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When you put your house on the market, you do so with the goals of selling it as quickly as possible and, of course, at full asking price. You will hear all sorts of conflicting information on what it is that will best get these goals accomplished. “Show prospective buyers a clean, empty house so they can really see its size!” some will say. Others will tell you, “Be sure to hire a professional to come in and stage the place. Buyers want to see a beautifully styled home!” The truth is, neither of these pieces of advice is the route you should take in preparing your home to sell. By making a few styling and updating moves and knowing which decor mistakes to avoid, you can stage your home to wow buyers all by yourself and save big bucks and valuable time.
- Focus on curb appeal.
A person should be drawn to your house from the second they pull up outside. Powerwash the sidewalks and any siding. Give your porch, front door, and mailbox fresh coats of paint. Keep the lawn freshly mowed and plant flowers in outlined flower beds. Make the exterior of your home as inviting as you want the inside to feel.
- Clean and declutter.
When your house is for sale, you probably do not need anyone to tell you that it should be kept immaculately clean. A step in the cleaning process that many do skip (and shouldn’t) though is decluttering. No, you don’t have to put all your personal belongings away in storage while your house is being shown. You do however need to avoid overwhelming buyers with your knick knacks and various forms of junk. Keep your things organized in drawers and closets, with only the few things that will not detract from your home’s aesthetic left out to be seen.
- Style your tables.
Use any dining tables or coffee tables to contribute to the overall style of your home. A large table can look bare and detract from the warmth of your home without the proper styling. Avoid appearing too formal with a big arrangement of some sort, but do add a simpler yet noticeable touch, like a table runner or a small vase of flowers.
- Utilize rugs to your advantage.
Similar to a large table without anything to brighten it up, a large area of flooring without anything to break it up can just look too empty. Put down a rug to add a pop of color and/or soften the space. Also, rugs are a great way to segment an open-space floor plan into designated “rooms” within one expansive room.
- Rethink your furniture arrangement.
You may think that all that really matters when it comes to furniture for your home is which pieces of furniture you choose. Equally important however is how you arrange those pieces of furniture that you have in your home, particularly in the living spaces, since they are where people generally spend the most time. Symmetrical arrangements are typically the most pleasing to the eye. Also, keeping pieces more toward the center of the room and away from the walls gives the living space a more conversational, welcoming feel.
Yes, your home needs to be staged well to increase your chances of selling and selling quickly, but no, you do not have to hire a professional to do it for you. Armed with a few helpful tips and things to keep in mind, you can easily get your home looking its best for buyers.
