How to Get Better Offers With a Staged Home

Estimated reading time: 7 minutes

A poll of real estate agents representing buyers concluded that a properly staged home could yield as much as 5% more in selling price, according to the National Association of REALTORS®. In addition, 82% of the agents said staging made it easier for their buyers to visualize what the home could be. However, some companies will charge up to $500 per room monthly AND require a monthly contract to perform staging-related tasks in a home for sale. Read on to learn how to stage your home and make the most of your property’s features without breaking the bank.

Staging involves setting up your home to showcase its best features and create a welcoming atmosphere. It allows buyers to envision your home as their own and see the full potential of it, leading to bigger offers. The best way to describe a well-staged home is to think of a luxury hotel – clean and minimal but warm and inviting.

IDENTIFY THE ROOMS
Some experts believe that the following rooms are the most important to stage:

  1. Living Room
  2. Primary Bedroom
  3. Kitchen
  4. Dining Room
  5. Outdoor Space

Make an honest assessment of these areas in your home, then follow the tips below on how to successfully stage your home to impress buyers.

DE-PERSONALIZE & DE-CLUTTER
Buyers need to imagine their own lives in your home and not feel like they’re intruding in someone else’s personal space.

  • Remove personal items such as photos, religious or political items, and personal hygiene products.
  • Remove excess furniture, knick-knacks, and anything else that detracts from the space.
  • Put away cleaning supplies and tidy up in the cabinets under the sinks.

MAKE REPAIRS AND UPGRADES
Areas that are in disrepair can distract buyers and give the impression of a poorly maintained property. Make as many low-cost, high-impact improvements as possible. These include:

  • Replacing any cracked tiles
  • Adding or accentuating lighting in the living room, dining room, or kitchen
  • Fixing leaky faucets and squeaky doors
  • Fixing torn screens and repairing drywall holes in the wall
  • Replacing dirty and worn carpeting

While you don’t need to completely renovate your home, updating certain noticeable elements, such as fixtures, hardware, or an outdated vanity, can improve its overall appeal.

ORGANIZE EVERYTHING
Experts agree that organization and storage is a high-ranking feature in a home. Here’s an article on Small Steps to Make Big Progress Organizing Your Home.

  • Organize pantry and cupboard spaces in the kitchen. Remove unnecessary items to show more space. These 30 Amazing Kitchen Organization Products Under $30 may help you clear away the clutter in the kitchen.
  • Organize closets and cabinets to display plenty of storage space. Experts say you should leave 50% of closets and cabinets empty to create a feeling of more storage than necessary – storage that most buyers will be looking for.
  • Organize the garage. Because extra storage space remains one of the most desired features in a home, showing how the garage can be used to store extra items is always helpful.

CLEAN, CLEAN, CLEAN
Bathrooms, kitchens, and the primary bedroom should be spotless since the appearance of these rooms often has a big influence on a buyer’s decision-making process.

  • Clear the countertops of everything but the essentials. Put away small appliances to reduce clutter.
  • Clean and dust furniture, ceiling fans, blinds, and baseboards.
  • Pet-related items such as food, leashes, and bedding should be neatly stored out of the way in one place.
  • Don’t forget to wash around light switches and door handles and try to remove any stains on them.
  • Wash door exteriors and window screens.

NEUTRALIZE THE COLORS
Use neutral colors for walls, floors, and furnishings. Bold or specific color choices might not appeal to all buyers. Whites, grays, and beiges create a blank canvas, allowing buyers to visualize their style and décor.

For more ideas on the best colors to use in selling your house, this article provides a lot of recent research.

DEFINE ROOMS
Each room should have a clear purpose. This helps buyers visualize how they will use the space. If you have a spare room, consider staging it as a guest bedroom, home office, or exercise room, depending on what’s popular in your market.

Determine what each room’s primary feature is, and put the focus on that. Whether it’s a cozy fireplace in the family room, a table in the dining area, or a large window looking out to the backyard, your goal is to draw attention to that feature.

ARRANGE
Arrange furniture throughout the home to optimize space and flow. Place furniture in a way that guides potential buyers through the room and highlights key features, like a fireplace or large windows. Don’t forget to remove items that are too large for a room and include varying furniture heights to interest home buyers.

ENVISION THE SPACE
What do you want people to feel in your home? The right mood can create a sense of lifestyle – one that a buyer may wish to have. Enhance each space with these suggestions:

  • Good lighting can make your home feel inviting and spacious. Remove heavy curtains, clean the windows, increase the wattage of your light bulbs as needed, and trim any foliage outside the home that may be blocking natural light.
  • Keep curtains and blinds open during showings to let in natural light. Add supplemental lighting in areas that are dark or uninviting.
  • Depending on the individual room, a rug can lend a nice accent to that space, while bare floors will help it feel airy and spacious.





CREATE A PLEASING SCENT
Many people are allergic to candles, and most have their own ideas of what scents are pleasing. Rather than lighting candles for showings, you’re better off with a neutral scent. Put a couple of tablespoons of vanilla extract in a small pot of water on your stovetop and simmer on low before your next showing. Your buyers will be subtly reminded of fresh-baked cookies. You could also consider purchasing an essential oil diffuser and set it in any room you choose.

SET THE SCENE
This could involve setting the dining table, putting plush towels in the bathroom, or placing a bowl of fresh fruit on the kitchen counter. Add a few cozy touches, such as throw pillows or blankets, to make the space inviting and comfortable. It helps to provide a variety of textures and layers. Then, add other features such as accent lighting, a tray in the living room, and fresh flowers, or set your table & outdoor spaces with dishes and silverware. Read this article for more inspirational ideas about Make a Better Impression With These Decorative Accents.

ENHANCE CURB APPEAL
First impressions matter, so make sure the exterior of your home is inviting.

Remember, staging aims to showcase the strengths of your property and help prospective buyers visualize themselves living in the space. A well-staged home often sells sooner and for a higher price. I can help you through this process with as little stress and cost to you as possible, a process that will ideally result in a happy ending for you!