Real Estate Marketing & Beyond
Warm weather is approaching, making this the perfect opportunity to spruce up your home, especially if you're ready to put a "For Sale" sign on your yard. It has been reported that staged homes tend to sell in half the time it takes for non-staged homes. Staging will allow prospective buyers to see the full potential of your home. Below are some insightful DIY home staging tips that any DIYer can apply without breaking the bank.
What to Look for When Staging a Home’s Exterior
Recognizing what your home needs and preparing a budget is a great start. Consider each area of your property, including the exterior. A buyer’s first impression will pique their curiosity and increase the chances of them wanting to view the inside of your home. The right staging strategies will move you closer to a closing.
First impressions are key to any buyer. Having beautiful curb appeal will put your property in the front running of any seller’s market. If you know what to look for, then staging the exterior will be a cinch. Follow these simple ideas:
1. Declutter your outdoor space. Are there bicycles in the driveway, empty flower pots, debris on the porch? - you get the idea.
2. Maintain your lawn, flowers and bushes. Houses do get traffic from drive-bys. So, if your exterior looks uncared for the buyer will have no interest in visiting the interior.
3. A doormat helps to keep debris from entering your home, and a nice doormat can make a world of difference. A durable doormat can be purchased for about $20.
4. Arrange a couple of flower pots near the door. Not only does this add color to your exterior, it will give your house a more welcoming feel. You can buy already potted flowers or you can plant them yourself. The goal here is to save money so don't go overboard.
Cheap Strategies for Staging the Interior
The majority of your budget should be spent on the interior of your home. Using a little elbow grease will go a long way. The goal of staging the interior of your home is to make the purchaser feel comfortable and cozy. You want the buyer to imagine themselves living there.
Now that you've got your client through the door, it's time to sell them on the interior design. The staging process at this point is a little more strategic. The point is to make your rooms feel spacious. Follow these useful hints to get the most bang for your buck.
1. The kitchen is one of the most frequent areas in most households. You want to get the buyer to visualize themselves fixing meals in your kitchen and hosting family get-togethers in your formal dining room (if you have one). Many people choose to buy cheap flat-packed kitchen units as the quality is superb, but you save so much money on the fitting it's ridiculous.
Setting the table with placemats is a nice added touch. If you have matching and chip-free dishes, it would be a great idea to set the table. Make sure to add napkins and silverware.
Handmade coffee mugs will make a nice addition to your kitchen table. This will help set your house apart from other traditional kitchens. These will give the kitchen area a personalized touch and add a bit of elegance.
2. Liven up your bathroom. If you don't own white towels, it would be a great idea to purchase a few. White towels are used to brighten any dark bathroom.
3. Family pictures are a thing of the past when it comes to staging. Replace these with small framed mirrors.
Instead of hanging them side by side, hang them in a collage. Mirrors tend to add more light to a room. Furthermore, hang a mirror on the opposite side, directly across from a window so that the sunlight will ricochet off of the mirror.
Home staging doesn't need to cost an arm and a leg to be efficient. If you follow the tips in this article, you should be able to significantly improve your chances of selling your home without breaking the bank.
