Staging is all about creating a welcoming, ready-to-move-in atmosphere. It helps buyers envision themselves in the space, highlighting your home’s best features and minimizing anything that might distract from its potential. From minor styling updates to full furniture placement, staging can make a big difference in how your home is perceived and how it performs in the market.
If you’re planning to sell, here’s why staging is still one of the smartest strategies you can use and how to make the most of it.
A strong first impression starts online
In 2023, the National Association of REALTORS® Generation Trends Report revealed that 96 percent of buyers now rely on the internet to search for their next home. And in a market where most buyers start their home search online, how your home looks and feels from the start has never been more important. Your online photos, videos and virtual tours should leave buyers wanting to see more. Staging makes that possible by photographing better, making rooms look more spacious and inviting, and encouraging buyers to take the next step.
Thanks to newer tools like virtual staging and AI design platforms, sellers have more options than ever to improve their home’s online presence. These can be especially useful for vacant homes or spaces that are difficult to define, giving buyers a sense of scale, purpose and warmth before they step foot in the front door.
Which rooms are the most important?
Not every room in your home needs to be staged, but some have more influence on buyers than others. 37 percent of buyer’s agents say the living room is the most important room to stagefollowed by the master bedroom at 34 percent and the kitchen at 23 percent. These are the spaces where people imagine themselves spending most of their time, relaxing, entertaining and settling into everyday life.
Staging can also be particularly useful in vacant rooms or rooms with a unique shape. A few well-placed pieces of furniture can help define how the space can be used and create a natural flow from room to room. When these rooms feel inviting and well laid out, buyers are more likely to view the home as suitable for their lifestyle. A little extra effort in the right places can go a long way toward making that connection.
Clear, clean and organized
To further inspire buyers to envision the space as their own, make sure every room, including closets and the garage, is clean and tidy. You may even want to hire professionals to deep clean your home.
Family photos, personal memorabilia and collectibles should be removed from the home for your safety. Cabinets, shelves and other storage areas should be largely empty. Workbenches should be clear of tools and projects. Clear the kitchen counter, put away unnecessary cooking utensils and remove the magnets from the refrigerator door.
The same goes for furniture. If removing a chair, lamp, table or other furniture makes a particular room look larger or more inviting, do so.
You don’t want your home to seem cold, unloved, or uninhabited, but you do want to remove distractions and provide potential buyers with a blank canvas of sorts. Plus, decluttering your home will make it much easier to pack when it’s time to move.
Neutralize and clarify
Each home is a personal expression of the owner. But if you’re going to be a seller, you’ll want to look for ways to make your home attractive to your target market. Keep in mind that your target market is the group of people most likely to be interested in a home like yours. Your broker can help you determine this.
A good strategy for staging your home is to “neutralize” the design of your interior. A truly neutral interior design allows people to easily imagine their own belongings in the space – and imagine how some simple changes would make them unique.
Paint bold wall colors with something more neutral, such as light beige, warm gray or soft brown. The old advice used to be: ‘paint everything white’, but this often creates an environment that is too sterile, while dark colors can make a room look small and even a bit dirty. Muted tones and soft colors work best. Also consider removing wallpaper if it is a bold or busy design.
Lighting is essential. Replace heavy, dark curtains with neutral-colored sheer versions; this softens the hard edges around windows while letting in plenty of natural light. Turn on lights and, if necessary, install lighting fixtures to brighten dark areas, especially the entryway.
A smart investment with lasting impact
Staging is a powerful benefit when selling your home, but that’s not the only reason to do it. Staging reveals problems that need to be addressed, repairs that need to be made, and upgrades that need to be made. Staged properties are more inviting, and that provides the kind of peace of mind that compels buyers to sign on the dotted line. In the age of social media, a well-staged home is one that stands out, is shared, and sticks in people’s minds.
In addition, the investment in staging may come at a higher price. According to the National Association of REALTORS®, the average staging investment is between 1 and 3 percent of the home’s asking price, and typically generates a return of 8 to 10 percent.
In short, with less time on the market and higher sales prices, the small cost of staging your home is a wise investment.
Where to start
If you’re concerned about the added cost of staging, rest assured. Even a relatively small investment of time and money can yield a large return. There are even things you can do yourself, for little to no cost. Contact your real estate agent for advice on how to most effectively stage your home or for advice on a professional stager. While the simple interior design techniques described above may seem more like common sense than marketing magic, you’d be surprised how many homeowners routinely overlook them. And the results are clear: staging your home to make it more attractive to buyers is often all it takes to speed up the sale and increase the sales price.
Are you thinking about selling your house? Contact a Windermere agent to learn more about staging and how to get the best possible results from it.
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