What is so important about staging a home for sale and what IS the best kept secret? Well, in earlier posts I have talked what to do before pricing a home for sale, as well as the importance of curb appeal when selling your home. When it comes to staging a home for sale, there is often one thing that gets overlooked – And this one thing can make all the difference when showing your home to buyers!
Staging a Home for Sale – Why Do it at All?
So, what is all the fuss about? So much is made about staging a home for sale, and many sellers wonder, “Why go to the trouble of staging at all?” The bottom line is this: Staging gives your home the BEST chance to make a great impression.
In a nutshell, staging a home for sale is about returning each room in your home to its intended use and function – Or, in the case of an extra bedroom, adding dual-function to the room. By that I mean, there are parts of the Bay Area where a home office is more attractive than a spare bedroom. In certain neighborhoods showing the spare room as a bedroom or staging the room in a way that allows BOTH uses simultaneously is best. Rely on your Realtor for advice on staging a home for sale!
Let Go of the Personal Touches When Staging a Home
The takeaway here is that when staging a home for sale, you want stop looking at your home as a reflection of you and your personal style. Instead, it becomes an attractive, neutral canvas into which MANY buyers can project themselves! And when the market is conducive to multiple offers, a well-staged home puts you in a position to see multiple offers because more buyers will see themselves living there.
Brace yourself! A great agent will be blunt and even a little brutal about what needs to be done when staging a home for sale. My advice is this: “Listen to your agent!” If they have a solid reputation in your area… Listen to them! If they regularly see multiple offers or sell above list price… Listen to them! If they have great reviews from sellers… Listen to them!
Now, about that secret…
Staging a Home for Sale – The Best Kept Secret
As you consider the best way to go about staging your home for sale, remember this: The view, from inside your home to the outside, matters. Think of it this way – Every window in your house is like a picture frame and what shows up inside that frame becomes a design element inside the room. Each window is like a work of art on your wall and is part of the décor and environment of the room itself. Pay special attention to what is inside those frames and treat what is there with care. How’s THAT for a secret!
How to Use This Secret When Staging a Home for Sale
For example, if a bedroom window looks out at a side yard, but is not readily visible from the street, you will definitely want to give it some TLC. Even though that side yard you can’t see from the street and won’t get points for curb appeal, you can, however, see it through the bedroom window! For THIS reason it needs specific attention. Make sure that when staging a home for sale, you look through that window from every angle inside the room. When the “picture” inside that window looks great from every vantage point in that room, your job is done. On to the next window and the next room!
One More Secret Staging Tip
If there is a color-pop or accent-color inside a particular room, add a plant OUTSIDE – One that is visible through the window! Make sure it coordinates with the color-pop inside the room. Using a beautiful flowering plant that is the right size/scale, and one that matches/coordinates with the accent/color-pop inside your room, is a subtle staging tip. However, it goes a long way on a subconscious level to enhance the experience a potential buyer has in that room. And in many cases, this staging trick can make a small room feel larger; you have essentially built a visual addition/extension to the room by staging the view outside your window as well.
Ask your realtor for their thoughts on how to best use your windows when staging a home for sale.If you are in the San Francisco Bay Area and looking for a realtor who knows the intricacies of staging a home… For SALE! I certainly look forward to hearing from you.