Now, before you run off to spend 5000 dollars to make your home a designer showroom, hang on. There are some important things to keep in mind when you are putting your house on the market and want to present it in the best way possible.
First of all, keep in mind that the homes being staged on TV are generally in hot locations. Typically they are in downtown city locations, or in communities close to cities where home prices are already sky high or the expectations are high because the buyers are "young and hip". If you are putting your house on the market and want to stage it, I recommend asking a few experienced local Realtors familiar with your particular town or city to come through and give you honest feedback about what your home needs to make it more desirable.
You may want to do a bunch of upgrades but you may not need to depending on the expectations of the buyers in your area. On the other hand, you may not want to upgrade anything, but you may need to in order compete with other homes in you area and price range.. It all depends on where you are, the price range and neighborhood you are in, and what homes comparable to yours have. You can start by looking on any real estate website at what other homes in your price range have for cosmetic or structural features.
Second, you need to determine what you need to walk away with at your closing. If you overspend on upgrades to try to sell your house but ultimately lose money, then you are not gaining anything. On the other hand, if you do nothing to make your house more appealing to the masses, you may take a loss in the overall price you get for your home. Only you know what you owe, what you have already spend in improvements, and what you need to walk away with at the closing. That is where the Realtor's advice can help.
Once you have a Realtor go through, and you determine what should be done to make your home ready for the market, then you can do the staging. Your staging budget will depend on what your Realtor recommends and what you are comfortable with. There are times you need to spend money to make money, and other times you need to keep it simple.
The biggest problem home owners have, especially ones who have lived in a home for years is they don't want to change anything and they think the home is fine the way it is. If you want to move but are emotionally attached to your home, you need to start letting go before you can effectively stage.
Here are my staging essentials.
1. Repair repair repair. Fix the things that will scare a potential buyer. Leaks, drips, stains, fix them. period. Don't give anyone reason to doubt the structural integrity of your home. This will not add value but will keep buyers from freaking out. Re caulk the tub, touch up paint, make things look clean and fresh.
2. Pack and declutter. Get rid of stuff you don't need. Sell furniture that doesn't fit or is really outdated. Neaten up closets. Pack things up that you aren't sure about and put them in your basement or attic in a neat way and then go through them later. clutter is distracting and make you home look junky and crowded. Parents, keep the kids toys in check.
3. If your realtor suggested any cosmetic upgrades, get those done so they are finished in time. If you are replacing tiles, or flooring, make sure you choose a material that is durable, neutral, and good quality. Don't do stuff yourself unless you are really good at it. This is not the time to experiment with DIY.
4. Decorate to appeal to the masses. This doesn't mean you don't use color, it just means that you keep things basic and neat and also cozy. Don't strip your house of character, light and texture, just keep it from being too personal and cluttery. If you don't have a good sense of design, ask a friend to help. Arrange furniture to show off the flooring and space in the best way possible. Don't block windows or fireplaces. and parents, tone down the kid stuff. Put the toys away.
5. Show purpose and potential. The main purpose of home staging is to show a buyer what can be done in a space so they don't have guess. If you have a bedroom, show it as a bedroom. Make sure you have a table in your dining room. Make your home cozy and inviting. If you have undefined spaces, define them and show them how they could be used. If you have a small space, make sure the furniture isn't massive which will make the room look crowded and small. Make sure there is enough stuff in your house to feel lived in but not so much that it feels crowded.
I can speak from experience that staging your home makes a difference in how long it sits on the market. We have had very positive results from staging our past two properties. Remember it isn't personal it is business.
You aren't going to fix everything before selling, but you can present a good product. Do what you can to show it well and give buyers something to get excited about.
Happy Staging!
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