5 Budget Minded Staging Tips to do before Selling your Home

No doubt about it all homes need some level of staging before going on the market.  Here are 5 simple budget minded suggestions that are easy to do before putting your home up for sale.

1.  Create and environment that will appeal to the most people as possible.  Use neutral colors when painting beige tones; gray tones or pale greens work well. A minimal amount of furniture and accessories in the home makes it easier for the buyer to see the home’s floor plan.  Put away all personal items such as trophies, family photos, and collectables.  Your doll, seashell or pet rock collection may be important to you but it will give the home a cluttered feel so pack those collections away save them for your next home. 

2.  Always take full advantage of all artificial and natural lighting.  Check your light bulbs and make sure they are all working and that the bulbs have the some color.  If some bulbs burn white and other bulbs yellow in a room, it just looks odd keep consistency.  Try not to block any natural lighting coming into the home particularly if you have attractive views.  Remove heavy curtains and furniture from in front of the windows.  If possible stage the room with light colored furniture, which will enhance lightness and makes the room seem larger.

3.  Think about the purpose of your rooms. Homebuyers, who see the property might not have the vision for what the room could be, and might distracted by how the current homeowners are using the room. For example, if the dining room is wall-to-wall toys — no table and chairs; just toys the homebuyer might leave the house thinking there is no dining room in the home. For best results with your buyers turn the dining room back into a dining room.

4. This is a challenging one but before showing your home please remove all traces of family pets.  Most buyers are extremely sensitive to pet odor and the sight of a litter box will put their nose into overdrive. Offensive odors have been known to cost many homeowners a sale.  Also those large metal dog crates in the kitchen can take away from the design or appeal of the home. If you have Gnawed door moldings, scratched floors or frayed carpet due to animals make these repairs before putting your house on the market.  

5. When staging create a focal point in the room. Set the table in a simple uncluttered fashion, remove extra leaves from the table to maximize available space and make the room look larger.  Have a headboard on the bed in the bedroom, place fresh flowers on tables and in large or empty rooms add well placed plant.  All these techniques create a focal point that draws the eye and creates interest. If your home is completely empty ask your Realtor about virtual staging, this is a technique where the photos of empty rooms are staged with furniture and accessories.  Ninety percent of buyers start their home search online.  Sometimes it is impossible or impractical to stage a home virtual staging gives buyers an idea of what the home would look like with furniture.

In summary, think about creating an uncluttered neutral canvas when staging your home and you will get a buyer quicker and for top dollar.  According to Inman for every $1 that is put into staging a home there will be a $2 increase in sale price.

Marta Beckett, Realtor

Keller Williams Realty- Eden Prairie

612-840-1293

martabeckett@kw.com