The Art of Staging Homes for Sale

Selling a home involves a great deal more than listing your property and hoping for the best. No matter whether the real estate market is sluggish or robust, I tell my clients to make extra effort to stage their property in order to make a sale at the best price and as quickly as possible.

Home staging involves much more than simply rearranging furniture and freshening the décor. It’s showtime! Showcasing your home for sale!

Staging for showtime doesn’t necessarily mean expensive. Of course staging involves cleaning and what I call “decluttering” -- the removal of day-to-day living items. But it can also involve some financial investment for painting, improving the landscaping and perhaps even adding some furniture and plants.

What you need to keep in mind is that prospective buyers are trying to imagine themselves living in your home. So put yourself in a prospective buyer’s frame of mind as they visit your property. More important than simply decorating or redecorating is removing items that have you and your personality all over them. As difficult as it might be, think of it as “depersonalizing.” Make it as easy as possible for prospective buyers to visualize themselves living in your property.

Remember that you are in competition with others trying to sell their home, including short sales and bank-owned property, some of which are being staged these days in order to compete with the sale of your home.

Staging can be time-consuming, even exhausting. Perhaps you should get some professional help. Consultation from a professional designer can help and I can help you to find just the right one for you. From experience I can offer an objective, informed opinion but thee are times when additional consultation may be very worthwhile.

My advice is to stage your main living areas – living room, dining room, kitchen, and at least one bedroom, preferably the master bedroom. Remember, look at each room with the idea that prospective buyers are trying to envision living in your home. Your goal is to help buyers mentally move in, which is a different perspective than simply cleaning up and fixing rooms.

Don’t forget that buyers will be looking in your closets. If closets are full of stuff, it may give buyers the perception that there’s not enough storage in your house. Another tip is that, if you have hardwood floors that are in good shape but covered by carpeting, remove the carpeting and clean the floors. Hardwood floors can be a big selling point.