Sell your home for more money in less time? Home staging isn’t rocket science.
It’s surprisingly simple and it works. Let’s be honest here…
Most sellers think staging a home for sale is purely about making the space look presentable and more attractive. But that’s only half the battle. The other part is:
Helping buyers imagine their own life in your space
The problem…
Sellers don’t see how staging their house for sale can be the difference between instant offers at asking price or being on the market for months cutting prices to find a buyer. According to the National Association of Realtors, 81% of buyers found staging helpful in visualizing a property as their future home.
The good news?
Home staging is surprisingly affordable and easy when you know what you’re doing. In fact, with these expert tips, you can make your home look like a seller’s market gem in no time.
Contents show
- Why Home Staging Actually Works
- The Rooms That Matter Most
- Simple Staging Tricks That Don’t Cost a Fortune
- How to Avoid Common Staging Mistakes
- Wrapping It Up
Why Home Staging Actually Works
Let’s set the record straight…
Sellers buy houses with their heads. They think about the square footage, the nice granite countertops, and that upgraded master bathroom. But buyers buy homes with their hearts. A potential buyer walking through your front door is going to ask themselves one question…
Can I see myself living here?
That’s where staging comes in.
A properly staged home for sale shows potential buyers that, yes, they CAN see themselves living there. Staging gets rid of all those personalized touches and messy distractions that prevent a buyer from picturing their own family in your home. The best part is that for sellers looking for new real estate solutions, staging your home for sale offers a significant competitive advantage in today’s market.
If that isn’t enough, let me put it in a different way…
An unstaged home showcases what the current homeowner likes. A staged home showcases what the home could be for anyone. That’s a huge difference.
Buyers know it, and the statistics prove it.
Staged homes sell up to 3 times faster than non-staged homes according to the Real Estate Staging Association. What’s more is that nearly half of real estate agents report that staging a home significantly reduces the time a property is on the market.
Now here’s the other reason staging works so well…
Staging photographs better. Buyers spend more time on real estate listing websites than in the homes themselves. Listings with high-quality photos of well-staged homes get more clicks and online attention, resulting in more people coming to see the house in person and more offers coming in.
The Rooms That Matter Most
Not all rooms in your home are created equally for staging.
Throwing all your staging dollars at staging the guest bedroom and playroom isn’t going to yield high returns. Where you should put your staging efforts is in the three most important rooms that drive buyer interest and offers.
Living Room
The most critical room of the house is your living room.
Why? Well, buyers look at your living room and think… “This is where I’ll hang out.” You need to help them picture that.
Your living room should feel roomy, bright, and welcoming. Remove any oversized couches or chairs that make the room feel cramped. Add a few throw pillows and blankets to add a cozy touch. Ensure there’s plenty of light — open curtains and add lamps if needed.
Primary Bedroom
Buyers look at the primary bedroom and think… “This is where I’ll wake up in the morning and where I’ll go to sleep at night.”
Help them picture that. The primary bedroom should feel like a retreat — calm and relaxing. Clear off the nightstands, make the bed with fresh linens, and remove personal photos. Add a couple of decorative pillows and maybe a small plant for a touch of life.
Keep it simple here. The goal is a calm, neutral room that feels like an escape.
Kitchen
Buyers spend more time in and think more about the kitchen than almost any other room of the house.
Give them what they want. Clear off all counters except for a coffee maker or stand mixer. Hide away that under-counter dish soap, sponges, and all the kitchen appliances that only get used once a year. Add a bowl of fresh fruit or a small vase of flowers as your one decorative touch.
Kitchens are “less is more” and your buyers know it.
Bathrooms
People don’t stage bathrooms because they think bathrooms are easier than they are.
A few quick touches can make a world of difference in the bathroom. Take out all the toothbrushes, razors, and medications. Put out fresh towels, add a new shower curtain if the old one looks dirty, and clean everything until it sparkles. Add a small plant or a candle for a touch of life.
Think spa. Not storage.
Simple Staging Tricks That Don’t Cost a Fortune
Professional home staging can run you thousands of dollars. But it doesn’t have to be that way.
Here’s what you can do:
Start by decluttering everything. This is free and it makes the biggest difference. Move at least half the stuff in each room to boxes and into the garage or rent a storage unit for a month.
Paint is cheap magic. A fresh coat of paint in neutral colors will transform your home. Stick to soft greys, warm whites, and light beige.
Move your furniture around to create more flow. Sometimes all you need to do is push the couch to the other side of the room or remove the extra chair that blocks the pathway.
Add some green. Plants are magic for any space. Grab a few simple arrangements from the hardware store.
Fix the small stuff. Screw in those loose doorknobs, replace burned-out light bulbs, and touch up scuffed baseboards.
Clean like crazy. Make sure everything is sparkling clean before your first showing. If you need to, hire a professional cleaning service.
How to Avoid Common Staging Mistakes
Sellers make some predictable mistakes when it comes to staging.
You can avoid those and set your home up to be a fast seller.
Too Much Personal Stuff
Your family photos and souvenir collection mean the world to you. Buyers? They’re distractions.
Get rid of all personal items so buyers can see themselves living in the home instead of your family.
Over-Decorating
Staging a home is not a decorating contest.
Too much furniture, pillows, and knick-knacks in a room make it feel cramped and cluttered. Less is more with staging.
Stick to three decorative items per surface or less.
Ignoring Curb Appeal
Buyers don’t drive to your home address. They go to a street number.
Put effort into your front yard. Mow the lawn, trim back bushes, plant some flowers, and hang a new welcome mat.
First impressions start before the front door.
Leaving Rooms Empty
Empty rooms look smaller and make it hard for buyers to imagine using the space.
Throw in some basic furniture even if it’s minimal. Buyers need to see how to use the space to imagine living there.
Forgetting About Lighting
Dark rooms feel small, dingy, and dreary. Buyers are turned off by dark rooms.
Open curtains, turn on all the lights before every showing, and add lamps to dark corners. Bright rooms photograph better, feel larger, and make people want to move in.
Wrapping It Up
Staging your home for sale is one of the best investments you can make as a seller.
Staged homes sell faster and for more money than non-staged homes. Period.
The trick is to focus on the living room, primary bedroom, and kitchen, keep it simple and neutral, remove all personal items and clutter, and ensure the space is immaculate and well-lit.
Small changes can have a massive impact on how buyers perceive your home. Start with decluttering and a deep clean, and then add a few strategic touches to your staging.
Remember, you don’t need to make your home look like a showroom to stage it properly. You’re just helping potential buyers picture their life there. That’s it.
