Staging a home before selling it seems like a fancy extravagance to an outsider, but to those in the trade, it is a simple Economic Decision. Houses that are professionally staged sell quicker than houses that aren’t and they achieve a higher price too. Both a United States study and an Irish Study have shown that staged houses sell almost six times faster.
Staging a home for sale can be the key to selling successfully. The goal is to appeal to as many buyers as possible and in the process achieve the highest price. Potential buyers need to see a blank canvas where their personal items will fit in so that means taking yours out.
1. Imagine the Client/s
Decide who your client is and stage the space, based on their Lifestyle, needs and your budget to meet their needs and yours alike. Plan your staging around these types of people.
2. Choose the Unique Selling Point
Decide what are the key Unique Selling Points in the space and work from there. Keep it simple.
3. Survey the Space
Access the floorplans of the space and take photographs of each room and garden. Use this to make a to do list. Most importantly, plan to mark out where new and existing furniture can be placed and create a list of what is missing to complete the staging.
4. Budget Balanced
Based on your to do list, set a budget and use this when researching your choices for furniture etc. Also have your list of who might give you a helping hand with regard to painting, cleaning, gardening etc.
5. Clear out
Remove all idle furniture that makes the rooms look cluttered. Donate to charity, hire a skip, or sell them at a local Vintage Market.
6. Clean up
Give the whole space a good clean to eliminate all odours such as cooking, pets etc and choose a good smelling candle to assist you in this.
7. Re – Colour
Invest in a re-paint of the entire space. Choose key areas such as doors, window frames etc to emphasize key structural features. Opt for neutral colours such as whites/creams to ensure the space look larger.
8. Light it up
Open out the windows to allow in natural light. Choose mirrors in hallways and small areas which can help to create a sense of breadth and maximise the square footage.
9. In with the New
Opt for the new pieces combined with Vintage, which can be resprayed or touched up to add some classic style into your space. Alternatively, you can rent furniture from a staging company.
