Pre-staging, home staging, or is it just plain staging? Call it what you like, every home seller needs to know what it means to them. In todays DIY, reality TV, home improvement world, most of us have heard the term. And some of us may have a vague idea of what it is. But few of us really know how it translates into our own homes.
The reality is as vague as the term. For some sellers this can be as simple as no dirty dishes in the sink and last night’s clothes picked up off the bedroom floor. For others it may mean a complete makeover with rented furniture, smiling neighbors and an apple pie baking in the oven. For most of us, the answer is going to be somewhere in between.
To begin with, let’s explain what staging is designed to do. Its purpose is to present your home to prospective home buyers in the best view possible. You don’t want anything that could distract a buyer from buying your house, right? Let’s face it, not everyone has the imagination to see past your orange carpeting, and 70’s wood paneling. This is why the professionals recommend neutral colors (white) when repainting. Sometimes a simple re-arranging and/or removing furniture can help unclutter a room and make it look bigger. The reality is, staging your house for sales is part art, part practical, and all about removing distractions.
To begin with, let’s explain what staging is designed to do. Its purpose is to present your home to prospective home buyers in the best view possible. You don’t want anything that could distract a buyer from buying your house, right? Let’s face it, not everyone has the imagination to see past your orange carpeting, and 70’s wood paneling. This is why the professionals recommend neutral colors (white) when repainting. Sometimes a simple re-arranging and/or removing furniture can help unclutter a room and make it look bigger. The reality is, staging your house for sales is part art, part practical, and all about removing distractions.
The same goes for the outside of your home. Now we’re talking curb appeal. Yes, people still judge a book by its cover. At the very least you need to hide your garbage cans and mow your lawn. Beyond that there are many things you can do to improve your curb appeal. Again, talk to your Real Estate agent for suggestions or referrals.
So how do you determine just how far you need to go? There are several factors that come into play here, like the current condition of your house. The Boston Real Estate market can make a difference as well. For example, is it a sellers or a buyers’ market? The higher the demand may mean the more you might get away with. How about your neighborhood? Remember, staging will not magically transform your 2 bed/1 bath bungalow into a Beverly Hills mansion. But done right, it will help potential buyers to see a house beyond the people who currently live in it. And finally, what you do will often depend on how much time and money you have available.
Does doing all this mean I can ask more for my house? Probably not. But it may mean more money in your pocket by justifying your asking price. And it will certainly increase the speed in which you sell.
A few simple things you should do…
- Fix holes in drywall
- Clean carpets and remove stains if possible
- Invest a little time and money by re-painting wall colors that are, shall we say, a little off neutral
- Box up some of the clutter, you’ll have to do it sometime before you move
- Cleaning. Think windowsills, ceiling fans and closets. Yes, buyers look in closets
