6 Ways to Impress Home Buyers with Your Staging

Staging is a critical step in the home selling process. Statistics show how effective this process can be and how much sellers stand to gain. With home staging, important qualities to look for include luxe details, fresh scents, and defined, beautifully appointed rooms, while bad home staging can leave buyers feeling confused or uninspired to make an offer.

 

Research shows buyers tend to buy at the high end of their price point. They max out their property-buying budget, meaning there is little left over for renovations or home improvements. When a buyer considers viewing a new property, they want to find a place they can walk right into, set down their boxes, and feel immediately comfortable making a meal in the kitchen, lounging in a bubble bath, and snuggling up for a good night's sleep.

 

So how can you create this warm, inviting feeling and inspire buyers to put in that offer letter? Whether you hire a professional stager or tackle the project yourself, these top six staging tips will have buyers clamoring to buy.

 

Before you even begin staging, make sure your home is in the best shape possible. Do a walk-through and check everything from loose door knobs and drafty windows to the roof and furnace, ensuring every inch is in excellent condition. Experts have found that while kitchen and bath renovations do indeed recoup their cost, buyers want to be able to take the basics for granted. An updated hot water heater and a new roof can be just as attractive to potential buyers as that swanky new kitchen.

 

That said, once the repairs and basic home foundation elements are in order, speak with your agent about possible renovations that could increase your home's value and make your place the most attractive spot on the block. Kitchen and bathroom improvements are the most coveted and generally yield the highest return on investment.

 

You may even want to schedule a pre-listing home inspection, which can bring to light any issues you may not have known about, giving you ample opportunity to fix the problems before you list the property. A pre-listing inspection can also put buyers at ease. When a buyer knows the seller has already taken steps to investigate the inner workings of the property, especially if you have also fixed the problems, it frees up the buyer to focus on the glamorous part of home buying. This not only fosters a sense of trust in the buyer but also gives the process an air of excitement rather than the trepidation that can accompany a purchase of this magnitude.

Decluttering is one of the most critical aspects of the staging process. Remember, home buying is aspirational, and buyers want to see themselves living their best life in this new home. You, as the seller, want to make that visualization process as effortless as possible, which means you need to set the scene properly.

 

Go through every cabinet, closet, and drawer in your home and cut down the contents by at least half. Store away what you won’t need for the next few weeks, donate any usable but unwanted items, and organize what’s left. Buyers will snoop, so use this as an opportunity to highlight your home’s storage space. Storage space is always at a premium, and almost 40% of homeowners have a storage unit, so the more storage space you can show off in your home, the better.

 

You want to create a neutral canvas on which the buyer can paint their future – not your family’s past. For kitchen staging, this means removing children’s artwork from the fridge, stashing away pet toys, and cleaning out that catch-all junk drawer. Your home office should be tidy, and the bathrooms should be squeaky clean and free of rubber duckies.

 

Not every buyer is an aspiring interior designer. In fact, most buyers want the decorating aspect of homeowning to be easy and straightforward. They want to walk into a living room and know it’s a living room. In large homes, and especially in luxury properties with modern architecture and open concepts, the rooms are expansive, and their functions may not be readily apparent. A large, airy space with an abundance of built-in storage and full-length windows could overwhelm a buyer. But when you make this same wide-open space into a staged living room, suddenly, the buyer can visualize their family settling in for a night of popcorn and movies. Set up furniture to showcase the utility of each room, and look to art experts for ideas on how to display art to fill up large walls.

Home buying is an aspirational experience, which is why many home staging strategies are akin to creating a hotel-like atmosphere. The warm, clean, luxe, and inviting feel of a five-star hotel makes you want to move right in and stay forever. This is exactly the sentiment home staging should inspire – a sense of longing to be right here, in this home.

 

Focus on creating a hotel-inspired master bedroom, and you’ll be halfway there. Easy bedroom staging ideas start with the bed itself. Try tucking an oversized comforter into a high-end duvet cover. This offers the plump, soft look and feel of an upscale hotel. Finish off the look with throw pillows and a luxe blanket. The bathroom should be sparkling clean with organized cabinets and a fresh shower curtain.

Curb appeal isn’t just a buzzword. From the mailbox to the front door, your home’s exterior is perhaps even more important than the interior because this is the buyer’s first impression. An unkempt lawn and a cluttered driveway can turn a buyer off before they’ve ever stepped inside. Make sure to hire a pro lawn service or break out the lawn care supplies, tend to the gardens, and generally spruce up the exterior to make it as inviting and beautiful as possible. In the end, your efforts will be rewarded.

Are you interested in selling your home on the Palm Beach real estate market and need home styling advice? Contact Palm Beach realtor Jacqueline Marks today to begin your selling journey without all the stress.

Jacqueline Marks can also assist you in exploring the options for homes for sale in Palm Beach. Don't hesitate to reach out and start your search today!