Heard of home staging but not sure what all it entails or where to even start?  We’ll help you understand the in’s and out’s when it comes to Home Staging and let you in on a HUGE benefit of working with The David Bradica Team…hint hint, with a little prep work from you, we’ll take care of the heavy lifting of this for YOU!  From furniture to decor, it’s included in the service we provide to our clients.  More on this later.  In the meantime, let’s dive into Home Staging and why it’s important.

The main goal when selling your house is to get potential buyers picturing themselves living in your home. People are not just looking for a dwelling to inhabit; they seek an improved lifestyle. Staging your home helps bring emotion into the buying process and lets people imagine what it would be like to live in such a beautiful space.

What is staging?

Staging is different from decorating. Decorating reflects one personal style while staging aims to attract as many buyers as possible. While you may have incredible taste, it may not be what appeals to the masses. This is where a professional stager and the opinions of an experienced real estate professional can help, as they know current trends and what tops the buyer’s list of must-have items.

Is Home Staging Worth It?  

The short answer is yes! We are very visual creatures, yet many people have a hard time envisioning what a space could look like with a bit of work. Proper staging makes a home look bigger, brighter, and more welcoming and dramatically increases perceived value in the eyes of potential buyers.

Why Home Staging is Important

• Staging a home increases its dollar value by 1% – 5%, on average. On a $1M home, that’s an increase between $10,000 – $50,000!

• 81% of buyers agree that home staging helps them visualize the property as their own.

• Staged homes spend 73% less time on the market.

12 Tips for Home Staging

1. Get into the mindset of the buyer

What are buyers looking for right now? How can you stage your home to appeal to the most significant number of people? You want to think big-picture and perceived value, focusing on any problem areas that might deter buyers from making an offer. Look at the main areas of your home – will they love it, live with it, or replace it? Aim to minimize the amount of work they’ll have to do.

2. Get a professional on your side

Before you make major updates or change too much in the house, get another set of eyes on your home, to help determine which areas will give you the biggest return on investment. Real estate agents and professional stagers know which changes make a significant impact.  

3. Clearly define rooms

Each room, alcove, window seat, or breakfast nook should have a single, defined purpose. Even if you don’t use that room for the same purpose, it shows every inch of the house as usable space.

4. Maximize lighting

Natural light makes your home look brighter, bigger, and more welcoming. Open the curtains and turn on the lights when showing your home. Clean existing light fixtures and replace any that are outdated or broken.

5. Create space

You want there to be as much open, walkable space as possible. Consider furniture placement carefully to ensure the best use of every space. Furniture that is too big can make a room look small, while too little furniture can make a space look cold and impersonal. Arrange furniture in a way that makes a home look spacious and easy to navigate.

6. Clean, de-clutter and depersonalize

One of the main goals of staging a house is to get potential buyers picturing themselves moving in. Family photos, personal items, and souvenirs from vacations make it hard for them to do that, as it looks like your space, not theirs. Depersonalize and de-clutter for a fresh, clean home.

7. Don’t forget the exterior

You know when you start reading a book, and it hooks you from the start? That’s what we aim for with curb appeal! An excellent first impression gets potential buyers in the right mindset as soon as they pull into the driveway. And don’t forget the backyard. Stage the outside of your home, because beautiful spaces for outdoor living are becoming increasingly important to buyers.

8. Focus your efforts

What areas of your home have the most potential to influence buyers’ decisions? You want to spend your time, energy and money on the areas that will have a significant impact. While it will vary for every home, the main areas you want to focus on are the kitchen, bedrooms, and living room.  

9. Create a fresh space

Ensure there are no strong odours in the home (including overly perfumed air fresheners) because many people are sensitive to strong scents. Essential oil diffusers with light citrus scents or mild room sprays add to the overall feel of the home. Better yet, crack open a window to let in some fresh air.

10. Don’t forget the details

Remember that lifestyle we’re creating? Where can you add finishing touches that help them imagine climbing into bed with a good book at the end of the day, creating a masterpiece in the kitchen, or having a movie night in their fabulous new rec room? Adding plants, or a vase of fresh flowers, candles in the washrooms, throw pillows on the sofa, a stack of pretty books on the night table can help ‘sell’ that lifestyle people are searching for

11. Show Off Your Storage

Storage is always important to buyers, and they WILL peak into your closets, cupboards and pantry. Declutter to make your storage spaces appear as big as possible and use matching bins and organizers to ensure everything looks clean and neat

12. Take pets with you

While some buyers will love your pets almost as much you do, others may not as comfortable around animals. When showing your home, bring pets with you whenever possible, and stash their beds, litter boxes, and food dishes in your car or out of sight.

The bottom line on home staging? It’s definitely worth the investment, whether you invest time and energy yourself or hire someone to do it for you. We have seen it pay off time and time again. You are selling a lifestyle, and your main goal is getting buyers to envision themselves moving in! And remember, when working with The David Bradica team, we include full Home Staging in our offer to you, no matter if it’s one room or the entire house, we are here for you.  Reach out today and we’d love to chat further about your home selling goals. If you found this helpful, you may also enjoy Prepare Your Home For Sale With Our Top 10 Tips.