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You’ve made years of memories here, and now the time has come to move on to a new home. But before you can settle into your new place, you still have to sell your house first. And to do that, you need to stage your house to sell.
Staging your house is an essential part of the selling process. It’s your chance to show prospective buyers all the potential that your home has to offer. But if you’ve never had to stage your house before, it can be tricky to get it right.
Let’s take a look at a few of the best ways you can stage your house to sell.
Keep It Simple
First, you’ll want to make sure that your decor and furnishings are as simple as possible.
Try to keep your style choices to a minimum when staging your house to sell. You want potential buyers to picture themselves living in the house, so neutral tones and traditional furniture styles are recommended.
Bold, vivid furniture will certainly capture the attention of anyone viewing your home, but it might give the wrong impression. In fact, a piece of furniture that’s too avante-garde might overpower the room. Potential buyers will leave remembering that bright pink loveseat and not the house itself.
Stick to simple furnishings that play to the strengths of the room. A sofa, armchair, coffee table, and an ottoman may be all you need to make your living room shine. Remember, you’re staging your house to sell. The point of arranging your furniture is to show the possibilities of the space.
You might not need to feature every piece of furniture you own when staging your house to sell. In fact, it’s a good idea to try and minimize furnishings and let the space do the talking. Your furniture should suggest how each particular room can be used, but potential buyers should be able to imagine how they would design the space themselves.
There will be an urge to over-decorate, but keeping things simple is the best choice.
Touch Up
You may even want to go the extra mile and repaint your walls, stairs, and baseboards with a new color, or touch up any fading paint jobs. Neutral is the name of the game, so stick with tones of beige, gray, or a light pastel. These might not be the most thrilling hues, but the goal is to help potential buyers envision their version of the space rather than yours.
Declutter and Clean
Decluttering is essential for staging your home to sell. Of course, you want to make sure your house is neat and tidy, but you might also want to remove or rearrange your belongings to make the space look its best.
If you have several bar stools or high-top chairs for your breakfast counter, try moving them to the basement to open up the kitchen space. The same goes for things like ironing boards, hampers, and storage totes. And while you’re decluttering, be sure to remove any miscellaneous belongings from closets, cabinets, and cupboards.
While you’re in the process of decluttering, you can take some extra time to do a deep clean of the house. Start with your regular house cleaning tasks like mopping and vacuuming, then take the next step by cleaning hard-to-reach areas like ceiling fans and vents. It might also be a good idea to steam-clean curtains and carpeting. Stock the bathroom with fresh towels and make sure that all bedclothes are washed.
Make It Accessible
It’s also a good idea to make sure that each room is accessible and easy to move around. Experts recommend leaving about 36 inches of space between pieces of furniture to allow for maximum walkability.
Not only does leaving lots of space between furniture give the impression of a bigger room, but it also gives potential buyers the ability to comfortably explore the house at their own pace. Try to avoid pushing all of your furniture against the wall. Instead, create small zones of furniture around a focal point like a fireplace with plenty of room in every direction.
Remove Personal Items
When staging your home to sell, try to remove any personal items that connect you to the house.
Family photos, religious symbols, or keepsakes can influence a buyer’s perception of the house and may even make them feel unwelcome. Removing sentimental items from your home can be difficult, but it's in your best interest to take down anything that cues your private life and your history with the house.
Rent or Borrow
If you’re short on furniture, or just don’t feel comfortable displaying your own pieces, you can try renting or borrowing furniture to help sell your house.
This might not be the best option for everyone, especially if you don’t have the time or patience to move a temporary dining set into your home. But a well-furnished space can impact a potential buyer’s decision to close the deal on your house, so keep an eye open for reputable furniture rental services or generous friends and family willing to lend you some furniture.
If you’re looking to stage your house to sell, Watson’s has everything you need.
When you shop with us, you’ll find an amazing selection and personalized service, along with the guaranteed lowest prices in the USA. We offer all the furniture and decor you need for any space in your home. So, if you want to spruce up your current space before you sell or need furniture for your new home, shop online or stop by your nearest Watson’s location today.
