The BCS real estate market is lighting hot right now which means that homes don’t stay on the market long, and when they do, they move quickly. There’s a lot of competition out there.
Right now, buyers are looking for homes that meet their space, price point, and lifestyle needs and a big part of that is the first impression.
From the second a prospective home buyer in Bryan/College Station walks in the door, they’re making judgements on whether or not they can live there. They’re picturing themselves in the kitchen, playing with their kids in the backyard, and imagining what it would be like to go to sleep and wake in the master bedroom.
As a seller, it’s your job to make sure that your home is staged to sell. You don’t want to give your buyer any reason to back out.
As a Bryan/College Station realtor, I’ve seen too many sales that should have gone through fail because of a bad showing. Below are some expert tips (from a realtor) on how to stage your home to sell.
Focus on the Important Rooms in Your House
When it comes to home staging, you don’t have to meticulously go through each room and bathroom. Be smart and focus on the key, decision-making rooms and make those places look great. When potential buyers are looking at homes, they’re typically going to put the most weight on those key communal and private areas where their lives are lived.
For kitchens, consider updating appliances and removing clutter. For living rooms, give them a fresh coat of paint and (again) remove clutter. For master bedrooms, make it as cozy as you can so that potential buyers get a sense of “home” when they view it.
Additionally, hire a professional cleaning company to give your house a deep, thorough clean.
Stage Your Outside (aka Curb Appeal)
Staging doesn’t end at the threshold. Professional stagers know that the first impression of a home really starts at the curb. Yes, stage the outside of your home. Maximize your curb appeal. Here are some great ways to help the front entrance of your home “pop.”
- Powerwash your walkway and driveway – grime, grease, and dirt builds up over time and power washing your walksways off will help them look brand new.
- Exterior lighting and illumination – with appropriate up lighting and tree lighting, you can make an otherwise dark, lackluster evening curb appeal really shine.
- Fresh plants and flowers – brighten up your entryway with fresh flowers to bring some color.
- Paint your front door a bright, optimistic color – with just a small amount of a well chosen paint color, you can quickly elevate your entryway. For from doors, stay away from neutral colors and instead go for bold colors that compliment your exterior
- Upgrade your street numbers – replacing old street numbers on your house with something modern will immediately improve the appeal of your home and the entryway
Rent Staging Furniture
I know this one seems a little out there, but if you’re in a place where you can move your furniture out and replace it with top-notch rental furniture, then it’s a good idea. Why rental furniture? Well, unless you are an impeccable homeowner who constantly cleans and maintains their home, your furniture is likely showing signs of wear and tear.
There’s also a great financial reason to rent staging furniture: ROI. Furniture rental can range anywhere from $1,000 to $2,000 but can add much much more than that to your asking price.
When you set your home smart like an expert realtor, you can make your home look and feel more attractive to potential buyers.
If you need help with your home sale or need to connect with staging professionals, get in touch with me below.
