Staging a home effectively can help attract buyers, but you don’t need a large budget to create a stunning presentation. As a real estate agent, you can benefit from knowing how to stage homes beautifully while staying within budget constraints. In this blog, we’ll share innovative and inexpensive staging techniques that will help you improve your property listings and drive successful sales.
What Is Staging?
Staging is preparing a home or property so that potential buyers can imagine themselves purchasing a property. There are various ways to do this, and it can be through redecorating, cleaning, rearranging furniture, and other aesthetic changes to positively showcase the home.
Your goal is to design an emotionally appealing, move-in-ready space that connects the buyer emotionally.
At first glance, home staging may seem nonsensical. Staging costs money and you’re trying to sell your home. However, trust us when we say that staging effectively can greatly increase any space’s sale price.
Why Is Staging Important?
Staging is essential to selling a house quickly. Real estate agents can't guarantee anything in a fluctuating market, but with a few aesthetic changes they can make a property stand out from other listings and even draw in higher bids.
- Connect Buyers to the Home - Update décor with welcoming, trendy styles to create an emotional connection between buyer and property and leave a lasting impression. Staging, according to buyer's representatives, made it easier for their clients to see themselves living there.
- Peak Online Interest - Recent data shows that most current home buyers start their search online. Staging photos can positively influence a buyer to see your home and submit an offer.
- Boost Perceived Value - Staging a property can enhance its appeal by reducing flaws and highlighting its strengths. This involves decluttering, updating window coverings, applying neutral paint, and arranging furniture. These small improvements can highlight the house's unique qualities and increase its perceived worth.
- Numbers Don’t Lie - Staging can cost an average of $700 to $2,000 depending on the homeowner's furniture condition. With an average investment of 1% of the sale price, 75% of sellers achieve a 5% to 15% ROI over the asking price. A recent survey shows staging can sell homes three to 30 times faster than non-staged competition and increase the sale price by up to 20%.
How Do You Stage a Home?
You don't have to break the bank to stage a house. There are cost-effective staging options available if you're selling your house. Here are some strategies that can help you make your property appear sale-worthy while saving money:
Talk to an Expert
Talk to an experienced real estate agent before compiling a long list of maintenance and repairs that might overwhelm you. An agent can help prioritize repairs and identify areas worth focusing on during a home showing, saving money on unnecessary repairs. They can also advise you on which features of your property will be noticed, resulting in a more efficient and cost-effective home-buying process.
Be Strategic Where You Paint
Even if the entire property needs painting, by focusing on the key sections first, you can cut money and work costs. This means the places that prospective buyers usually look out for, such as the kitchen, master bedroom, foyer, and outside. Maintaining clean and fresh rooms can significantly boost the property's perceived value, especially if you're financially limited. Painting these rooms yourself can save you even more money.
Be Thrifty - Borrow Furniture
Borrowing furniture from friends or family members can fill empty rooms in your home. They may have unused pieces in their attic or basement. Some sellers may have extra pieces they can rent out for staging. This is better than buying new furniture that buyers may not like. It saves money and increases the house's value at no cost.
Clean, Clean, Clean
Regular dusting, mopping, sweeps, and washing of all areas is crucial for potential buyers, especially if they have their own pets. During a showing, make sure your property is clean and presentable for possible buyers, including your pets, to make a good impression.
Clean every nook and cranny of your property to impress buyers. Hide chipped paint with a coat and replace old carpets with fresher ones. Ask someone to assess your work before a showing to ensure your work is present. This can be done for free if you are smart about it.
Keep the Right Atmosphere
Don't close off your house from the outside after it has been thoroughly cleaned. Properties with a lived-in feel are more appealing to buyers. Make use of natural light. It's free, after all!
What Are the Best Decor and Accessories for Staging Your Home?
Successful home staging involves decluttering and depersonalizing the space, but adding final touches can make the home more appealing to buyers. Here are our top ten decor and accessories for staging your property:
- Mirrors - Mirrors are excellent at reflecting light and making a place appear brighter and bigger.
- Plants - Greenery, whether real or fake, adds life to homes. Bouquets and small potted plants add visual appeal to shelves and surfaces. Even larger plants can add interest to empty corners and spaces.
- Pillows - An easy way to give personality to a neutral furniture piece with vibrant accent pillows and soft fabrics.
- Candle, Baskets, and Fruit bowls - A few decorative items can bring character to your home. Use candles and fruit bowls for vignettes that highlight desirable architectural features like alcoves and built-ins. Baskets are excellent storage alternatives.
- Lamps - Lighting significantly enhances a space's ambiance. Lamps are essential to fill in any dark areas. Dark corners make a home appear smaller and less inviting.
- Artwork - The right artwork can enhance the aesthetic appeal of a home. It's crucial to ensure that staging artwork is neutral and suitable for any and all buyers.
- Rugs - Rugs are a great way to define a space, especially in an open concept house. They bring intimacy and personality.
- Slipcovers - Décor must be neutralized and depersonalized while staging a house. For bold furniture with colors or patterns, slipcovers can be an affordable solution to neutralize it while it's on the market, making it a more appealing option.
- Trays -Trays are versatile home décor pieces that offer warmth and charm while organizing smaller objects on a big surface for a less cluttered appearance.
- Fresh bedding - Create a cozy atmosphere by investing in some fresh linens and bedding.
Further Your Real Estate Career With VanEd
It doesn't have to be expensive to stage a home. A little imagination and ingenuity can go a long way. If you’re an agent looking to get experience in staging and selling homes, VanEd offers pre-licensing and continuing education courses that are efficient and cost-effective. Maximize your career aspirations by checking out our catalog today!
Written and Published by: VanEd
