When you’re preparing to sell your home, you naturally want to ensure you get the best possible price. Houses are a big investment, and going the extra mile with proper staging can make the difference between a good offer and a great one. Here’s how to DIY your presentation so your home looks fabulous for marketing photos and open house events.
Learn Your Target Market
As Investopedia explains, successful businesses make it a point to become familiar with their target market. This involves things like identifying product characteristics their customers desire, as well as how much those customers are willing to pay for what they want. Granted, you aren’t opening a business, but selling your home is a major transaction. With that in mind, do some research to get a better feel for what your target market will be like.
You can do this by checking out what’s selling in your area. Pay attention to price points, the duration of time that the listing is on the market, and what predominant characteristics you notice in houses that sell quickly. You should pay special attention to homes similar to your own to see what to expect from your own sale. This number will ultimately be determined by the size of your home and the neighborhood where it resides.
You can do all that online, but you should also consider visiting area open house events. It’s a chance to see first-hand how other sellers present their homes and to listen in on how house hunters are responding. Think about what they feel positive about, what is seen as drawbacks, and how that applies to your own house. Also, weigh what other sellers are doing with their belongings and contemplate putting their good ideas to work, as well as avoiding their mistakes.
Dig into Your Digs
Armed with a perspective shaped by your target market, you’ll be ready to dig into your home territory. Begin by creating a clean slate: declutter your property as a whole. Both inside and outside, eliminate any excess belongings so house hunters can focus on the home they will be buying, instead of thinking about the people currently living there. Leave just enough furniture in the rooms to show the function, and allow buyers a chance to see how much space is available. Need help in this area? You can bring in a pro, but expect to pay between $256 and $749.
Bear in mind that house hunters will be looking in every nook and cranny, and if you pack your closets, drawers, and storage areas to the brim, it’ll look like the house doesn’t have enough room. If possible, store your excess belongings offsite so they don’t bog down your storage, or have a moving sale and put those funds toward your transition. If you go with the latter, people often see the best results with Friday or Saturday sales.
Shed Your Style
Cutting clutter is one big step, and depersonalizing is another. This can be a bit more of a puzzle; you want to present a house that is warm and inviting but encourages buyers to envision their own things in the space. Begin by removing obviously personal items, like family photos, collectibles, and decor that is particularly unique. Think about retaining items you might see in a hotel, and steer clear of those things which are particularly expressive of your tastes.
(Re-)Color Your World
Just from normal living, walls tend to get marked up and dinged now and then. A fresh coat of paint can spruce things up nicely, and paint is also an affordable way to enhance your staging. Brush up on proper painting techniques, and think about whether you need to change up your palette. USA Today points out certain colors can help sell your home quickly. Think about neutral tones throughout the interior, and a crisp white for your exterior. To round things out, your front door will be a standout in deep, glossy shades of navy or black. If you choose to hire a professional service to paint your home’s interior, it will usually cost $1.50 to $3.50 per square foot.
Presentation can make a huge difference when your home hits the market. Get to know your target market, declutter and depersonalize, and refresh your colors. House hunters will find your property irresistible with these affordable staging tips, and the house will be sold in no time.