Home staging is the act of preparing a private residence for sale in the real estate marketplace. The goal of staging is to make a home appealing to the highest number of potential buyers, thereby selling a property more swiftly and for more money.
Because nearly 90% of home buyers start their search on the internet, staging is a good way to make sure online photos ‘pop’. Home sellers spend an average of $1,800 to stage a home, but costs can range from a couple of hundred dollars to $5,000 or more. You do not have to own a million-dollar home to stage. Any home can be staged big or small and in any area.
A recent study in America showed that for every $100 invested in staging, the potential return is $400. A staged home will sell for 17% more on average than a non-staged home, and 95% of staged homes sell in 11 days or less. Staging is happening more and more in Australia and the agents and buyers love it!
Boosting curb appeal is something you always hear, and with very good reason. Many people thinking of touring your home will do a quick drive-by first, often deciding on the spot if it is even worth a look inside. Make sure your home is ready to lure in onlookers with these tips:
Welcome visitors with an inviting entry Even if you only have a tiny entry, make it say ‘welcome home’ with a clean doormat, potted plants in bloom and — if you have room — one or two pieces of neat outdoor furniture. Keep your entrance lights on in the evenings, in case potential buyers drive by. Illuminating the front walk with solar lights is a nice extra touch, especially if you will be showing the house during the evening.
Get your house sparkling clean
From shining floors and gleaming windows to clean counters and scrubbed grout, every surface should sparkle. This is the easiest (well, maybe not the easiest, but certainly the cheapest) way to help your home put its best foot forward. You may want to hire pros to do some of the really tough stuff, especially if you have a large house. Don’t skimp — this step is key!
Clear away all clutter If you are serious about staging your home, all clutter must go, end of story. It’s not easy, and it may even require utilising offsite storage (or a nice relative’s garage) temporarily, but it is well worth the trouble. Clean and clear surfaces, floors, cupboards and closets equal more space in the eyes of potential buyers, so purge anything unnecessary or unsightly.
Strike a balance between clean and lived-in Yes, I know I just said to get rid of all your clutter (and you deserve a big pat on the back if you did it), but now it's time to judiciously bring back a few elements that will really make your home appealing. Think vases of cut flowers, a basket of fresh produce on the kitchen counter or a bowl of lemons beside the sink.
Style your dining room table The dining room is often a blind spot in decorating the home. Between dinners, a large dining table can look bare and uninviting, so styling it up with visitors in mind can increase the appeal. An oversize arrangement can look too stiff and formal, so try lining up a series of smaller objects down the center of the table instead.
Create a gender-neutral master bedroom Appeal to everyone with a clean, tailored master bedroom, free of personal items and clutter. You can't go wrong with clean, crisp linens, tasteful artwork and a blanket folded at the foot of the bed.
Use only perfect personal accents Particularly in the bathroom, it is important that anything left out for visitors to see is pristine. If you have a gorgeous fluffy white bathrobe, hanging it on a decorative hook on the door can be an attractive accent —but if your robe is more of the blue floral variety, you might want to hide it away. Look at every detail with a visitor's eye — bars of soap should be fresh and clean, towels spotless, and the garbage always emptied (you get the idea).
If contestants on ‘The Block’ can do this, then so can you! Google pictures of bedrooms and bathrooms to help you with some ideas.