When it comes to selling your property, it pays to know some tricks of the trade that will help show your home in the best light possible. If your home is already in good shape, you don’t necessarily need to hire experts to help you out. Here, five home staging and repairing tips you can DIY today and make your home look like it’s been staged by a professional.
Lighten up your living space to create a welcoming vibe
When it comes to lighting, it can either make or break the first impression, and the strategic placement of lighting fixtures can go a long way in making the buyers feel at home. When deciding on the fixtures, let the room’s functionality be your guide. Workspaces such as countertops and home offices need to be equipped with efficient task lighting, while bathroom vanities can benefit from the extra lighting framing the mirror. Aside from swapping old lighting fixtures for something up-to-date, you should also pay attention to the color temperature. Go for soft white for the living room and bedroom, cool white for bathroom and kitchen, and bluish-whitish for the task and accent lighting.
Update your home’s exterior to impress the buyers
The first impression starts from the moment the buyers pull up in front of your home. Therefore, inspect your home from the outside and try to think from their perspective. Peeling paint on windowsills and front doors doesn’t look very welcoming, and neither do missing shingles, broken fences, unkempt garden, and untrimmed lawns, so take some time to make everything look polished and well-maintained. Your porch, deck, and driveway also have to be spotless and in good condition, so seal what needs to be sealed, pressure wash, stain and coat any exposed surfaces, and repair or replace any damaged deck boards. Not only will this ensure that the buyers like what they see on the outside, but you can also expect to bring in significant ROI for landscaping your property.
Give your floors a makeover
Floors have the ability to transform the feel of your living space, and what you choose to cover them with will largely determine the room’s atmosphere. Because of that, you want to make sure you select the area rugs that best fit the overall vibe you’re going for. For instance, rolling out some beautiful pure wool rugs in your living space can be a great way to create warmth and provide a soft, natural feel to the hand and underfoot. It’s also an easy way to appeal to the prospective buyers and create a homely feel in a staged property. As for the size, bigger is better when staging a home – go for a rug that’s too small and you’re at risk of shrinking the entire room. You can also use the rugs to add subtle accents, lighten up a darker room, visually divide spaces, and anchor the furnishings.
Decorate sparingly yet tastefully
When getting your home ready for sale, you want to think objectively. This is not exactly the best time to go bold with colors and patterns, but rather to tone everything down. Start by creating a blank slate with neutral colors. Sticking to beiges, grays, and whites is your safest bet, as these colors appeal to a wide range of buyers. Next, remove any bulkier furniture pieces and excess decor to create a light and airy feel in your living space. Upgrade your curtains and blinds and throw in some pillows and blankets to bring up the coziness factor. Finally, bring the outdoors in with plants and fresh flowers – they’ll act as a breath of fresh air and their beautiful colors and fragrances are sure to make the place appear warm and welcoming.
Have a vacant home? Talk to your agent about virtually staging your vacant home. Virtual staging is where an empty room is electronically furnished to give it a broader appeal.
Be sure to de-personalize your living space
It’s true that your home should reflect your own personal taste and interests, but when it comes to staging it for sale, you should aim to appeal to potential buyers. Your place should be decorated in such a way that lets the buyers imagine themselves living there, which can be difficult for them to do if there are your personal items. Before showing your home, be sure to de-personalize your living space. This includes taking down any family photos and kids’ drawings and boxing your clothes and toiletries. That being said, you should also avoid creating a clinical look. Be sure to add certain pieces that will make the place feel lived-in. Wall hangings, crisp white towels, aromatic candles, and artwork are sure to inject your home with a dose of coziness and make it look more inviting overall.
Conclusion
Small repairs and a little bit of home staging go a long way in creating a lasting impression on prospective buyers. With these tips in mind, you’ll ensure that your home doesn’t sit on the market for long.
Home Staging and Repairing Tips That You Can DIY Today: 2020 Edition, is a guest post by Lilly Miller for Kevin Vitali of EXIT Group One Real Estate.
