Did you know that, on average, most homes sit on the market for 56 days? That is two months of valuable time that a home costs in taxes, maintenance, and other significant expenses. To increase your chances of a home sale, you may need to embrace your creative side.

While an upgraded home with modern finishes typically achieves a higher value, there are less strenuous and economical ways to make a big impact and get your property moving on the market. That involves staging a home. Staging is an effective and quick way to show buyers a property's potential. 

With staging, you will not have to invest in expensive finishes or furniture you will not use in your future home. Like getting dressed up, staging shows buyers the home's glamorous side and design possibilities.

But, do you worry about managing an interior design project? Do you need real estate agent skills to guide you? Read on to discover what you need to know about staging to get higher offers and move on when the time is right. 

What Is Staging? 

Staging is when a homeowner or interior design professional brings in furniture, fixtures, and accessories to an existing space. These items may be purchased or rented from a professional staging company.

The home transforms with these new pieces to create a more cohesive or elevated design space. This transformation ultimately helps to make the property appear more sleek, finished, and attractive. In turn, buyers may be more inclined to find the property appealing and submit higher offers than they would in a bare or outdated space.

For example, staging a dining room with place settings, a centerpiece filled with fresh fruit, cozy seating, and lighting helps buyers envision themselves in the space. They may think about enjoying breakfast in those chairs or using the long dining table to host family holidays. While the staging furniture may not typically be included in a sale, the pieces help the buyer to create their own narrative around a space and seal the sale. 

Interior Staging Trends 

It is beneficial to know the latest interior staging trends to appeal to modern home buyers and get the best return on your investment. Before setting your staging budget, check out the Hommati Home Value Tool to see what your home is really worth. This can help guide your budget and set expectations around what staging expenses may or may not be necessary to get the higher home value price. 

Clean and Crisp 

Buyers love clean, crisp, and open-feeling homes. This blank canvas appeal allows potential buyers to envision their own furniture, belongings, or design ideas. Clean and neutral spaces are an interior design trend that allows you to appeal to a wider range of potential buyers.

This increases your chances of a sale and secures your return on the investment for staging. Try staging major spaces in your home, like the living room or master bedroom, with high-quality neutral furniture and finishes. Think of a neutral wood dining table with white or cream fabric chairs.

In the bedroom, a beige headboard with crisp white bedding and linen white curtains creates a spa-like and relaxing environment. These neutral design ideas are on-trend and can help attract buyers to put in an offer. 

Modern Finishes 

Consider finishes like glass tables, acrylic bar stools, or stainless steel accents. Add modern and simple mirrors in the appropriate spaces to bounce natural light and create the illusion of a bigger area.

While modern decor is not the perfect staging look for every home or property, it tends to appeal to a large enough audience. Unlike shabby chic or Bohemian-style, modern finishes may appear more neutral and subdued.

For example, a skyrise apartment building could benefit from modern staging, because it is likely that the ideal buyer clientele is a young, professional or city lover who would appreciate and connect with this style.  

Colorful and Bold 

Just because neutral schemes and sleek finishes appeal to most buyers does not mean you have to knock out color or bold design. Depending on your housing market and ideal buyer, the bright decor may actually help sell your home.

For example, a vacation rental property welcomes colorful accent walls, fun tile, and patterns. Consider easy-to-implement staging options like peel-and-stick wallpaper, colorful throw pillows, a patterned headboard, or curtains. Remember that these colorful and bold accents can catch the eye of potential buyers, who may view your property on website listings or on 3D tours. 

Go Abstract 

Avoid personal family photos or moments and embrace on-trend abstract art decor. Large abstract art canvases or prints add a touch of elegance and interest to bare walls. Try staging your living room or entryway with a captivating abstract piece. 

How to Stage a Home 

According to the Real Estate Staging Association, the majority of staged homes sold in less than 40 days on the market. That number is far more attractive than the average of 56 days! Can you recognize the magic of staging?

But, you still may wonder how to stage a home and make enough of an impact to sell your home quickly. This is the easy step-by-step guide to stage your home.  

Assess Your Space 

Staging can feel overwhelming if you evaluate your entire property in one sitting. Take a bite-sized piece approach instead of worrying about redecorating the entire house. For example, will buyers care about the decor or space in the laundry room?

Does your finished basement need artwork or extra accessories? Consider the spaces with the most foot traffic and buyer appeal. For example, the kitchen, living room, bedrooms, and bathroom are the areas that can make the biggest impression to attract or repel buyers. 

Remove Clutter

Now that you understand which home areas to tackle, you can get to work by cleaning and removing clutter. Remove personal items and tidy your space. For example, kitchen and bathroom counters should be free of bottles or canisters.

In the bedroom, store away jewelry boxes and put all clothing or shoes in the closet or out of sight.

Clutter diminishes the clean canvas look that many buyers are after. And, did you know that a clutter-free space can help promote happiness and increase energy levels? That is a win-win! 

Budget and Use What You Can

Are you worried about drowning in debt from staging your home? There is a simple solution that is right under your nose. Use what you already own!

Before shopping for new furniture, fixtures, or accessories, conduct a full-scan inventory. Staging your home and creating a new interior design look may be as simple as rearranging furniture or moving art.

For example, your living room lamps may add extra light and color to a dark back bedroom. Or that rolled-up rug in the basement storage could create a cozy impression in your foyer.

Set Expectations 

Using what you have saves money and sets expectations for creating a budget. You may need a total staging overhaul.

That means removing worn or outdated furniture and replacing items with a modern and on-trend design scheme. Set a budget and research local rental companies or staging experts who can help create an ideal space to appeal to buyers. 

Play Up the Home's Best Features 

The best staging practices take into account your home's most attractive features. For example, are you drawing enough attention to the living room's high ceilings? 

Do not block natural light or windows with bulky furniture. If you have high-quality hardwood floors, a simple wax treatment can make them shine. There is no need to cover that stunning wood with carpet or an old rug.

Placing the curtain rods well above the top of the window frame helps to draw buyers' eyes upward. This gives the illusion of higher windows and a larger space. Stage your home around the property's inherently attractive features.

Consult an Expert 

In the end, you still may feel unsure about the staging process. If you don't have a natural eye for interior design or have no idea where to get started, a realtor can help guide you.

This professional will have the staging contacts to transform your property or may offer the perfect advice for budgeting a staging project. Find professional real estate agents to sell your property and help answer your staging questions. 

Virtual Staging

If you do not have it in your budget to do too many repairs or updated to your furniture, or you plan to move your furniture into storage or into your new space, consider virtual staging. After your photographer comes in and snaps pictures of your home, you decide with your real estate agent if you want to incorporate virtual staging.

Per the name of it, virtual staging will not appear in real life, but companies like Hommati have teams that create the virtual furniture, decor, and light fixtures and make it so the photos look as those all of those aspects were there when the pictures were taken.

It is a simple yet effective way to draw in potential buyers, especially ones who are starting their search online. This technique also will not break the bank, which is not what any home seller wants to deal with. 

Staging a Home Can Impress Buyers and Sell Your Property Quickly 

Staging a home can sell your property in less time. This practice may even help you receive higher offers.

Remember that staging doesn't have to feel overwhelming. Focus on key areas, follow design trends, and play up your home's best features. 

And, if the design is not your strong suit, do not worry. A real estate professional will know the exact staging needs to move your property on the market. If you are staging your property and ready to move onto your next home, download the Hommati Mobile App to search listings or find an agent.