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Top 10 home staging tips

A luxurious living room themed with white, black, gray, and brown colors

When staging a house for sale, keep these important tips in mind:

  1. Improve the home’s curb appeal

    First impressions are crucial when it comes to attracting as many potential buyers as possible. Since your home’s exterior is the very first thing people see when they check out your property, they will form their own judgment of the entire property based on what they see there. If your front lawn and façade are in disarray, people will assume that the rest of the house will look the same way.

    Improve your home’s curb appeal by ridding the yard of trash, adding furniture or decoration, and keeping hedges and other shrubberies neatly trimmed.

  2. Remove clutter

    A major aspect of home staging is getting rid of clutter. Items such as knickknacks, decorative pieces, and other spare belongings should be stored away. Closet spaces should be empty or only half-filled to make them appear bigger when you show people around.

    By removing all that clutter, you make your home look cleaner and more spacious. In the process, you get a head start on packing which is a great time-saving bonus.

  3. Depersonalize

    Depersonalizing means removing personal items such as picture frames, memorabilia, and the like from your living space. This will make it easier for potential buyers to envision themselves in the property.

    When staging your home, try to strike that balance between impersonal and welcoming. You will want your space to feel homey and inviting, yet neutral.

  4. Clean everything

    To assure that every nook and cranny of your home is devoid of dirt, mildew, and other undesirables, hire a professional cleaning service to do a deep clean. Give special attention to the kitchen and bathrooms because buyers tend to look at the finer details in these rooms. Also, don’t fail to watch out for any strange or foul odors in your home. Overall, it should be neat, tidy, and pleasant-smelling before these buyers come to visit.

    Additional tips: Open the windows before every showing to let some fresh air in. You can also let your home exude a relaxing and positive vibe by lighting some scented candles.

  5. Let as much natural light in as possible

    Apart from bringing in some fresh air into the home, opening windows also allows natural light to shine through, thus creating a bright, spacious, and airy atmosphere.

    If not enough natural light is streaming through your windows, an alternative light source could be light fixtures installed in several key features of the house. Putting lamps in dark corners can also do wonders to brighten up the space.

  6. Give each room a purpose

    Every room should be staged with a purpose in mind. Bedrooms need to exude comfort and serenity. Meanwhile, common areas like living rooms and kitchens should project an inviting vibe that would do well for social gatherings. If you have spare rooms, turn these into an extra bedroom, a study, or even a workout space.

  7. Update the décor

    Give your walls a fresh new coat of paint with a neutral color like gray, white, beige, light blues, or tan. That way, it will be much easier for potential buyers to imagine themselves living in your home with zero distractions.

  8. Rent furniture

    You may have some furniture that could be too bold or too niche for the neutral aura you want to present. Consider putting these in storage and renting some pieces that will appeal to a wide array of tastes. Make sure to research the furniture rental company you will use to get the best deals.

  9. Rearrange your furniture

    After selecting your preferred furniture, you have to plan how to position these pieces well. For example, big ones like tables, chairs, and couches should be placed away from the walls to give the space better flow and to look aesthetically pleasing. Consult with a professional stager or an interior decorator for the best way to arrange your furniture.

  10. The details count

    Small details like fresh flowers in vases, fruits in the kitchen, and fresh towels with decorative soap in the bathroom liven up a space during home staging. These extra touches will make the home look more lived-in.

Learn more staging techniques and home selling tips from San Francisco’s luxury real estate experts, Nina Hatvany and the rest of Team Hatvany. For over 20 years, this team of top-producing realtors has been helping sellers to achieve their real estate goals. Get in touch with us today at 415.710.6462 or send an email to nina(at)ninahatvany(dotted)com.

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