‘Tis the season–to move! Summer is the most competitive time of year for selling homes. It’s true that it is the perfect time of the year to showcase your abode, but it’s also the time when the market is flooded with other options. This being said, there are a lot of details that if addressed can keep your home on the top of everyone’s ‘must-have’ list.
Are you planning to move this summer? Look no further than our 8 helpful tips on how to stage your home to sell.
1. Boost Curb Appeal
Many people contemplating a tour of your home will do a quick drive-by test first, often it is to decide if it is even worth the peek inside. Lure the neighbors in with these helpful tips.
- Repave the driveway
- Plant blooming flowers
- Mow the lawn
- Wash the windows
- Wash siding and walkways
- Re-paint and re-stain
2. Time to Clean House
Cleaning your home from top to bottom is the most realistic way to put your home’s best foot forward. Every surface should not only be shiny and clean, but also clutter free (see tip #3).
3. Clear the Mess
If you are serious about staging your home this summer, all the unnecessary clutter must be tucked away. A storage unit would be the best way to safely store all valuables and clutter throughout the staging process. Not only will they keep belongings safe, but dry and cool throughout the summer months ahead.
4. Style the Dining Room
When staging your home you want people to feel welcomed. In this regard, many people forget to decorate important rooms, such as the dining room. Home buyers are trying to envision themselves living here. Don’t glam the place up too much, but make it seem warm and inviting. When it comes to spaces for entertaining, show them how they could potentially utilize a large space.
5. Rearrange the Furniture
When rearranging furniture, most real estate agents recommend placing items on a diagonal. In the living room, symmetrical placements usually work well too. Make sure to be creative outside of the four walls around you–rearrange furniture so that it creates a conversation area towards the center of the room.
6. Neutral, Neutral, Neutral!
Neutral colors present your home in a very sophisticated and appealing way. These colors pull everything together with a clean and tailored look. When a room, like a master bedroom, is free of clutter and neutral in color and design, it appears crisp and tasteful.
7. Mask the Awkward
With any awkward or under-utilized spaces in your home be sure to display them in a way that showcases their potential. Make the best of that “dead” space under the pedestal sink with some simple planters or a small shelf for personal items, or mask the limited amount of cabinet space by adding a small portable island. Make your awkward space a selling point!
8. Work that Closet Space
We never want to admit it, but most all home buyers look inside a seller’s closets. Closet space is one of the top selling points in a home, so if yours doesn’t make the cut, it could be bad news. Always make sure to clear the space, and display it in a way that shows its potential and advantages.
Try not to stress too much when selling your home this summer. Just remember to utilize the space in your home to the best of its ability, think seasonally, and use common sense when it comes to staging. If you follow these 8 tips, we know you will be at the top of visitors’ lists. Who knows…by the end of the summer you could be looking for some helpful tips about moving day.
Do you have any other ideas for staging your home this summer? Let us know in the comments below!
Flickr: mccready / Via Creative Commons
Flickr: realestaging / Via Creative Commons
