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Like This, Not That: The Blunders You'll Make When Staging a House

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Like This, Not That: The Blunders You'll Make When Staging a House

Like This, Not That: The Blunders You'll Make When Staging a House

One or two mistakes in staging a house could cost thousands! Learn about common home staging mistake

 

 

According to research, the average house takes up to 65 days to complete a sale. If you are thinking about selling your home quickly, there are many things that could speed up the sale such as staging a house correctly.

Most homebuyers, new or experienced,  form an opinion about a prospective house within the first 7-10 seconds. Once they have made up their minds, it is hard to convince them otherwise. 

First impressions are everything, and in reality, a first impression is how you stage your house. This means that your house must be staged perfectly or you could loose a potential sale with multiple potential buyers.

So, in terms of staging a house, how is it done properly so that your house feels and looks inviting?

Keep on reading as we dive into some home staging tips that will ensure you have a quick sale. 

Let's get started!

Do Not Ignore the Exterior

When you first look at a home, whether in person or on a listing, the first thing you notice is the exterior of the house. You notice if it looks clean, you look at how nice and kept the landscaping is, what the condition of the driveway is in, the entrance of the home, and the windows. 

The exterior of the home is your first impression, so do not neglect putting some work into the facade if your house needs some tidying.

If you are not wanting to repaint the entire house, you can add little elements to the exterior and make a big impact. Add some outdoor furniture, a nice doormat, potted plants, and even a wreath on your front door.

Don’t add too many things.  That can be distracting and look too "busy" and overwhelming.

Don't Design Based on Your Own Interests

It is understandable that you cannot part with your great-aunt's retro vintage sofa, however, keep in mind that something sentimental to you is not going to be acknowledged by a potential buyer. 

Some things that you may think will sell a house, may not actually be what is working for house staging at this time. Whether you are a seller or a real estate agent, if interior design is not your profession, be very cautious about how you decide to stage the house.

It is best to hire a design company or professional staging company to come in and do the magic for you. They will know what the "hot houses" are currently doing for staging and will follow suit with yours as well. 

Less is More

Following up with the last point, this is another very common house staging blunder most novices make. Candles are a beautiful addition, so are picture frames, vases, table decorations, and so on.

However, if you decide to choose them all, your house is going to look so busy that it will overwhelm potential buyers. It is not the stuff that matters as much as the energy and space in between the stuff.

Our everyday minds are too overworked to look at a busy place, in fact, studies show that clutter can affect our mental health, causing stress and anxiety.

Go with a simple look, and remember that less is more when it comes to staging a house, you will be glad you did.

Too Many Loud Colors

Accent walls are all the rage right now, but keep in mind this means that it is an accent, not the entire room. If you are a fan of big and bold colors, you may want to consider re-painting those before you sell the house.

A house is supposed to feel calm and cozy, which means neutral tones and a light palette. This will help the buyer's eyes to flow from one room to the next, comfortably.

Dress up an accent wall with matching cushions or a rug, then leave the rest of the walls neutral with a beige, grey or cream color.

Too Much Furniture

Furniture needs to make sense, and go according to how many people would be in the house on average. So if it is a three-bedroom house, the living room furniture should be enough for 3 people plus a few guests. 

If you have too much furniture around, it could end up looking too cluttered and seem like a frat house. It could also make the house appear smaller by crowding the interior space.

Too Many Fake Items

Sometimes a nice, fake plant can do wonders for adding a bit of color and life into a room. However, if you have fake plants, fake flowers, fake animal print cushions, fake bear rug, etc. You could make the house feel like a museum setting, rather than an inviting home.

Take the time and money and buy some real flowers to add around the house and even some real fresh fruit for the kitchen. Not only will it start to smell amazing, but it will add some freshness and vitality to your house.

Too Much or Not Enough Lighting

Lighting is an essential component of staging a house, especially for home staging photos where lighting is everything. This means that you need to have a fine balance of natural and additional lighting. 

Make sure you have blinds that are easy to access and open so that potential buyers can get a feel for the amount of natural light your house has.

This also goes for home staging photography, the photographer will prefer to use natural light, so stage your house in a way that uses the natural lighting.

Use energy-efficient bulbs and fixtures that are not overbearing, as that can make the room feel washed out and too bright. Dimming fixtures are optimal because they add some options for lighting within the house. 

Too Much Open Space

Just like it can be overwhelming having too much furniture, it can feel underwhelming having too little furniture and too much space. If there are giant gaps of room within the house, it can feel awkward and uncomfortable. 

This all comes down to a fine balance, you do not want too much furniture around the house making it look crowded and small, but you also do not want too much space making it look unlivable. 

Get the opinion from a professional interior designer once you think you have finished staging your house. It may cost you money, but so will having a poorly staged home that turns buyers away.

Do Not Ignore Necessary Improvements

Depending on the age of your home, it could have some imperfections. Some will be minor, and some will need immediate attention before you stage your house. Most houses have minor cracks in areas where the house has settled throughout the years.

However, if some of those cracks were caused by damage such as water, not only will the buyers be turned away, your house will not pass a home inspection! 

Go around your house and touch up any chips in the paint, replace baseboards that are damaged, fix doors that need to be re-hinged, and lighting fixtures that need to be fixed. These small, inexpensive repairs will help make a good impression on prospective buyers. 

Avoid Any Predictable Layouts

Unfortunately for you, your potential buyers are not just looking at your house, they are checking out probably a dozen homes before they make a decision. Eventually, they will have seen it all when it comes to staging a home, so if your house looks just like the last one, there is nothing special or significant about your home to remember.

If you are hiring an interior designer, make sure they are staging your house to look unique and not following too many common trends or else there is nothing that will stand out in the buyer's minds. 

Learn More Tips About Staging a House Properly

With simple planning and following the above advice, you will have no problem staging a house for a quick sale. 

There is no surefire way to stage a house, and it is mostly trial and error. You could make mistakes, but just make sure that you learn from them and make adjustments along the way.

If you would like more advice on selling your house or want to learn about what is new in the world of reality, check out our awesome 3D virtual house tours, where you can open up your home to hundreds of more potential buyers.