes like [kitchen update] - those are better done when you first move into a house where you can have value and use and enjoy those upgrades when you’re living in a home.
He noted that on the selling side, you’re really not going to realize a great return on those improvements. Even a well-designed bathroom or kitchen update wouldn’t get you back all the money you put in.
So your money would be better spent on practical improvements like replacing worn flooring or repairing small things around your house so buyers will more into a fully functional place.
Next Steps
If you’re thinking of selling your home, please reach out to the Daymark Realty team. They’re dedicated to working with you step by step to sell your home faster!
Daymark Realty
Your Daymark Realty agent will be by your side every step of the way, from start to finish.