How to Stage Your Home to Sell

Last month I talked about living in limbo. During that time we had to try to prep our house for sale. I love searching from homes online as well as just looking at homes for fun. Through this hobby I’ve learned simple things about what is pleasing to the buyer and what is a major turn off. Another thing I have done during this process is google like crazy. I have done lots of research on “staging your home for sale” and “selling your own home”. I want to share some of the things I’ve learned with you.

I would like to address one of the first questions you’re probably thinking, “Why would you sell your own home and why do you need to “Stage” your home?”

I personally wanted to sell my own home for a sense of accomplishment as well as to save some big money that would otherwise be going to a realtor. I can also come down on my listing price with more ease than if I had a realtor I had to pay high percentages to for their assistance.

Industry Survey show that staging your home can make it sell 3 months sooner and for 3% more!

I will now walk you through what I’ve done with our home so far.

PREP WORK

OUTSIDE

Curb Appeal! As your potential buyers drive by sneaking a peek at your home or as they drive up into the driveway for an open house or private showing the front of your home is their vital first impression. Look at your home and imagine how to make it look like a picture of a dream home in a magazine. Try to use things you already own. Your looking to invest just enough in your house to sell it quickly and possibly make a profit!
Well Manicured Yard! Fresh cut grass, weeded flower beds, trimmed back bushes and trees, and many experts recommend colorful flowers that will bring warmth to your yard. If you live in a high maintenance neighborhood, then you may need to step up your game even more with your landscaping to set it apart from your neighbors.
De-cluttering! This is not just for the interior. All sporting equipment, toys, yard tools, etc should be cleared out of sight and stored neatly somewhere other than the front porch or yard. If your yard has beautiful shade trees, then you will need to make sure the drive is cleared of all leaves and debris. There should be minimal cars in the drive or even garage. If possible, have all or all but one vehicle gone from the home.

INSIDE

All of the following tips need to be assessed in every room as you walk through it with fresh eyes. If you’re brave enough {eeek}, take a slightly critical friend through your home and make a list of their suggestions. I know some of these will not be practical for every day living in your home but are a necessity for an open house or any private showing of your home! Plus, if you learn to live this way it will be a quicker process prepping for a showing, you may enjoy your home better while you still live there and carry it over to your new home. 1st impression! Just like the exterior of your home, the first impression will stick leading them to not even schedule a viewing or at least will be there long after the rest of the tour. What is the first room the potential buyer will enter, an entry way, living room, hall-like foyer? This room needs to be one you pay a lot of attention to. It needs to be clean {hopefully that goes without saying for every room}, feel spacious, warm, and inviting.

De-clutter– clear way ALL unnecessary items. I’m serious! I know it’s hard to live in your home while attempting to sell but pack away all unnecessary items and put them {neatly} in an attic, storage building, basement, or a family/friends house for a time {hehe}
Organize- even if you are not normally an organized person now is the time to kick it into gear. Everyone would love to naturally be organized so when potential buyers sees an organized home it invokes that desire and indirectly the organized home would make them feel that if they lived their life would naturally be organized.
Fix It– all those projects you’ve been meaning to do on an extra long weekends with nothing else to do…like those ever happen.
Paint Neutral– this is a big one I’ve seen. Professionals suggest you paint one neutral color over the entire house to make it feel larger, cleaner, and generic for all potential buyers. A big portion of our home was already neutral but I LOVE color and couldn’t bring myself to live in a neutral colored house for the remaining months we are here.
Clean Up– yep. All those weekly monthly things on your list as well as all those Spring cleaning items…all at once. This is tough!!! Cleaning everywhere and keeping it clean has been the hardest part for me and my family with 3 kids 3 and under. Some may suggest removing all person items. I would suggest hiding away things like toothbrushes and pot holders but frames and simple decorative pictures of your family I think helps potential buyers see themselves and their families living in your home.
Fresh Flowers/Plants– professionals say that fresh flowers through out your home invokes a feeling of warmth. Plus, it’s a reward to yourself for all that prep work!

For more resources I found helpful in my hunt to selling my own home you can visit HERE, an HERE if you have a little more to spend on staging, and HERE if you working with a small home.

Good luck with in your season of selling your home. I hope these helpful hints save you the research time and help you sell quickly!

Stay tuned for “How to Advertise Your FSBO {for sale by owner} Home“!

Here is an article I found that addresses and helps with the Emotional side of selling your home.

How to Stage Your Home to Sell

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