While the expectation to spend money when buying a home is obvious, what’s not so obvious is how expensive selling a home can really be. The reality is that it comes with its own fair share of costs, including realtor fees, home renovations or repairs, and of course, home staging.
But the question on most home seller’s minds is whether home staging is necessary and worth the cost. The short answer is that it can make a world of difference. In fact, cost-effective home staging can increase your property sale price by up to 5 percent with just a bit of preparation before it hits the market.
The good news is that it doesn’t have to cost you an arm and a leg — check out this blog for expert tips on how to stage your home on a budget.
- Declutter and Depersonalize Your Home
Before you do anything else with regards to home staging, you want to clear your home of all unwanted items that are just taking up unnecessary space. We know, easier said than done. The great news is that you can declutter your home without having to spend any money at all.
Clutter is distracting for potential new homeowners and it can also detract from your home’s best features. You want to tackle one room at a time so that the task seems less daunting.
Don’t ”cheat” by shoving things in an empty closet. Get yourself two large boxes and mark one ”to keep” and the other ”to donate”. You can even sell items of value in a garage sale or list them on eBay. Either way, decluttering is a way of depersonalizing your home which is very important in home staging.
- Spring Clean From Top to Bottom
A huge part of selling your home for the best price and in a reasonable timeframe is the aesthetic appeal. You want your home to look the part and appeal to a range of people — no matter the demographic.
Your second tip is to clean your home from top-to-tail. There’s a reason why hotels and B&Bs appear so tranquil and welcoming when you first arrive. It’s because they are cleaned thoroughly and organized with detail.
The same concept should apply to your home when it comes to staging. With regards to deep cleaning, be meticulous about each room. Dust, vacuum, mop, and wipe down all surfaces. The difference is in the detail. Clean your mirrors and windows so that they’re streak-free. Polish your kitchen and bathroom hardware so that it glimmers with appeal.
Get your carpets steam-cleaned and ensure they aren’t left with spots and furniture marks. Touch up areas of peeling or faded paint. You don’t have to spend a fortune on cleaning products — you can make your own.
All you need is some time and elbow grease and you can ensure your home is sparkling before show day.
- Get Creative With Furniture Placement
If you already have a few good pieces of furniture in your home, now is the time to mix things up, move things around, and work on the layout of each room. A good tip is to keep negative space in mind. You don’t want a room to look overly full or cluttered.
If this means moving some furniture items out of one room and into another, then do it. You can also mix and match your furniture from one room to the next. Mixing furnishings, texture, and color is a good way to add interest and character to each room.
Another low-cost way to revamp any room is to re-paint your cupboards or cabinets, specifically in your kitchen. Or, you could also paint an accent wall for a pop of color and visual appeal.
- Use Natural Features as Décor Items
While you don’t want your home to look too bland and stark, you also don’t want it to look overly personalized when it comes to home staging. It’s about finding a happy medium between the two. A good way to achieve this is to incorporate natural elements into each room as part of your décor, rather than personal items.
These could be elements that relate to your local area and its geography. For example, if you live in a more rural setting, you can use dried flowers, driftwood, or pinecones as décor items. If you live near the coast, use seashells, seagrass, or dried pieces of coral.
If you live in a suburb near the city, flowers, and bowls of fruit are a great way to soften a room and make it feel warm and welcoming, without being too personal.
- Don’t Forget About Curb Appeal
Your home’s curb appeal plays a huge role in its overall perception of value. Most potential homebuyers judge a home on its exterior first, so this is where first impressions really do count. In short, staging the outside of your home is just as important as staging the inside.
In order to spruce up your home exterior, you don’t need to spend more than $500. This includes basic lawn care, such as mowing, trimming hedges, tree branches, and topping off the mulch. You want to budget some of this for new flowers and appealing pots/planters for your curb or your front door/porch area.
- Set the Scene for Entertaining
If you have a lovely entertainment or outdoor area, it’s important to stage this part of your home, too. This is another huge selling point for potential homebuyers.
Setting the scene is as simple as pulling out a serving tray, setting up some beautiful glassware, lighting a candle, and adding a bowl of fruit or snacks to your entertainment table. If you have an outdoor fireplace or fire pit, light it up and showcase what you have!
Cost-Effective Home Staging at Your Fingertips
While home staging may cost you a little extra when you’re looking to sell your home, it can make all the difference in the long run. The result could be mean you sell your home quicker, you gain a bigger profit — or both!
If you’re looking for cost-effective home staging services, Stageful offers remote professional home staging to assist you on your home selling journey. With the online help of an Interior Designer, you can prepare your home for a quick listing and a great sale.
Make an appointment with Stageful for remote home staging services and all the professional expertise you need.
