First impressions are everything, whether it's with people or properties. The first few seconds of a home viewing are crucial in capturing a potential buyer's attention. Home staging is one way to do this, by creating a space that evokes a feeling of home. This process takes creativity and a keen eye for detail, but it's worth it to make that initial connection with a potential buyer. Follow these steps to keep yourself on track
Kerbside Appeal
Imagine walking up to a house you're interested in viewing. The rubbish-covered sidewalk is in disrepair, the front gate is in need of a fresh coat of paint, and the overgrown grass brushes against it as you enter. Your first impression is already a bad one. Home staging begins on the outside, from painting the gate to trimming the grass and pulling out weeds. These simple steps go a long way in creating a positive first impression.
Minimize
The first step of home staging is minimizing your possessions. Overcrowded spaces and cluttered storage areas make the home feel cramped and stuffy, giving the impression that there's no room for a potential buyer's things. Rather than keeping your excess possessions in the garage or home storage, pack them up and put them in self-storage. This will keep them secure and out of the way, making the staging process a breeze.
Space Use
How you position your furniture determines how a room feels. When staging your home, you want the viewer to feel like there is plenty of space, opening their mind to the possibilities for how they might use the space themselves. Having your couches pushed right up against the walls will make a space feel restrictive. It's amazing what a difference pulling them a couple of inches away from the wall can make. You want to stage your home to inspire viewers and rooms with no obvious purpose, merely serving as a glorified storage cupboard, won’t help you achieve this. Show viewers how to get the most out of the space, from the largest rooms to the smallest.
Furnishings
After minimizing your belongings, it's time to add a little life and color back into the home through soft furnishings. Remember to keep things neutral and avoid over-personalizing, which will put buyers off as they won't be able to see themselves in the space. Simple additions like comfy cushions and curtains, as well as a bowl of fruit on the kitchen counter, will help a buyer imagine living there. You want your home to feel like a show home, but not like a showroom
Deep Clean
After you've curated your possessions, it's time to clean every inch of your home, from the windows to the carpets. Cleaning one room at a time will make the task feel less overwhelming. Dust every surface, clean the windows and frames, vacuum and wash the carpets, and clean the surfaces until everything is sparkling.
Sensory Stimulation
The aesthetic appeal of your home is just one factor to consider when staging. Consider the other senses, like smell and sound. A subtle candle or the smell of baking can engage viewers on a deeper level, leaving a lasting impression. Ambient music will help viewers to feel more relaxed as they view the home. Your goal is to make viewers connect to your home and its personality, leading to a quick sale.
