When putting your home on the market in Atlanta, your approach to property staging could make a huge difference not only in how quickly your home sells, but also how high your offers are. Effective staging does not have to cost a lot of money, nor does it add monetary value to your property, but putting your home in its best light does have a profound psychological effect on potential buyers, putting them in a better frame of mind to consider your home above the others.
That being said, for maximum impact, it is important not just that you stage your home, but that you stage it right. Many home sellers make common mistakes in staging that can actually dissuade buyers rather than encourage them. If you are getting ready to list your home for sale, consider the following property staging do’s and don’ts.
DO Focus on Curb Appeal
Many homeowners only think about staging the inside of their home, rather than the outside. This can be a critical mistake. First impressions matter. Prospective buyers will decide within a few seconds of driving up to your home whether it is worth it to them to look inside. Stage the outside first to get past their initial objections and encourage them to walk in the front door. Here are some practical ways to spruce up your home’s curb appeal:
- Touch up the paint
- Repair or replace broken shutters and sagging gutters
- Mow and weed the yard
- Consider some strategic landscaping: replace dead or dying shrubs, weed the flower bed, etc.
- Sweep and declutter the porch area and entryway: put away bikes, toys, muddy shoes, etc.
DO Clean and Declutter the Inside
Visitors will notice dirty floors and floorboards, unmade beds, cluttered bathrooms, stacks of mail on the counter, etc. Remove these distractions with a deep cleaning and decluttering of the space. The idea is to create an environment that is clean, bright and welcoming.
DO Let in the Light
Well-lit spaces make a much better impression than dark, musty ones. Clean the windows and open the curtains to let in as much natural light as possible. If necessary, replace thick, dark drapery with lighter colored drapes and sheers. Light darker corners with attractive lamps, if possible. And, leave lights on when you leave the house for showings.
DO Make Room
Oversized furniture (or too much of it) can make a space feel claustrophobic and subtly unwelcoming. For the time being, go for a more minimal look furniture-wise to give visitors room to easily tour your home. Avoid the snare of simply shoving furniture against the wall to create a path — this actually makes the space feel more closed-in. Rather, place pieces strategically in the room in a way that visitors can move easily.
DO Neutralize and De-personalize
Visitors do not want to see your home; they want to see their home in your space. Bold, personalized colors and mantels cluttered with sentimental effects tend to remind people that this is your house, not theirs. So, put them away. Repaint in neutral colors where necessary. It is okay to leave the family portrait over the mantel, but consider thinning out the family “wall of fame” in the stairwell. It is fine to leave a few neutral pieces on the mantels and tabletops, but nothing too cluttered or personal.
DON’T Buy New Furniture
It is not necessary to overdo it on the staging by purchasing furniture pieces you will never use again. Your own furniture is fine — you might just need to store some of it to create a more welcoming space. If the home is vacant, you can hire a staging expert to place a few temporary pieces in the home if necessary. But the style of furniture will not necessarily make or break the sale.
DON’T Make Unnecessary Renovations
By now, you have already probably made any appropriate updates to your home to add value and prepare the home for sale. Do not renovate just for the purpose of staging — it usually is not cost-effective. Do not confuse property staging for property updates.
DON’T Go Overboard on Decorating
Your goal here is not to turn your home into a showcase it is to convince buyers that this is their future home. An over-decorated space can create the wrong impression. Keep it tasteful, minimal and neutral.
By following these property staging do’s and don’ts, you will be able to put your home in the best light possible for future buyers and make the selling process much easier overall. For more ideas on effective home staging, give Atlanta Fine Homes Sotheby’s International Realty a call at 404.948.4812.