I don’t think there is anyone out there thinking of selling a house that doesn’t realize the importance of staging a home to sell.  With all the information available on the internet, I don’t need to harp on you about how important this step is, when getting ready to sell a home.  According to the National Association of REALTORS®, by far the majority of agents said that homes that are staged sell faster, and at a higher price.

Today I am starting you off  with the basics of staging, and a quick overview.  During the course of the next few months I will post additional videos that are much more specific, and I’ll go room by room through your home to give you ideas, tips and tricks to stage for a faster and more profitable sale. 

Decorating and Staging | Two different things

People often confuse decorating and staging, OR they think it’s the same thing.  Decorating and Staging are 2 totally different things.

Decorating your home is all about YOU, and your personal style and taste.  Your home should reflect your personality.  It should be filled with things that make you happy, comfortable, and at peace.

Staging is basically the complete opposite. It’s all about the act of depersonalizing your home to give it a broad appeal to the masses.  You want your home to  appeal to a broad range of potential buyers without looking stark or feeling sterile.  It still needs to look  and feel warm and inviting.

Home Staging Tips

There are several inexpensive things that you can do that will have a significant impact and can be started as soon as you decide it’s time to sell our home.  Let’s start by taking a look at those things:

Declutter and depersonalize your home

  • Start off by removing all items that you won’t need or use between now and when you actually move (including decorative and furniture items). Studies show that of all the stuff we own, there is actually very little that we use and/or need daily, weekly, or even monthly.  I’m not saying you need to get rid of things that you love, but I am saying, if you don’t need these items NOW, it may be be a good time to pack them away for the move!  
  • Pay close attention to removing many personal items such as family photos.  Potential buyers need to be able to visualize their own items in your space.  This can be hard for them to do when your personal items are all over the home. . So as difficult as it may be, remove any personal evidence of you and your family from your home.
  1. Paint, Paint and Paint. Painting will give your home a fresh look and the impression that it’s well cared for and it’s on of the most inexpensive ways to do a quick update of a home.  Dull, old, and out of date colors give the impression that the home is not cared for.  A quick paint job can fix this in a day!
  2. Keep it neutral. If you do decide to paint, stick with neutral colors. You can accent a touch of color with accessories such as pillows, cushions, flowers and artwork.
  3. Repairs.  Make sure that all repairs have been completed, even the  minor repairs.  I generally recommend that you hire a handyman to come take care of items, big or small before you list your home.   This gives you the opportunity to make the repairs necessary so that they don’t become an issue during the home inspection process.
  4. Clean till it shines. Be sure to have your home deep cleaned.  Don’t skip anything or anywhere.  Remember to clean the top of cupboards, appliances, light fixtures, fans, furniture etc.  Windows and window coverings are important too.  When you are done, your home should be dust and dirt free and smelling fabulous!

Okay, so that is enough to at least get you started on the process.  In the coming weeks, i’ll  begin a room-to-room series of the things you can do to stage your home to improve the length of time it takes to sell and the price you’ll get for it.

That’s it for today’s post, short and sweet.  If you want to stay up to date on all things Monmouth County, Real Estate and Marlboro Township,  make sure you like my  Facebook Page at ‘Monmouth County Dream Homes’ or my instagram account at  Monmouth County Dream Homes.

Remember, if you or anyone you know is looking to buy or sell their home, please give us a call!  It’s always a great time to make a move with Monmouth County Dream Homes.  I will see you next Monday!