The Art of Home Staging

By Aleksandra Oleksak

Home staging has gained a lot of popularity in the real estate world.  Before your home goes up for sale, you should take a look around and really think if your home is show worthy. Does it look like a model home?  If the answer is no, then you should think twice before showing it off to the general public. There are so many options when it comes to staging: you can hire a company that specializes in all different kinds of staging, seek help from your realtor, or you can do it yourself with these tips.

Why Stage Your Home

Before we get into the nitty gritty, let’s take a look at why you should stage your home. Although staging may seem like an investment, staged homes tend to sell for more money and let’s face it, everyone wants a little bit more money in their pocket.  Also, homes that are not staged take 67% longer to sell than homes that have been staged, which also ends up costing the seller more money in terms of carrying costs.

Often, buyers are looking for a home that is move-in ready, and can you blame them? Buyers shop with their eyes and some can’t use their imagination when the home is a mess. This may deter them even if it meets all their criteria. Lastly, first impressions are everything, and when a potential buyer is scouring the internet for properties, all they have are pictures. A staged home shows much better in pictures then a non-staged home and will entice the buyer to come have a look at your property and fall in love with it.

How To Do It

Determine target market

Who is actually going to be buying your home? Will it be a young couple, a family, or baby boomers? Knowing this information will help you make the appropriate design decisions and make the best use of your budget.

What is your budget

Knowing how much money you want to spend will help you stay on track with your staging decisions. Is your budget big enough to buy all new furniture and décor and repaint the whole house, or will you be using existing furniture and reorganizing it to make your home look more open and spacious.

Where should you invest that budget

Fresh paint always goes a long way, especially if your wall colours are not neutral and if your kitchen cabinets have seen better days. Updating your light fixtures and window coverings can make a huge difference on a small budget.

Well-placed rugs can warm up a space instantly or make dated carpets look better. Speaking of carpets, if they’re worn out and dirty, see what’s underneath - it may be time to rip them up and give your floor some paint or stain love.  Kitchens and bathrooms sell homes, so make sure both those rooms are inviting, from updating faucets and mirrors, to installing new counters, appliances, vanities or toilets.

Lastly, don’t forget the master bedroom. Buyers are looking for a getaway, someplace where they can relax after a long day of work. So make sure this space is not only warm, but also functional by rearranging some furniture, adding storage if need be, and using any of the tips above.

De-clutter, de-personalize, & redecorate

When buyers walk into your home, they want the feeling of openness; airy and bright. If you have bookshelves exploding with your belongings, appliances all over your kitchen countertop, and stuff all over your coffee table, this will cause the exact opposite feeling. Take a more minimalistic approach to make your home seem bigger and open.

Potential buyers want to picture themselves and their belongings in your home. Having pictures up of your wedding or knick-knacks from your latest vacation on the mantel doesn’t help. Buyers want to be inspired as to how to use the space for themselves.

The way you have decorated your home may be of a very specific taste that works for you, but may not work in favour of selling the home. A trip to your local home decor store to pick up a few neutral items can go a long way.

Don’t forget about the curb appeal

Just as much as the inside of your home needs to be pristine, so does the outside. Make sure to clean up any garbage, cut the grass, make any necessary repairs, and add some fresh flower planters and a welcome mat to make it look inviting. Also, if you have a sizable front porch, add a bench or a bistro set to make it cozy - same goes for the backyard.

Have it professionally cleaned

Before listing your home and after you have staged it, hire professionals to give your home a good scrub down. When a buyer comes to view your home, you don’t want them so focused on the mess that they end up missing out on the other great elements of your home. That little sparkle adds to the brightness of your home.

If you keep all these things in mind while selling your home, you will be pleasantly surprised at the responses you receive. The better your home looks, the more potential buyers will come through to see it, which means better terms, price and conditions for you. Remember, a little bit of money and time spent upfront can go a long way.

Aleksandra Oleksak is a sales representative for Sage Real Estate. When she’s not busy running around with buyers or sellers, she’s writing up a storm on her blog (www.realtyqueento.com), covering everything from real estate, to home décor, to her renovation projects.