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In today’s economy selling a house can be a challenge. There are many homes on the market, so it is important to set yours apart from the others. 

Staging your home is the best way to set it apart and decrease the time it takes to sell. As a designer I have seen what a difference staging makes for both people selling and buying homes. In the last 15 years, I have not staged a home that my agent could not sell. When your staging is successful you will leave a lasting impression on the home buyers and they will feel like they have walked into their future home.

Home staging is an art.

It is what you do after you’ve cleaned de-cluttered, painted and made any repairs. Home staging is about dressing the house for sale. The objective is to make your house look bigger, brighter, cleaner, and enticing to the buyer. For example, if you have a small entry way, add a large mirror from floor to ceiling. Mirrors add light and dimension to small spaces.  If your windows are small, hang curtains above and outside of the window frame. This makes the windows appear larger than they really are. If your carpets are old, add a contrasting area rug to focus the attention. As for the walls, use landscape artwork to add a sense of space to a room. Landscapes help open up the feel of a room. A sofa can be revitalized with some updated throw pillows. A less than ideal sofa can often become perfectly acceptable with this one simple update. It is all in the details of creating moods.

A well designed home is a well cared for home.

It should be interesting to a buyer, and allows them to envision themselves living there. Staging a home takes the buyer’s needs into consideration before they know it. If your things are still in the home you are trying to sell, it is important to depersonalize the space. Things that are unique to you and your family will make it hard for the buyers to envision themselves in the home. The space needs to seem like it could belong to anyone.

On the other hand, if you have already moved yourself out of the house it is not good to leave it empty either.  An empty room can make it hard for buyers to visualize furniture in the space, and allow buyers to focus on negative details in stead of getting a sense of the overall space.  It can also make it difficult to understand the size of a room without furniture and accessories as reference points.  We want to show the new home owners how each space should be used. 

It is best to hire a professional to stage your home. The art of staging is so much more than creating curb appeal and de-cluttering. It is important to bring in a fresh perspective, especially one who knows what buyers are looking for. Any real estate agent can recommend some basic tips; however a professional knows how best to accentuate your home’s features.

When it comes to staging real estate, every penny and every day counts. Make sure you research to find a designer with staging experience. Home staging is not decorating, and it is important to distinguish between the two. Online courses are available for people to acquire a certificate, but make sure your professional has experience and credibility. Ask to see pictures or a portfolio of past projects. Remember you are trying to sell the home, not just filling the house with stuff. Selling real estate can be a large and costly project. Make sure staging only enhances the venture. You want to do it once and do it right.