Staging Tips for Listing

Staging Tips for Listing

Inviting company over and hosting a party is good motivation to tidy up and move furniture around. You want to create a welcoming atmosphere and make people feel comfortable by moving clutter out of sight and maybe adding a few special touches to add interest and excitement. While we may not fuss over these types of details for everyday living, preparing your home to list for sale requires the same sort of attention to show off what makes your home great to strangers who are looking to buy.

Making and keeping your home ready for showings is no easy task, but the good news is that staged homes sell 88% faster than nonstaged homes, according to InspiringHomes.com. Read on for more that you should know about staging your home for a quicker sale at a better price:

1. Declutter. Declutter. Declutter. The American Psychological Association (APA) defines habituation as “growing accustomed to a situation or stimulus.” You might not think twice about the pile of shoes at the front door or the stack of paperwork on the corner of your dining table because you live with it every day. The collection of small appliances on the kitchen counter or beauty products clustered in the bathroom probably don’t bother you, but they will distract potential buyers when they walk through the rooms of your house for a showing. Try to see your space with fresh eyes and think about creating a new view that is simple and serene.
2. Create open space and unobstructed traffic patterns by moving furniture around. The couch placed in front of a doorway to have a better view of the television is great for your family movie nights, but it won’t help to sell your house. Rearranging your rooms to allow for the most open views and easiest paths to walk through will create lovely listing photos and a better experience for shoppers during showings. While it might seem inconvenient and somewhat uncomfortable to make changes to your everyday living patterns, remember your goal is to make your home attractive to buyers so you can close the deal and move on quickly. Don’t forget to clean the carpet or put down some pretty rugs on those well-worn areas on the floor after you move things around!
3. Catch their eye with a little splash of color here and there. Generally speaking, you want your staged home to be as ‘neutral’ as possible to appeal to a wider range of potential buyers. Gobs of family photos, knick-knacks, strong accent walls or art pieces should be replaced with more simple and clean looks. However, don’t rely on beige and beige alone. Think about adding a little pop of color to a small flower arrangement in the kitchen, a book beside the bed, or a fun rug in the bathroom. Yellow is the first color that babies learn when they develop their eyesight, so people often respond well to such a bright and fresh accent on a plain palette.

• Outside curb appeal is just as important as what’s on the inside. You don’t necessarily need a new paint job or picket fence, but it’s good to take a look at the little things. Has your mailbox seen better days? Is that drooping plant on the porch giving off bad vibes? Are your house numbers giving a happy, shiny hello? Again, try to see the approach to your house with fresh eyes and do what you can to make small changes that will uplift and invite house hunters to take a closer look. Make sure everything is in good working order and presented neatly. Hanging a simple seasonal wreath on the front door is a great inexpensive way to start a home tour!
• A small investment on the front end can result in bigger numbers at the closing table. Staged homes sell for 20% more than non-staged homes. Spending a couple of hundred dollars on little appearance upgrades when you list will likely bring you several thousand more when you close. Be smart about your staging spend, though, and look for less expensive and simple décor that is gently used secondhand or borrowed to maximize your budget. You might even be able to show off your forgotten items hiding in storage or move other things around to different rooms to create a new look.

If you are interested in more pro tips and examples, check out this staging and design gallery. The most important things to remember are to keep it clean, keep it open, and keep it simple.

Preparing your house to sell can seem daunting after years of cozy living. We understand that making big changes can be overwhelming to some. Try to keep the larger goal in mind – Selling your house quickly for the best price. Staging can do just that and we’re here to help you set the table for a great sale.

Cloud 9 Agents offer decades of professional staging, listing, and showing experience on the Space Coast. We will work to set you up for success and support you through the entire sales process for your Brevard County Florida home. 

If you need to make a big change, please CONTACT US so we can help you evaluate your options.