When real estate agents talk about staging your home, they’re referring to a method of preparing a property for sale on the real estate marketplace. Staging is designed to showcase a home’s best assets, impress buyers, and sell it quickly for the highest possible price.

Because not all sellers stage their homes—especially homes in lower price ranges—you’ll be at an advantage if you take the extra step of staging your property. Here’s how to make your home irresistible to buyers.

Why Home Staging Is Important

When dealing with such a significant financial transaction as selling a home, you don’t want to settle for a lower selling price or a longer marketing period than you have to. Relative to the amount of time and money involved, staging may be one of the most lucrative projects you’ll ever undertake.

Potential buyers aren’t just looking for a structure to inhabit—they’re also looking for a way to fulfill their dreams and improve their lifestyles. Staging can create a more emotional purchase for the buyer, which ultimately can generate more money for the seller.

Benefits of Home Staging

Staging a home makes it more visually appealing and allows potential homebuyers to envision how the home might look once they move into it, making it look more move-in ready. Having furnishings and wall hangings in place is often more inviting than empty rooms and blank walls.

According to the 2023 Profile of Home Staging by the National Association of Realtors (NAR), 58% of buyers’ agents said that staging positively affected most buyers’ opinions of a home. Moreover, 81% of buyers’ agents say staging makes it easier for buyers to visualize a property as their future home, which can help the home sell faster.

Home-Staging Tips

Here are some essential tips to help you stage your home effectively:

1. Clean Thoroughly

A clean home shows potential buyers that you’ve taken good care of the property. Ideally, you should clean every part of the house, from the floors to the ceilings—and everything in between. If you don’t have new appliances in the kitchen, make sure the existing ones are spotless. Likewise, make sure your bathrooms sparkle, from the corners of the tub to the sink drain.

2. Declutter

Clutter distracts buyers from your home’s features and makes it seem like the home has less space. Box up and put into storage the things you don’t need on a day-to-day basis. Get rid of things you no longer need, like expired food or outgrown clothes. The more empty storage space you have, the better.

3. Depersonalize

Buyers need to envision themselves in your home, so remove all family photos, keepsakes, and personal items. Keep clothes hidden away as much as possible, and make sure the bathroom counters are empty except for hand soap. Put away toys and anything else that is highly personal.

4. Focus on Fresh

A few potted plants can do wonders to make your home feel fresh and inviting. Space them out strategically so they don’t overwhelm any one area. Another way to make your home seem fresh is to get rid of odors. Inexpensive tricks for ridding a home of odors include baking cookies or using vanilla-scented candles.

5. Define Rooms

Make sure that each room has a single, defined purpose. Ensure that every space within each room has a purpose. This will help buyers see how to maximize the home’s square footage. For example, a finished attic can become an office, and a junk room can be transformed into a guest bedroom.

6. Wallpaper and Paint

It is unlikely that a potential buyer will like your wallpaper. Your best bet is to tear it down and paint the walls with a neutral color. Potential buyers will likely feel the same way about custom paint colors. You might think white walls are ideal, but it’s actually better to paint your home with warm, neutral colors.

7. Flooring

No one wants to live in a home with dirty, stained carpet. Although pricey, hardwood floors add value and elegance to a home. They are also low maintenance, provide great long-term value, and are perfect for buyers with allergies. Common areas like the living room, dining room, and kitchen should be your main focus if you are going to add hardwood floors.

8. Lighting

Take advantage of your home’s natural light. Open all curtains and blinds when showing your home. Add fixtures where necessary, and turn on all the lights for showings. This makes your home appear brighter and more inviting.

9. Furniture

Make sure furniture is the right size for the room, and don’t clutter a room with too much of it. Furniture that’s too big will make a room look small, while too little or too small furniture can make a space feel cold. Arrange the furniture in a way that makes each room feel spacious, homey, and easy to navigate.

10. Walls and Ceilings

Cracks in the walls or ceiling are red flags to buyers because they may indicate foundation problems. If your home does have foundation problems, you will need to either fix them or alert potential buyers to them. If the foundation only looks bad but has been deemed sound by an inspector, repair the cracks so that you don’t scare off buyers.

11. Exterior

The exterior and the entryway are important points of focus because they can heavily impact a buyer’s first impression. Make sure your lawn, hedges, trees, and other plants are neatly pruned, and get rid of any weeds. Wash windows well, and consider adding flower boxes. If you can, power wash your home’s exterior.

12. Final Touches

Just before any open house or showing, make sure that your staging efforts have the maximum impact with a few last-minute touches. Put fresh flowers in vases, let fresh air into the house, light a few candles, and put new, plush towels in the bathrooms.

Conclusion

By following these staging tips and leveraging Homebase's financial solutions, you can significantly enhance your home's appeal and increase your chances of a swift and successful sale. Happy staging!

For homeowners looking to maximize the value of their property before selling, innovative financing solutions can be a game-changer. Homebase offers a unique service that allows you to unlock up to 90% of your property’s value, providing the financial flexibility to invest in essential home improvements and staging efforts. This approach not only simplifies the selling process but also helps you present your home in the best possible light, ensuring a quicker and more profitable sale. With Homebase's support, you can navigate the complexities of the real estate market and achieve your selling goals more efficiently.