Superior Staging is the Key to a Successful Open House by Suzie Wilson
To successfully sell your home in a competitive market, you need every advantage. You want top dollar for your property, and you want it to sell quickly. The key to making that happen is staging.
Give your home an edge. Selling your home can be difficult, and many homeowners feel staging a home shouldn’t be necessary. After all, you still live there, right? However, homeowners who follow appropriate staging guidelines can gain an important edge over others when selling in a competitive market. Most homes for sale in Washington, DC, stay on the market for 40 days and receive three offers. Sell your home quickly with careful preparations. Follow these tips for a successful open house:
Repaint. When you’re selling your home, it’s time to set aside your personal style and opt for neutral and basic decor. Ideal Home recommends walls in simple, neutral tones. Strip any wallpaper and repaint your walls in whites, grays or tans - it’ll create a warm and sophisticated presentation.
Remove clutter. Clutter is distracting to potential buyers, and having to overlook your belongings can make it difficult to envision living in the space. Remove your personal items and pare down to essential elements.
Identify spaces. Areas within your home that are either empty or catch-alls can be confusing to home shoppers. Instead, present each space in your home as serving a purpose. Very large rooms can be divided into multiple seating areas and separated by throw rugs. Smaller rooms that currently serve many purposes should be streamlined with a focus, such as an office space, craft studio or exercise room.
Organize well. Arrange your storage carefully. Buyers will look inside cupboards and closets. Reduce those contents to the bare minimum and display them nicely.
Lighten up. Open your window coverings to allow as much natural light into your home as possible. Another suggestion is to update light fixtures that look dated or don’t provide sufficient light.
Depersonalize. Remove family photos and any artwork that could be off-putting to home shoppers. Now is not the time for displaying political statements or religious decor. Pull potentially emotional displays and opt for neutral and comfortable items.
Accessorize. Throughout your home, you want to create a look that is clean and tidy but also lived in. After you remove your personal items, add a vase or two of fresh flowers and a bowl of fruit to make buyers feel at home. Adding a pop of color in bathrooms with towels and the shower curtain is another idea.
Think inviting. Your linens should be soft, neutral, clean, plumped and neatly ironed. Present them in a way that is tidy and warm, and make your bed look inviting and comfortable.
Open up. The doors throughout your home should be open for your event. Prospective buyers should feel at ease and welcome to peruse all the rooms and storage areas on your property.
Deodorize. A home that smells badly will make a lasting impression at your open house event, and not the sort of impression you want. Air out your home in advance, and consider using plug-in air fresheners for a pleasant scent. Set them on low so they won’t be overpowering.
Curb appeal. Don’t forget your exterior! Curb appeal is a key to drawing in buyers. After all, if they don’t like what they see on the outside of a house, they won’t be interested in the inside. Architectural Digest recommends updating landscaping and refreshing paint. Consider a boldly-colored front door to catch buyers’ eyes.
Your key to success. Making these simple preparations can mean all the difference in selling your property. Create an environment that will make buyers feel welcome and able to envision living in the home. You’ll have an edge over other home sellers by using superior staging!
About The Author:
Suzie Wilson is an interior designer with more than 20 years experience. What started as a hobby (and often, a favor to friends) turned into a passion for creating soothing spaces in homes of every size and style. While her goal always includes making homes look beautiful, her true focus is on fashioning them into serene, stress-free environments that inspire tranquility in all who enter.
Suzie Wilson
Interior Designer, Author, Creator of Happierhome.net