Are you planning to sell your home? Proper staging excites potential buyers and will raise your asking price. Anyone selling should consider hiring a professional stager which can offer a big return on investment. A good stager will appeal to buyers by maximizing the potential of your space using design know-how and ingenuity.
Here are some before and after shots of a recent condo staging.
Whether hiring a pro or preparing to go it alone, here are 5 Staging Basics every home seller needs to know:
1. REMOVE ALL CLUTTER.
Yes, even the cute kid artwork! All personal items, knick knacks and extra stuff out. Only appropriate furniture and accessories. Take yourself out of the picture and let potential buyers imagine themselves in the space. Do not distract from a pleasing overall impression with unneccesary things. Negative space is not boring! Open areas are easy on the eye and create a spacious and clean feeling.
2. FRESH PAINT.
Paint is the fastest, most inexpensive way to makeover a space and will leave it feeling clean and new. Neutral colours offer an inoffensive backdrop for any furniture and art and provide a sense of expansiveness. For added pizzaz, consider bold colour on a feature wall. The main floor of this condo was entirely repainted in a warm white to create a fresh, open canvas and visual continuity throughout.
3. FURNITURE TO SCALE.
Look for furniture that fits your room shape and size. Only rent or use existing pieces that suit the design direction. Furniture arrangements should please the eye, maximize available space and also make sense for daily living. This condo was small with challenging room shapes. The bed in the master bedroom was scaled down to a double from a queen, which took up too much valuable floor space. There was little room for dressers and nightstands, so shelves were installed to serve as night tables, a small storage unit became a dresser and a bedframe with storage underneath suggested a creative storage solution.
4. ACCENTUATE THE POSITIVE.
Spotlight the features that make the space attractive or unique. In our condo, a nook between bedrooms was transformed into a great little office space. In the dining area a large blank wall became a feature with a pair of funky posters. The venetian blinds covering the sliding door were removed to bring in light and highlight the patio walkout.
5. KEEP YOUR TARGET BUYER IN MIND.
All good marketers will tell you- don’t try to market to everyone. Identify your ideal buyer and gear your efforts accordingly. The target buyer for our condo was a young professional single or couple. The decor style was geared more urban/ contemporary. The smaller bedroom was decorated to suggest a guest or small child’s room.
They say we have mere seconds to make a positive impression. If you want quality buyers to stay engaged and interested beyond the front door, proper staging is a must.
Of course you also want to impress them AT the front door, so consider replacing your tired house numbers and dented mailbox for something new! In staging, it's all in the details.
