8 DIY Home Staging Tips That Will Help You Sell Your Home
By Alice Robertson from tidyhome.info
Photo via Pexels
Homebuyers these days expect a house to look exactly like a magazine when they come to visit it so that they can project their own lives and plans onto the space. For some, the solution is to hire a professional home stager. However, if this is not in your budget, DIY home staging is not nearly as intimidating as it looks. Below are some key tips to make sure your home is up to standard so you can sell it fast and for the price you want.
Scope Out the Competition
Start by going on a reconnaissance mission in your area. Search local listings to get a feel for prices and look at the photos to see how other homes have been staged. You may even choose to go to a few open houses in person, where you can look in detail at how owners have decluttered and depersonalized tricky areas like storage cupboards and children’s bedrooms.
Think Minimalist
No, you don’t have to completely overhaul your lifestyle. However, when decluttering a home for staging, it helps to adopt a set of minimalist principles. These include limiting the amount of new stuff coming into the house, making daily decluttering steps, and deciding that you are not going to keep anything out of pure guilt or obligation.
Paint the Walls
Some people get carried away with home renovations during staging, which can be a big money drain. Remember: You’re only beautifying what you already have, not changing it. If you’re going to make one renovation, give the walls a fresh coat of paint. Keep the colors neutral, but not boring: HomeLight has some great color suggestions within the beige, white, and grey palettes.
Start Packing
As you declutter, make sure to separate the stuff you are getting rid of from the stuff that is coming to the new house but being removed for staging. The easiest way to do this is to place the latter category of items straight into packing boxes. You then have several options of where to keep these: a storage unit, a friend or family member’s house, or a garage or shed. Do be wary of filling up your garage with boxes, though — buyers will want to see it, too.
Freshen Up Your Decor
You want to depersonalize, so pack away knick-knacks and sentimental items. However, you also don’t want the space to be bland. If you’re on a tight budget, get creative with your decor: frame glossy photos from books or magazines, use colorful curtains to hide storage boxes, or spray paint old vases and candle holders to make cute plant pots.
Clean, Clean, Clean
So much of home staging is just having — and keeping — the house as clean as possible. Areas to focus on include the kitchen and bathroom, both of which should be kept sparkling clean. This includes organizing your fridge and pantry and focusing on hard-to-reach areas like the toilet base and under the toilet seat.
Tidy Your Closets
Not only are buyers going to look in your closets, but they are also going to look closely. Keep the clothes you need in a suitcase, and focus on making your closets look like something on Pinterest. Professionals recommend thinking of your closet like a retail space: sort things by function and color, organize loose items, and only use one type of hanger.
Don’t Load Up on Smells
When it comes to making the house smell good, a clean home and fresh air should be enough. However, if you’re keen on adding a specific scent, keep things simple and only use one smell throughout the house. Good smells include citrus, vanilla, green tea, and herbs — just make sure you keep them subtle, though.
Living in a staged home will feel strange, but think about it this way: the better you stage your house, the quicker it will sell. Making the effort to have a picture-perfect house is worth it, especially if other homes in your area are doing the same. If in doubt, keep things simple: put most of your stuff away, tidy, clean, and open some windows.