We’ve all heard the adage that it is important to make a great first impression, and the same is true for your home when opening the doors to potential buyers.
While you may have decorated your home in a stylish and comfortable manner, prospective buyers may have a different eye for design. In order for your home to seem attractive to buyers, they must be able to see the space as a semi-blank canvas so they can mentally apply their own style and design to each room. Only then will they be able to picture themselves living there, making them more likely to want to make an offer.
We asked some of our Coldwell Banker-affiliated agents and brokers around the country to lend some staging tips and tricks, and most agreed on the following best practices:
Showcase your strengths:
“Staging is incredibly important because it helps showcase aspects of the home. For example, if a home has a newly installed granite countertop in the kitchen, one should simply put fresh flowers on the counter to highlight it.” – Danielle Moy, Broker Associate, Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage, Orland Park, Illinois
“Staging is as much about ‘editing’ as it is about rearranging furniture. Editing means you can see the space in the best possible way, and not just the stuff within that space.” – Cara Ameer, Broker Associate, Coldwell Banker Vanguard Realty, Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida
Cut the clutter and pay attention to detail:
“Less is more when it comes to staging. Declutter and pack away any items that aren’t necessary for daily living. It’s all in the details – scale back the amount of items on shelves and make sure all lamps have working light bulbs. Lighting is important to making a space seem more open and inviting” – Renae Voda, Sales Consultant, Coldwell Banker Barnes, Franklin, Tennessee
“Don’t forget to organize and declutter closets and cabinets – buyers will peek in there! You don’t want to give the impression that there isn’t enough storage space by keeping those areas packed with items.” – Angel Piontek, Realtor Associate, Coldwell Banker Edite, Fredericksburg, Virginia
Save some pennies:
“You don’t have to hire an expensive staging company to completely redesign your home! Move furniture, change shower curtains, hang clean towels and remove rugs to expose hardwood floors. Add new throw pillows to couches and beds to freshen up the area!” – Jessica Riffle Edwards, Previews Property Specialist, Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Advantage, Wilmington, North Carolina
“A few cans of paint and fresh carpet are affordable upgrades that can make a home stand out without much of an investment.” – Chris McDonnell, Broker, Coldwell Banker Distinctive Properties, Vail, Colorado
