If you’re getting ready to list your home for sale, one of the best things you can do is stage your house. If you do this, potential buyers will have an easier time imagining themselves in your home. According to a REALTOR® study, staged homes sell an average of 88% faster and for 20% more money than non-staged homes.
Where do you begin with staging your own home? There are some common mistakes to avoid when prepping your house to sell.
1. Getting Too Personal With Your Decor
Remember that the primary goal of staging is to help your potential buyers see themselves living in the home. This isn’t easy to do if framed photos of your family and other personal decor (like sports memorabilia) are all over the walls. So when you begin staging, one of the first things you should do is remove any personal decor and replace it with something more generic and neutral.
2. Choosing a Style That’s Too Trendy
As tempting as it may be to go trendy with your furnishings and decor while staging, the reality is that this can alienate and turn off potential buyers. Trendy design choices like fake shiplap walls won’t appeal to every buyer—and they may be highly unappealing to some segments of buyers.
Rather than going trendy with your staging, consider a more traditional and timeless design. For example, simple area rugs and abstract art can help blur the lines between conventional and trendy.
3. Overlooking the Lighting
Lighting can make a significant difference when staging a home, yet you can easily overlook this detail. Invite as much natural light into your space as possible by removing heavy window treatments during the staging process. Likewise, take time to add light sources to rooms where they may be lacking—and always opt for warmer lighting over cooler lighting.
Most importantly, ensure your lighting is consistent from one fixture to the next. This means that each light should have the same warmth and brightness level.
4. Forgetting About Photography
Remember that someone will photograph your staged home to create your formal listing before your house hits the market, and your staging should reflect this. People often need to consider how a staged room will photograph. The result may be a space that looks great in person but fails to attract potential buyers because the listing photos need to be more appealing and cohesive.
List Your Home With Confidence
Staging your home can make it much easier to sell, but only when you do it correctly. So take care to avoid these mistakes in your staging efforts, and you’ll be in better shape. And if you’re feeling overwhelmed, remember that you can always hire a professional stager to help you.
Once your home sells and you’re ready to move, having a team of professional movers by your side can also make all the difference. So contact our knowledgeable and experienced moving team to request your free moving quote today!