How to Use Home Staging To Sell Your Home in One Viewing

If you're selling a home, you can use simple home staging tips to move it from "for sale" to "sold." Home staging simply means presenting your home in a way that appeals to a wide range of buyers, bringing out the positive selling points of the home, and making it something that buyers will remember.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. 
   When home staging, take away the clutter.

   First, de-clutter and clean up your spaces. Think to yourself - when you see pictures of homes in magazines, do you see clutter? Dirty clothes strewn everywhere? Knickknacks in every corner? Of course not. So put away the clutter; this is the first step of home staging.

2. 
   Take out your personal items when home staging.

   Remove your personality from the home. Buyers need to imagine themselves in that home, and they have a hard time doing that when you have your own family photos and other personal items everywhere. Pack up collections, memoribilia, and things that make your home personal to you. This is an important part of home staging. Take down your children's paintings from the fridge and items like this.

3. 
   Use neutral colors when home staging.

   Think neutral when it comes to colors. This is because more buyers will appreciate neutral colors than bright and strong colors. Also, buyers that want to add different colors to the home have an easier time picturing how they'll paint those colors over something neutral. Think light browns, tan, sage greens, and soft colors when home staging. These will also help rooms to look bigger and airier. Remember that you can paint your bold and bright colors in your next home!

4. Highlight a home's selling features. If you have hardwood floors, use only small area rugs so buyers can see them. Move furniture away from windows and fireplaces so they can be readily seen as well. Remember that outdoor spaces are extra square footage, so set up a nice bistro table on a balcony and make sure the curtains are open when home staging.

5. 
   Set a table when home staging to make buyers feel invited into the space.

   Lastly, add nice accents to make the home seem welcoming and warm. Adding toss pillows on the couch, neutral artwork and accessories, and simple items like afghans can make buyers remember how they felt in the home. Add fresh plants or cut flowers when home staging. Set the dining room table so buyers can imagine entertaining in the space. Light candles in safe areas.

Tips & Warnings

• Walk through your home and try to imagine how a stranger would see it. Is it welcoming and warm, bright and airy, clean and ready for someone else? Use a critical eye and remember that these changes will help your home to get sold.
• Consider updating where necessary. This might mean new kitchen appliances, updated bathroom fixtures, or something as simple as a new light fixture.
• Clean your home thoroughly before any buyer walks through. No stranger will want to picture themselves using your dirty bathroom or kitchen or buying a home with a filthy rug. Hire a commercial cleaning service if necessary.
• You may not sell your home after the first open house with these tips, but you're sure to increase foot traffic and buyer interest.

[SarahElizabeth]

on 11/12/2009 Very good points... thank you for sharing this info. 5*