Designed for Sale: The Fine Art of Home Staging

There are plenty of reasons to consider staging before selling your home, including the possibility of a faster sale and a higher offer price. While properly staging a home truly is an art, it's also something you can learn to do if you follow some basic guidelines. These simple tips will help you get started. 

Start with a Clean Slate 
As soon as you start thinking about selling your home, it's a good idea to begin decluttering. By the time you're ready to start staging, you should have packed up and moved out almost all of your personal items and given the entire home a deep cleaning. 

Keep the Kitchen Clean and Minimal
When staging your kitchen, remember that less is more. Make sure your counters are spotless and clear of clutter. Also, keep decor to a bare minimum. Consider placing a flower vase or small succulent on the counter and a decorative teakettle on the stove, and nothing more. 

If your cabinets could use a refresh and you don't have the money to replace them, breathe new life into them by adding a coat of paint and replacing the hardware.

Make The Living Room Super Comfy
When you're selling your home, you want potential buyers to envision themselves living there. Since the living room is where most families spend their time, this room must be appealing.

Once you remove your personal items, the living room may look a bit cold. Bring back a cozy, inviting feel by choosing attractive lamps for your end tables and adding a few books or tasteful decor items on shelves. Consider adding a rich-toned area rug and matching throw pillows on the couch. Just be careful not to go too crazy with colors and patterns as these can be distracting. 

Go Classic in the Dining Room
Even if you never used your dining room, the new buyer might. Make sure it's inviting by clearing off the tabletop and adding an attractive, easy-to-maintain centerpiece. Place an area rug under the table and a matching table runner on top. This simple, classic staging will appeal to almost any homebuyer. 

Create a Bedroom Oasis
Remember, when you're selling your home, it's all about making the buyer feel like they'll love calling it their own. After the living room, the bedroom is one of the most important rooms in the house. While staging every bedroom isn't critical to selling your home, the master is definitely a must. 

To make sure it's as appealing to as many potential buyers as possible, stick to neutral, soothing colors like cream, gray, or shades of blue. Avoid crazy patterns and keep the decor simple. 

Give the Bathroom Hotel Spa Vibes
When selling your home, you might not think much about the bathrooms, other than cleaning them. However, there are many staging opportunities here. Consider a decorative mirror to give the room a touch of class. Don't forget about accessories like fluffy towels, decorative soaps, and other serene finishing touches. 

The Many Things to Consider When Selling Your Home
Proper staging is just one of the many important things you'll need to consider when selling your home. From deciding on the asking price to understanding negotiating tactics and marketing methods, a great real estate agent will guide you every step of the way and make selling your home a breeze! 

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