If youve previously thought of home staging as something only for those fancy houses on HGTV, think again.
Selling a house is all about getting buyers to picture themselves in your home.
Fortunately, you dont have to drop the big bucks to stage your home and get it buyer-ready.
Declutter
Staging isnt just about pretty furniture and decor; its also about having a clean and decluttered home.
This means organizing your stuff and storing it out of sight before your buyer arrives.
Its important to clear off countertops and other surfaces, says real estate broker Ashley Kendrick.
Most buyers like a clear view without too many personal items.
This helps minimize distractions.
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Deep Clean
Now that youve decluttered your house, its time to deep clean.
Dont take any shortcuts here.
Remember, buyers love to search out all the nooks and crannies.
Theyll be opening closets and cabinets, and maybe even peering under the bed.
Did you know?
Smell is always something thats forgotten, says designerMichelle Harrison.
Spray a clean lavender mist, or add a room diffuser.
This little detail will enhance the buyers experience.
Repaint
Depending on how long youve lived in the home, its possible the walls have seen better days.
Or maybe you once repainted your rooms in millennial mustard.
Regardless, everything in your home especially the walls should look fresh and neutral.
Avoid clashing colors, says Michelle Mumoli, CEO and Realtor of The Mumoli Group atTriplemint.
For more advice on this, heres a guide on thebest paint colors to sell a home.
Heres how to stage these spaces, according to the experts.
A perimeter layout is one in which all the furniture is pushed up against walls, he says.
This makes living rooms feel smaller.
Instead, use your furniture to set up one or more clustered seating areas.
Think of the way people naturally position furniture for a conversation, and mimic that.
If your living room is small, use a large mirror to make it feel more spacious.
You might also pick one key feature, like a fireplace or large window and decorate around that.
Master Bedroom
When it comes to decorating the master bedroom, Riordan recommends keeping it simple.
If the room only has one bed and two night stands, thats perfectly OK, he says.
If the space still feels empty, add a dresser or a desk.
Things not to add?
Anything personal like exercise, work or hobby equipment.
Bedrooms should be tidy, spare, and elegant.
Consider adding in a few houseplants and purchasing some new white bedding to tie it all together.
Less is more, says Riordan.
One or two kitchen items per counter is enough, and stay away from fake food.
Finally, dont forget to incorporate something that smells sweet in the kitchen like a cookie or vanilla-scented plug-in.
The best way to ensure your home looks buyer-ready?
Just ask your real estate agent.
Your real estate agent will go through every room with you to ensure all of that.
My best advice is to listen to your Realtor, says Harrison-McAllister.
They know how to sell your home at top dollar.
Larissa Runkle is a contributor to The Penny Hoarder.
(Can you sense my millennial sarcasm there?)
You know which ones were talking about: rent, utilities, cell phone bill, insurance, groceries…
